WW Friendly Meals from Publix Sales 2/2

Here's some great ideas for WW friendly meals using what's on sale at Publix this week. All the deals below come to you courtesy of IHEARTPUBLIX.COM - please go to their site for links to all the coupons and a printable shopping list.

Dinner

WW Spicy Beef Tacos (see recipe below) -OR-

Skinny Loaded Nachos w/ Turkey, Beans, and Cheese (great for the superbowl!!)

• Ground Sirloin - $3.99/lb -or-
• Ground Turkey - $2.49/lb
• Rotel canned diced tomaotoes - $0.10/can w/ newspaper cpn
• Kraft Shredded Cheese - $0.88 per pkg w/ Target.com & newspaper cpns
• Light Breakstone's Sour Cream - $0.47 each w/ printed or newspaper cpn
• Avocados - $1 each (as a topping or guacamole!)

Turkey Meatloaf - click HERE for recipe

• Ground Turkey - $2.49/lb
• Knorr Rice Sides - $0.15 each w/ newspaper cpn (wow!!) -or-
• Alexia Oven Fries or Sweet Potato Fries - $2/bag (only 2-4 pts + per serving!!)

Skinny Sloppy Joe's - click HERE for recipe

• Ground Sirloin - $3.99/lb
• Alexia Oven Fries or Sweet Potato Fries - $2/bag (2-4 pts + per serving)

Lunch

Amy's Light Frozen Meals - $3 each

Turkey & Avocado Sandwiches with soup and/or produce

• Boar's Head Ovengold Turkey - $7.99/lb
• Kraft Cheese Singles - $1 each w/ Target.com & coupons.com cpns
• Publix bakery multigrain bread - $2 w/ kraft cpn ($1 publix bread wyb kraft singles)
• Avocados - $1 each (or FREE w/ kraft cpn $1 off produce wyb kraft singles)
• Light/FF Miracle Whip or Kraft Mayo - $1 w/ Target.com cpn
• Campbell's light soup - $0.60/can w/ newspaper cpn
• Red Seedless Grapes - $1.69/lb (get $1 off wyb kraft singles if you don't get avocados, or get 2 pkgs kraft singles)

Afternoon Snack

• Baby Carrots - $1.29/bag ($1 wyb kraft singles option)
• T Marzetti's Veggie Dip - $0.80 w/ printed cpn
• Sabra Hummus - $1.50 w/ printed cpn
• Wheat Thins - $0.50/box w/ Target & newspaper cpns

Dessert

• Klondike Slim-a-Bear - $1.68 each
• Skinny Cow - $1 off printable cpns available (check the coupon database)

Recipe

Spicy Beef Tacos

		PointsPlusTM value | 7 Servings | 4 Preparation Time | 12 min Cooking Time | 13 min Level of Difficulty | Easy main meals | You get two tasty tacos in a serving. Add your own touch with fresh chopped cilantro, scallions or tomatoes.

Ingredients

• 3 spray(s) cooking spray, divided
• 2 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced
• 3/4 pound(s) uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)
• 1 1/2 tsp Durkee Ground Cumin Seed, or other brand
• 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 3/4 tsp table salt, or to taste
• 1 1/2 cup(s) canned diced tomatoes, with jalapenos or green chilies
• 8 small corn tortilla(s), or small, lightly toasted just before serving if desired*
• 2 cup(s) lettuce, shredded
• 1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese, sharp-variety
• 1/3 cup(s) salsa

Instructions

• Coat a large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add beef; cook until browned, breaking up meat as it cooks, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add cumin, coriander, salt and diced tomatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost absorbed, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  
  
• Place tortillas on a flat surface. Top each with about 1/4 cup beef, 1/4 cup lettuce, 1 tablespoon cheese and 2 teaspoons salsa. Fold tortillas in half and serve. Yields 2 tacos per serving.

Notes

*To toast tortillas, coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place tortillas on top and coat with cooking spray. Heat in a 300°F oven until slightly crisp but not too crisp that they break when folded.

Weight Watchers Magazine - Cheap Deal!

For those new to WW or new to finding bargains on the internet, it's pretty easy to get the WW magazine way cheaper than the $12 to $15 pricetag you normally see. If you keep your eye on Tanga.com you can score a 1 year subscription for only $2.99 (you can order up to 4 years, which I recommend at this price). The problem with Tanga is these deals only last 24 hours at most because they only sell a limited number of subscriptions at this price. On top of that, the price actually goes up during the day because they only sell a limited number of $3 subscriptions, so if you work like most people and can't get to a computer until the evening, your price will be more like $5/year. And you never know when the deal will pop up again, so if you missed the one in early Jan you could be waiting for several months.

So for those of us too busy or impatient for Tanga, you can still get a really good price from BestDealMagazines.com. Right now they have a 1 year subscription for $4.69, but with a 15% coupon code (they are readily available, just google "best deal magazines coupon code" if the ones below don't work), the price goes down to $3.99 per year - still cheaper than a single issue from a WW center! Here are the codes I know of to get 15% off:

CPNCABIN15

PXSS130

PXCJ130

Or here's another option to get it a little cheaper. Do you frequently make purchases online? If so click HERE to sign up for ebates. Search for bestdealmagazines.com and click on the link to the website, once you make your magazine purchase you will get 10% cash back from your purchase - making it only $3.59 per year. On top of that your 1 yr subscription will be FREE (plus some) after your $5 sign on bonus if you are new to ebates and make a purchase through their site of $20 or more within 90 days of signing up. Not a bad deal!

I actually really like this magazine, and I have a lot of subscriptions. The articles are good, the recipes are good (Cooking Light is always too difficult for me), and best of all - it's loaded with coupons! And since it's WW you know the coupons are for healthy items.

Workout DVD Reviews

Before I start posting again about couponing, I thought I would take a break and move onto some workout DVDs I've tried. Not that workout DVDs aren't frugal - I paid ~$20 for both of the above, which happens to be much cheaper than the $30/month gym down the street! I put my gym membership on hold for a few months. It's just far too cold outside to drive there in the mornings on top of the fact it's super crowded right now with all of the new years resolution members. Maybe in the spring when I get bored of DVDs and all the resolution people drop out from the gym I'll go back :-)

First up - Weight Watchers Punch

This is my first and only WW workout purchase so far. When I bought it I was a little worried it would be too easy and do nothing for my weight loss. This was definitely not the case! Even the beginner workout is plenty challenging (especially the squats part) but not so overwhelming you never want to do it again. I'm actually a big fan of kickboxing workouts - back when I had a healthy BMI and went to the rec center daily, I took cardio kickboxing and loved it. That might make me a little biased reviewing this DVD, but I really, really like this one. I think it's suitable for almost every fitness level - I highly recommend it!

Next - Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred

The first thing I would like to say is they should rename this DVD from "30 day shred" to "instant death." This DVD has gotten great reviews on the internet, so when I saw it on sale I thought why not give it a try. If you are a fan of Biggest Loser and are considering getting on the show, you should try this first to get an idea of what you're in for. I have decided that although I enjoy watching the show, there is no way I would make it out of that place alive. Jillian's idea of a "beginner" workout is far more difficult than the WW Punch "advanced" level workout. I couldn't handle it. If you can run marathons, go out and buy this, but for everyone else be warned it is very intense. Now when I watch the show I feel so sorry for the contestants... but I'm also glad it's not me!!

Needless to say, I've been sticking to Punch and haven't visited Jillian again. She is just too much for me. A workout that exhausting makes me never want to exercise again, which is not good. I like the WW approach to exercise much better: find some type of exercise you enjoy (or at least don't mind doing) because that will keep you moving on a regular basis.

Healthy & Frugal Meal Ideas

Not sure what to eat this week? Here's some ideas based on what's on sale at Publix.

Dinner - Steak, Potatoes, and a side Salad

• Tasteful Selections Baby Potatoes - $2 each ($1 or free with cpn from coupons.com)
• Fresh Express Salad Blend - $2 each ($1.45 with cpn from smartsource.com)
• Hidden Valley Light Ranch Dressing - $1.73 ($1.23 with cpn from Krogrer) (or use "Everyday Vinaigrette" from WW.com)
• A1 Steak Sauce - $2.12 each (or $0.74 with cpns from coupons.com and Target.com)
• Boneless NY Strip Steaks - $7/lb

Lunch - Veggie Burgers or “Chikn” Patties with yogurt/cottage cheese/string cheese and fruit

• Morningstar Farms products (5.25 to 12 oz) - $2 each ($1 with cpn from Kroger)
• French’s Yellow Mustard - $1 each (or free with cpn from Frenchs.com)
• Kraft BBQ Sauce - $0.67 each (or $0.17 with cpn from Target.com)
• Borden Fat Free Cheese Singles - $2 each (or $1 with cpn from friendsofelsie.com)
• Chobani Greek Yogurt - $1 each ($0.40 with cpn from chobani.com)
• Breakstone's Cottage Cheese 4 pk - $2 each ($1.25 w/ newspaper cpn)
• Polly-O String Cheese - $3.79 each ($2.04 w/ newspaper cpn & Target.com cpn)
• Pair with your favorite fruit or go with what’s on sale below

Fruit

• Red Seedless Grapes - $2/lb
• Cherries - $3/lb
• Apple Slices - $2.50 per 14 oz bag
• Cantaloupes - $2.50 each
• Peaches or Nectarines - $2.50/lb
• Clementies - $6 per 5lb box
• Blueberries or Blackberries - $2.50 per box
• Strawberries - $3 per box

Other

• Silk Soymilk - $2.50/half gal (or $0.50 combining coupons from Smartsource.com and Publix Family Style Magazine, both are $1 off)

(Go to Publix.com to subscribe to their magazines Family Style and Greenwise – they always have coupons, recipes, and interesting articles)

All of the above deals come from iheartpublix.com - check them out for links to coupons, more sale items, and a printable shopping list!

Recipes with sale items – Shrimp & Mushrooms

• Med. White Shrimp - $5/lb
• White Mushrooms - $2.69 per 16 oz pkg

Recipe 1: Shrimp on angel hair pasta [I would add mushrooms to this]

		PointsPlusTM value | 10 Servings | 4 Preparation Time | 15 min Cooking Time | 5 min Level of Difficulty | Moderate main meals | In this refreshing dish, the hot pasta will warm up the sauce sufficiently. Be careful not to overheat leftovers. You will 'cook' the sauce, and it could separate.

Ingredients

• 3 medium scallion(s), chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, or 2 tsp dried
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 3 oz feta cheese
• 1 cup(s) plain fat-free yogurt
• 14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes, drained
• 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
• 8 oz uncooked angel hair pasta
• 8 oz shrimp, medium-size, cleaned, peeled and deveined
• 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
  
  
• In a food processor, process scallions, oregano and lemon zest until scallions are finely minced. Add half the feta cheese, crumbling and reserving remaining feta in a small bowl. Add yogurt and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in diced tomatoes and reserved feta. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  
  
• Add shrimp to boiling water and cook until done, about 2 minutes (less if you are using small shrimp). Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon and add to sauce. Do not drain water. When water returns to boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes. Combine with sauce and serve.

Recipe 2: Shrimp Quesadillas (picture at top from skinnytaste.com, recipe from WW)

	PointsPlusTM value | 6 Servings | 4 Preparation Time | 17 min Cooking Time | 17 min Level of Difficulty | Easy main meals | Here's a family-friendly solution when you need to have dinner on the table fast. For an even speedier alternative, buy precooked shrimp.

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound(s) shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1 small onion(s), thinly sliced
• 1 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced
• 1 medium jalapeño pepper(s), seeded and finely chopped (wear gloves to prevent irritation)
• 1/2 tsp Durkee Ground Cumin Seed, or other brand
• 1/2 pound(s) cremini mushrooms, fresh, sliced
• 1 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
• 4 medium tortilla, flour, fat-free, (8-inch)
• 4 oz shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, or 1 cup

Instructions

• Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and add to the skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until just opaque in the center, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  
  
• Spray the same skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeño pepper, cumin, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat, then stir in the shrimp and cilantro.
  
  
• Place a tortilla on a work surface. Top half the tortilla with 2 tablespoons of the cheese, one-fourth of the shrimp mixture, then 2 tablespoons more cheese. Fold the top half of the tortilla over the filling to form a semicircle, lightly pressing the edges to seal. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, making 4 quesadillas.
  
  
• Wipe the skillet clean, spray with nonstick spray, and set over medium heat. Add 2 quesadillas and cook until the cheese melts and the outsides of the tortillas are lightly browned, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer the quesadillas to a plate and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 2 quesadillas. Yields 1 quesadilla per serving.

Notes

To make this recipe ahead, simply cook the filling as directed, let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight in an airtight container. You can then assemble the quesadillas without cooking them, keep them covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours, and cook them when you're ready.

For more ideas check out skinnytaste.com, my absolute favorite place to look for WW recipes!

Introduction to Couponing and Healthy, Frugal Grocery Shopping

I hear it all the time.. "Eating healthy is just so expensive!" Well I beg to differ! And not just in the "eating healthy is cheaper than medical bills" kind of way. By combining coupons and sales you can get so many items at a fraction of the full retail cost and not only afford the healthy stuff but also slash your grocery bill from what it was pre-weight watchers/diet/New Year's resolution.

For an introduction to couponing, I highly recommend these websites/blogs:

www.iheartpublix.com

www.southernsavers.com

www.couponmom.com

Each one of the above sites will do all the work for you. They match sale items with available coupons so you get them at dirt cheap prices. On top of that, they all have features that let you check the items you're interested in, provide links to coupons for these items, then print a grocery list right then and there. You can even customize the grocery lists by adding other items you need and changing coupons/coupon values.

If you can't tell, I am biased towards Publix. It just so happens to be the closest and most common grocery store in my city. My only other options are Winn-Dixie (too far) and Walmart (hate it with a passion). Publix also has a wonderful coupon doubling and coupon stacking policy that can help you score items for super super cheap. Don't have a Publix near you or don't like it? Just go to Google and type in "Couponing" and the name of your preferred grocery chain. There are thousands and thousands of money-saving blogs out there that regularly post sale and coupon matchups for stores I've never even heard of. Just add them to your RSS feed reader, look for recipes, and start making your grocery list.

So why bother with this sale and coupon business when you could just walk into a grocery store, buy what you need with no preparation and leave? Yes I admit it does take some time to keep track of sales, hunt down coupons, and keep your coupons organized. But I do it for several reasons. First, why should I give away any more of my hard earned money than I have to? Sure, I have to pay my mortgage, I have to put gas in my car, and I have to buy food and household necessities. But what about the things I want to spend my money on? If I can save money on the things I have to buy then I get more money in my pocket to save for my financial well-being, or better yet, blow on the things I want to get (and I can think of plenty of those.. iPads, iPhones, vacations & weekend trips, concerts, a nice restaurant meal...). My second reason? Because I love it. It's like a game to play or a puzzle to solve. In the same time you take to do a sudoku or crossword puzzle, I can search through coupon/sale matchups, print or clip coupons, sort coupons, and print my grocery list. Trust me, it's just as exciting :-)

But just as each person has their own reasons for joining WW or adopting a healthy lifestyle, there are plenty of other reasons to become a crazy coupon lady (or guy). For another (probably better) story of a WW chick that slashed her grocery budget while losing weight, click here.

Now for the reality check: don't forget the goal is to be healthy and lose weight. Just in case you're like me and end up obsessing over getting stuff for super cheap, never forget that an unhealthy "bargain" is not really a bargain. When it comes to things like TP, windex, or band aids - go for it. But when you see the Valentine's Day candy on sale for $0.50 a bag don't buy it unless you have a good reason that involves giving it away to other people or you have the willpower to not devour the whole bag in one day and eat just one piece a day [and if you do buy some, get the dark chocolate because an ounce a day helps prevent heart disease!]

The Beginning

I've tried many, many times to start a blog. I usually make one or two posts then abandon it for months because I lost inspiration and ran out of ideas or topics for posts. It's surprisingly hard for me to stick to a single theme, especially when there are so many good blogs out there. But I think I've finally found a theme that's now a huge part of my life and broad enough to keep me posting... my transition to a healthy body and lifestyle after joining Weight Watchers.

Similar to my efforts at blogging, I tried many times to lose weight on my own. I just couldn't do it... I didn't have the willpower to resist the sugary goodness of cakes, cookies, brownies, and doughnuts that surround me at home, at work, at restaurants, and at the grocery store. And trying to record my calories in a food journal typically lasted about a week. Finally last September I took a week off from work and got some time to think about my life and how much I wanted it to change. It was the inspiration and motivation I needed to kick start my weight loss and I joined Weight Watchers at work the week after I returned. So here I am several months later and 25 lbs. lighter with a new outlook on my life and looking forward to reaching my goal (which I fully intend to be this year!).

So what kind of things will I be posting? Anything and everything related to a healthy lifestyle or Weight Watchers...

• I will definitely include my newest obsession... saving money. I am totally that person who goes to the grocery store with a huge stack of coupons, or waits for good deals on things I want on the internet. It's a challenge and a thrill... some people do sudoku or crossword puzzles, but searching for bargains is my game. I'll try to keep it related to healthy stuff since there are so many good blogs for money savers already.

• Healthy recipes that actually taste good. Can't get enough of those!

• Fun ways to exercise and get some activity points

• Ideas for rewards after working so hard to shed those next 5 lbs

• Whatever else comes to mind that's worth sharing!

Stay tuned for what will hopefully be my very first successful blog!!