MIDWEEK MINUTES March 18, 2017

Midweek Minutes
March 18, 2017
Hello, Winners!
How was your week?  It certainly was a strange weather week with both snow and 80 degree weather, but we are used to that here in the Heartland.  This week it will officially be SPRING!  The first indoor track meet was held yesterday.  I’m trying to get used to the time change from last weekend. We are taking spring activity pictures next Wednesday, and I have sent out the prom invitations.  Prom is five weeks away, and it’s coming FAST!
This is my crazy time of year for sure.  I really have to concentrate hard on eating right and getting enough sleep.  And so it begins...the POTLUCK, PARTY, and PROM season, as I call it. 
Just when we think we want to take off those winter coats and check out what's hiding underneath, we might just need to fortify ourselves for all those end of the school year eating events such as award dinners, Easter with the family, confirmation parties, prom banquet, weddings, etc. which can hinder our weight loss efforts and throw us for a loop.  So, it's time to plan for all those occasions when we will be eating out this spring...so be sure to come the the meeting this week!!! 
In case of severe weather (yes, it's a possibility already), I will call the TV and radio stations the same way I would for winter storms.  Hopefully, that won't happen, and I will see everyone as planned!
Don’t forget your “Spring into Spring” card to collect your BRAVOS! --Zig
"All Nature seems at work.  Slugs leave their lair
The bees are stirring, birds are on the wing,
And Winter, slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of spring."-   Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Member Milestones
Total Loss: -12.6 lbs.
5 lb. star
Jessica H.
Paula H.



So long, winter! We’ll help you usher it out—and put a little “spring” in your step again! Once you start getting fresh air, moving your body more, and trying new things, you’ll start to feel awesome inside and out. In fact, heading outdoors and spending time in nature can help boost your happiness—and that can help you make better-for-you choices. No matter where you are, it’s easy to start (or keep) carving out time for yourself!
Get into the spring of things!
Ready to renew your energy and spirits? These ideas will help you wake up, shake up, and make your move anytime, anywhere!


  • Ditch your treadmill and stretch your legs outside on your lunch break or over the weekend to grab some extra vitamin D along with your steps goals.
  • Traveling for work, visiting a friend, or just curious about your hometown? Look up a free walking tour (there are even self-guided apps like Field Trip, for Android and Detour for iPhone—the best way to sightsee is on foot!
  • Get in activity, and do good, too: Check local listings for park or nature preserve cleanups, spring plantings, and so on.
  • Head to the beach or lakefront (you don’t have to dip in the water!). Sand offers great resistance to give your leg muscles a good workout, while walking on a trail can be easier on your knees than the street. Plus: no crowds yet!
  • Check out Connect on our app for smart, doable fitness ideas. (Leslie Sansone’s DVDs are a favorite among Connectors; check them out in our online shop along with a variety of fitness kits!


  • Lay out under the stars—2017 is the year for catching heavenly bodies at their brightest. Just after sunset, you’ll be able to see Mercury low in the sky on March 29th, and on April 10 you’ll be able to see Jupiter and a full moon!
  • Pick early bloomers from your yard (or grab a mini bouquet at the grocery store!) to brighten up your kitchen counter or office space.
  • As the days get longer you can catch a colorful sunset – post an inspiring one on Connect!
  • Crave quality time with furry friends (without the responsibility of ownership)? Volunteer with PAWS (look online for local chapters) to help the elderly and/or sick to care for their four-legged pals, or get hired to walk dogs for others in your neighborhood with WAG!


  • Need to refresh your wardrobe now that you can leave the layers at home—and maybe because you’re fitting into a smaller size? Host a clothing swap with friends – one person’s “meh” is another’s “YAAAAAAAS!” Whatever goes unclaimed can be donated to those in need.
  • Team up for outdoor activity—trying something new is more fun with a friend. From the gentle intensity of Tai Chi to the all-out, full-body exhilaration of rowing, spring is the perfect time to explore new moves.
  • Spring-clean a friend’s junk drawer, and have them do yours. You’ll feel less attached to each other’s odds and ends, and you’ll both feel better when it’s done (just check before tossing anything major!).
  • Switch up a weekly happy hour for a “walk and talk” outside—even once a month is a great start.


  • Check out Connecting with Oprah! Her On Point videos feature her favorite kitchen hacks—all deliciously easy to try!
  • Looking to kick up the same old staples? Boost the flavor of any dish with low SmartPoints® value spices, seasonings, and toppings!
  • Pick the most exotic or “ugly” fruit or veggie at the farmers market (we don’t like to judge based on looks, right?) and make it the star of your plate. Browse our app’s “Discover Recipes” section by typing in your new find in the search bar, or go online to My Day and click the recipe filter underneath the search bar before you type in your ingredient!


  • Visiting another floor at work or while running errands? Skip the elevator and opt for the stairs or walk up the escalator.
  • Binge-watching your favorite show? Try holding a plank, a wall sit, or as many push-ups as you can during the commercials.
  • Give a long-distance friend or family member a call while you garden/ cook/do laundry (use hands-free headphones so you can swing your arms to pump up the benefits).

  • Gratitude will get you way farther than attitude (unless it’s a sassy one!) — thank your body each day for one thing it does for you.
  • When someone compliments you, simply say “thank you.” That’s it. And mean it!
  • Stash away a dollar for every time you squash a negative thought about your appearance (and swap it with a positive one). When you’ve saved up enough, buy a new piece of clothing that makes you feel great!
ENDS MONDAY March 20!!!



20 ways to eat more fruit

 

Eating fruit doesn't have to mean just having an apple a day. With our simple ideas you can go gourmet:
  1. Side salads don't have to be made from veggies - try adding sliced pear, apple chunks, grapes, mango pieces, strawberries, dried cranberries or blueberries
  2. Throw a few handfuls of berries into pancake batter
  3. For a fruit salad with a difference, add some exotic fruits such as papaya, mango, star fruit, and guava
  4. Thread fruit chunks on skewers and grill on the barbecue
  5. Stuff apples with dates, dried apricots and walnuts and bake in the oven for a tasty dessert
  6. Munch on dried fruit for a handy on-the-go snack
  7. Freeze grapes, mango chunks and banana pieces for a sweet treat
  8. Make an energizing drink by blending apple, ginger, carrot and orange
  9. Add grapes, strawberries, dried fruit, or sliced pear and apple to a cheese platter
  10. Freeze lemon slices or berries in ice cubes and add to drinks
  11. Dip apple slices, strawberries, grapes, and fresh pineapple in a chocolate fondue
  12. Use up overripe bananas to bake a banana loaf or muffins - add some raisins for extra sweetness
  13. For an elegant dinner party finale, dip strawberries in white chocolate, let them set and then half-dip in milk or dark chocolate to make a layered double-choc delight
  14. Stew apples or pears and serve on breakfast cereal, or serve with low-fat yogurt and sprinkled with low-fat granola for dessert
  15. Pour Jell-O over cups full of grapes or other fruit chunks and leave to set
  16. Blend dark grapes with cranberry juice, some frozen low-fat berry yogurt and ice
  17. Swirl pureed canned apricots or mashed frozen raspberries through slightly softened vanilla ice cream and return to freezer to re-freeze
  18. Fruit is a great snack - add whole or in chopped chunks to school lunch boxes. Squeeze a little lemon juice on apples and pears to prevent browning
  19. Try fresh pineapple as a sweet, refreshing way to finish Asian-style meals
  20. Try some of www.weightwatchers.com 's many delicious recipes
Coloring Books
Colored Pencil Set
Glow Box
H2Glow Water Bottle
ALL Exercise Kits

Come to the meeting this week and see what else is on sale !!!


    •
    • Another recipe with our new SKINNY PASTA!


Member Recipes
3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes

1 pound extra lean (95%) ground beef
¾ cup Picante Sauce
½ cup barbecue sauce
2 green onions, sliced (about ¼ cup, optional)
5 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted

In a large skillet set over medium high heat, cook the beef, stirring and breaking up the meat, until it is browned, 5 to 10 minutes.
Add the picante sauce, barbecue sauce and green onions (if using) into the skillet. Stir to combine.
Cook, stirring often, until the mixture is hot and bubbling.
Divide the beef mixture evenly among the buns.
COOK'S NOTES
Nutritional Estimates Per Serving (1 sloppy joe): 8 SmartPoints



Baked Chicken Tenders
yield: 4 (ROUGHLY 5.25 OUNCE) SERVINGS
4 teaspoons flour
½ teaspoon paprika
1.25 lbs raw boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins (you can also buy breasts and cut them into strips)
2 egg whites, beaten
½ cup cornflake crumbs (these are sold by the other bread crumbs in my stores, no need to crush your own!)
½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

DIRECTIONS:
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small dish, mix together the flour and paprika. Place the chicken strips into a gallon Ziploc bag and add the flour/paprika mixture. Seal the bag and shake to coat the chicken.
In a shallow dish, beat the egg whites and set aside. In a separate shallow dish, stir together the cornflake crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder and garlic powder.
One at a time, take the flour-coated chicken strips and coat them in the egg whites and then press them into the dish of corn flake crumbs and flip so that both sides are coated in crumbs. Transfer the crumb-coated strips to the prepared baking sheet.
When all the chicken tenders are coated and on the baking sheet, spray the tops of them with cooking spray and place in the oven to bake for 18-20 minutes until cooked through.
WEIGHT WATCHERS SMARTPOINTS:4 per serving* (SP calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)



Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
Yields: 6 servings | Serving Size: 1/2 potato | Calories: 84 | Points Plus: 4 | Total Fat: 0 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 5 mg | Carbohydrates: 19 g | Dietary Fiber: 1 g | Sugars: 1 g | Protein: 2 g |

3 large Russet potatoes, rinse well and pat dry
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Prick each potato with a fork on each side. Rub the oil on the potatoes then sprinkle with salt. Wrap each potato in foil and place in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or high 4-6 hours, or until tender.
Remove potatoes from slow cooker, carefully remove foil and slice down the middle lengthwise.





Nutella Banana Bread
4 ripe medium bananas, mashed
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 1/4 cup all purpose Flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large egg whites
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup  Nutella  

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2 In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in the egg whites. Add the banana, vanilla, and apple sauce and mix together. Set aside.
3 In a medium bowl mix together the ∕our, baking soda, and salt.
4 Gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. 5 Warm the Nutella up in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until it is softer and melted.
6 Pour the banana bread batter into a bread pan. Then slowly spoon the Nutella on top and swirl into the bread using a knife until all of the Nutella has been worked in.
7 Bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked through. 1 slice = 4 SP. Enjoy!





Supermodel Superfood Salad
Yields: 6 servings | Calories: 162 | Total Fat: 13 | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 35 mg | Sodium: 16 mg | Carbohydrates: 12 g | Dietary Fiber: 2 g | Sugars: 8 g | Protein: 2 g | SmartPoints: 6 |

One head of kale
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries or currants
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of kosher or sea salt

Remove and discard large stems of kale leaves. Coarsely chop kale leaves and add to a large serving bowl. Add pine nuts, dried cranberries or currants.
Squeeze the juice of one lemon, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle salt, toss to combine.
If desired, garnish with 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese.




Strawberry Trifle
5 cups (~2 pints), fresh strawberries, sliced
2 cups fresh blueberries
½ cup store-bought prepared strawberry glaze
1 (14oz) ready baked angel food cake, cut in half and into 1-inch cubes
1 (8oz) container fat-free frozen Cool Whip, thawed
2 snack packs of already prepared fat-free vanilla or tapioca pudding

Instructions
1. In a large serving bowl or trifle dish, place half the angel food cake pieces on the bottom of bowl.
2. Sprinkle about 2 cups strawberries evenly over cake.
3. Dollop 1 package of pudding all over top of berries.
4. Sprinkle with ½ cup blueberries and drizzle with ¼ cup strawberry glaze over blueberries.
5. Spread ½ container Cool Whip evenly over glaze.
6. Repeat the steps starting with angel food cake and ending with Cool Whip.  Decorate top of the Strawberry Shortcake Trifle with remaining sliced strawberries and blueberries.
7. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.  Store any leftovers covered in refrigerator.
Makes 16 servings (each serving about ¾ cup)


1 serving is ¾ cup; Weight Watchers SmartPoints 3


This newsletter is in no way affiliated with Weight Watchers, Inc. It is simply a motivational tool that I offer to members who attend my Weight Watchers meetings and wish to receive it.
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