After yesterdays +2.8 WI, I am not gonna lie – I really just wanted to go to McDonald’s drive thru and get a sausage McMuffin with Egg with Hashbrowns.  But I didn’t.  This is a lifestyle, not a diet and I know that what I do the previous 7 days doesn’t automatically show my efforts on the scale.

I came home and started doing some chores, and before I knew it, the home health care nurse was here to change Tony’s wound vac.  We have been super lucky with the nurses who have come to the house.  Very personable and professional.   By the time she left it was 12:15 and I hadn’t even had breakfast!

I had made some brown rice earlier in the morning just to have for the week, and decided to make a quick stir fry.

3 oz. of lean steak, veggies, 3/4 cup of brown rice and sauce, lunch comes in at 9 WW points.

So you guys know last week I became obcessed with my breakfast parfaits.  I was out of my homemade granola, which was why I was using Kellogg’s vanilla almond cereal in between – which is super delicious, but gets soggy pretty quick.

I wondered if I could make a simple syrup using Splenda.  Well, the answer is yes and no.  I put 1 cup of water mixed with 1 cup of Splenda and brought it to a boil.  I let it boil for a good 5 minutes, but it obviously didn’t thicken like sugar would.  But I had a sweet water and just went with it.

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Granola = makes 10, 1/2 cup servings for 7 WW points

  •  5 cups oats
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberrries
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/8 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup granulated Splenda

Heat the water and Splenda to a boil for 5 minutes.  Let cool slightly.  Mix the oats and sunflower seeds.  Toss with the Splenda water and oil.  Bake on a cookie sheet for 45 minutes at 350 degrees, tossing and stirring every 15 minutes.

Let cool completely, toss in the cranberries and chocolate chips.  Even if I use the full 1/2 cup in my parfait next week, it would still only be a 9 point breakfast.

While the oats didn’t clump up like they do when you use sugar and honey, this is still delicious and suprisingly not too sweet. 😀  I did count 6 points for licks and tastes – I may have had a few cranberries and chocolate chips while making this! 😀

Since I didn’t have my party pizza Friday, it became party pizza Saturday!  I made a whole wheat crust this time with cornmeal – it was actually really good.  It made a lot of dough, so I just pinched off 4 ounces which is 8 WW points.

My toppings: 2 tablespoons of real bacon bits, shredded zucchini, chopped red pepper, 2 tablespoons black beans, 2 tablespoons of corn, 1.5 ounces of mozzarella cheese and about 1/3 cup of tomato sauce on the base.  This whole pie comes in at 13 points.

I ended up having 7 points of wine, so for the day I had 34 points, with 41 flex points left for the week.

Today is my heart healthy challenge day!  My plan is to run 5 miles no matter what.  But I am hoping to do it in 55 minutes.  Don’t worry, I’ll be watching Food TV while I run! 😀

What’s on your menu this week – I haven’t finished my meal plan this week and your ideas and links are welcome! 😀  Make it a great day!