Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts (I try and post them every few days) to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Yesterday's menu...

Breakfast: You guys are going to love the new Mocha flavor of Chike Nutrition High Protein Iced Coffee. It's so good and should be available for purchase soon. Yesterday I made it in the blender with ice and soy milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a sort of Mexican Chocolate Coffee Frappe. Delicious.

Shelly's Mexican Mocha Frappe

8 oz. Milk or Water (I used Soy Milk)
2 scoops Chike High Protein Iced Coffee - Mocha
a few dashes of Cinnamon
a few cubes of Ice

Blend on high. Top with No Sugar Added Homemade Whipped Cream and a sprinkle of Cinnamon.

Lunch: Another great Trader Joe's find: Citrus Chicken Salad. Found in the refrigerator salad section. $3.99 Grilled chicken breast, green papaya, red and green cabbage shreds, daikon radish, green onion, carrot, comes with a Thai dressing and a lime wedge to squeeze over. Super refreshing. This will be a repeat purchase. It's delicious. 110 calories without the dressing, 220 with. I use about 1/2 the dressing packet and the lime.

Dinner: Fish Foil Packet. One of my favorite dinners. I change them up based on what I have on hand last night's was: Yellow Squash, Green Onion, a drizzle of Olive Oil, Tilapia (any fish will work), a dollop of Roasted Tomato Salsa. Toss it on the grill and cook covered for 20-25 minutes depending on thickness of the fish.

More Foil Packet Dinners  

Snacks: Too much coffee as usual and some of these delicious Lime and Sea Salt Almonds I bought at the Leucadia Farmer's Market (Sunday AM) It's another great farmer's market in the San Diego area. Check it out if you are a local.

More Days in my pouch.

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Quick Breakfast: Frozen Oatmeal Discs

These Frozen Oatmeal Discs are the homemade version of the frozen oatmeal you can buy at Trader Joe's but customized to your taste. Make a little more oatmeal than you need one morning and turn the leftover extra oats into this quick and easy breakfast. A great weekend project with the kiddos.
 

1 cup or so of cooked oats (any instant, rolled, steel cut) fills 6 muffins (FYI: that's 4 packets if you use instant.)

Lightly spray a 6 cup muffin tin with Pam (or if it's a good non-stick one it's not really necessary.) You can flavor or sweeten the oatmeal any way you like. I put a pump or 2 of Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup in mine. If you want a boost of protein you can mix a scoop of protein powder or powdered peanut butter in the oatmeal. Divide evenly into muffin tin.

Top (left to right): Peanut Butter and Sugar Free Strawberry Jelly. Blueberry with Almonds. Banana with Toasted Coconut.
Bottom: Raspberry, Banana and Blueberry. Banana, Pecan, SF Caramel Topping (Smuckers). Raspberry with Almonds.

Top with whatever toppings your heart desires. Place in the freezer several hours or overnight. Pop out (run a knife around the edge and they pop out perfectly) and place in a Ziploc freezer baggie. Keep for up to a month. Whenever you want grab an oatmeal disc drop it in a microwave safe mug or bowl and nuke till warm in the microwave 1 to 2 minutes. Top with a splash of milk if you like.

Great to take with you to eat at work or when you are running late in the AM but still want everyone to have a warm breakfast. 

Some other topping ideas: Apples, Cranberries, Raisins, Cinnamon, Walnuts, Seeds, Pumpkin Puree, Peaches, SF Chocolate Chips, Dried Fruit.

Other Eggface Grab and Go Breakfast Ideas.

Together We S.H.I.N.E.

I'm excited to finally be able to announce the official theme of the "Your Weight Matters" 2014 National Convention September brought to you by the Obesity Action Coalition. Together We S.H.I.N.E. Support, Health, Inspiration, Networking and Education! Join me September 25-28 in Orlando, Florida.

This is the MUST ATTEND weight and health convention this year... and I am not biased because I am the co-chair. It is an AWESOME EVENT! Science based, nationally recognized experts in the field of health, weight management, body image, wellness, fitness, nutrition... you will love everyone who is confirmed to speak. LOVE! We are putting together an AMAZING agenda. Not over stating this when I say... you will get information and knowledge at this event that will change your life. Beyond the education you will meet and make supportive connections and have a blast! Nothing like finding people who "get it!" I can't wait to meet you!


The OAC is offering a super low registration price so that the most people can benefit from the education (Registration opens April 7th! Full registration early bird pricing is $95 and includes speakers, breakout sessions, evening events, most meals) and attendees can score a great rate at the beautiful host hotel.

Some Important Links:

Event Web Site
Hotel and pricing info. The discount room block is open now! 
We've got an Official Facebook Event Page and are starting to chit chat come join in the fun. 
Sign up for e-alerts to get all the 411 as it happens in your inbox.
Follow hashtag #YWM2014 on Twitter (this will be used during the event a lot.)
For more about the Obesity Action Coalition.

Win It Before You Can Buy It Coffee Protein Giveaway

Chike Nutrition has a brand new flavor of their High Protein Iced Coffee coming out very soon but I got my hands on a couple of the first tubs off the line. Keep checking Chike's Facebook page for the official announcement but I asked if I could share the news and one of my tubs with you guys and was given the green-light. So I am excited to announce...

Chike Nutrition's new flavor of High Protein Iced Coffee... MOCHA!  Chocolate + Coffee + Protein = a combination made in heaven.

Here's your chance to win it before you can buy it!

 

The Prize: a tub of Chike Nutrition's brand new Mocha flavor of High Protein Iced Coffee (with it's 2 Espresso Shots, 20 grams of Whey Protein, 23 Vitamins and Minerals and only 1.5 grams of Sugar - it's the perfect drink to kick-start your day or fight the afternoon I want to crawl under my desk and take a nap slump) and I'll toss in a Chike Blender Bottle Shaker too.

You mix it with water (quick, easy, and delicious) or I like to add milk and a few ice cubes (or frozen yogurt cubes) and whiz it in the blender to make a High Protein Coffee Smoothie.

How to Enter: 1.) LIKE The World According to Eggface and Chike Nutrition's Facebook Page  2.) COME BACK HERE and LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

***Want an extra chance to win?***

* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway: Hey everyone enter the @Eggface @IlikeChike Win It Before You Can Buy It Coffee Protein Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/kv2jndw

and/or

* Head over to Chike's Facebook Page and tell them "The World According to Eggface told me to check Chike out!"

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, February 23, midnight (pacific), sometime Monday, February 24th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. Remember winners MUST be a Facebook follower (aka have LIKED) of the The World According to Eggface and Chike Nutrition. One ENTRY per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the contiguous United States (48 contiguous only, sorry it's a legal and $ thing.)

Build Your Own Yogurt Parfait Bar

Here's a fun breakfast or brunch idea that is not only weight loss surgery friendly but easy to put together and everyone is happy (even the kiddos) because they can customize to suit their own tastes: Build Your Own Yogurt Parfait Bar. Set out an assortment of healthy toppings and let everyone create their own yummy masterpiece.

Top Row from left to right: Blueberries, Mango, Shelly's Protein Granola (recipe below)
2nd Row: Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds), Greek Yogurt, Pecans
3rd Row: Bananas, Raspberries, Toasted Unsweetened Coconut

You can use plain Greek yogurt or pre-sweeten it by mixing in some Sugar Free Torani Syrup, or have a squeeze bottle of Maple Syrup, Agave, or Honey nearby for those that want it. In the summer, you can use protein ice cream for a healthy dessert!

Other toppings ideas: crumbled protein bars, almonds, walnuts, applesauce or chopped apple, cranberries or raisins, the list goes on and on.

I used plastic cups and spoons (less clean-up) but you can break out some pretty parfait glasses. Using the plastic makes it a portable grab and go breakfast too if you have family or friends visiting and you are heading out sightseeing (and everyone is at vary degrees of ready to leave) which is when I tend to do this.

Shelly's Protein Granola

1/3 cup Oatmeal, dry
1/3 cup Sliced Almonds
1/4 cup Pecans, chopped
1 scoop Protein Powder (your favorite flavor)
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
3 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (your favorite flavor)
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Butter

Mix together with a fork till clumps form. Sprinkle clumps of the topping onto a baking sheet (I lined it with foil for ease of clean-up) and bake for 20 minutes at 350. Allow to cool. When cool store in sealed container for several days.

Valentine's Day Dessert Recipes

Looking for a weight loss surgery friendly Valentine's Day dessert? Show your loved ones how much you care with one of these healthier, homemade, protein packed, sweet Valentine's Day recipes. Making healthy choices will keep you and those you love in each others lives longer ❤

This pudding has all the great components found in those calorie packed, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate: chocolate, coconut, caramel, nuts, and did I say CHOCOLATE...

Shelly's No Sugar Added "Valentine Box of Chocolates" Pudding

1 1/2 cups Cold Milk (2% or above not Soy, Almond or Coconut it won't set up)
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (any flavor: Sugar Free Caramel, S'mores, Salted Caramel, Belgian Cookie all would be delicious)
1 small box Sugar Free Chocolate Jello Pudding Mix, dry
1/4 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut, toasted
2 Tablespoons Sliced Almonds, toasted
Optional: a Tablespoon or so extra toasted Coconut and Nuts for the top ('cause it looks purty)

Toast coconut in the oven or toaster oven till golden (watch it carefully, I've burned many a batch of coconut, it happens quick) and set it aside to cool. Toss the almonds in a dry pan for a few minutes till then slightly change color and you smell them. Set aside to cool. I use a Blender Bottle Shaker to mix up the pudding powder, syrup and milk. Shake about 2 minutes or so till it thickens. Pour into a bowl. Add cooled toasted coconut and nuts. Mix till well combined. Refrigerate till set about 15 minutes.

If berries are more your style... This is super light and airy. If you remember Jello 1-2-3 from the 80's it's similar to that.

Shelly's Triple Berry Fluff Stuff

1 cup Boiling Water
1 box (4-serving size - the small one) Sugar Free Black Cherry Jello Mix
3 1/2 oz. (half a small container) Greek Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Black Cherry)
1 1/2 cups Cherries, (fresh or frozen defrosted)

Pour boiling water slowly over jello mix. Stir till dissolved. Set aside. Mix yogurt & syrup together till well combined (FYI you can add a scoop of protein powder at this point into the yogurt if you want to beef up the protein content even more) and add to Jello mixture. Beat with an electric mixer till well combined. I use this gadget. Place in fridge for 1 hour. Remove from fridge and beat again for 5 minutes till fluffy. Fold in fruit. Put back in fridge and allow to set fully (about 2 hours.) You can use any fruit (fresh, frozen defrosted or canned drained), any Jello flavor, any Torani Syrup flavor.

I topped it with Homemade No Sugar Added Strawberry Whipped Cream and Fresh Raspberries.

 

Shelly's Homemade No Sugar Added Berry Whipped Cream

1 cup Whipping Cream
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Strawberry (or Raspberry, or Black Cherry) Torani Syrup

Whisk till well combined. Fill whipping cream to the fill line of the whipper. Screw on the top. Insert the CO2 cartridge till it empties, unscrew that. Put the nozzle on, shake a few times and squirt away. It makes a ton, store it in the fridge for up to 10 days just give it another few shakes before squirting. Soooo good. Any Torani Syrup flavor works great.

and of course my ultimate favorite standby my Strawberry Cannoli.

More Valentine's Day Recipes and Ideas

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you spend it with those you love. If you are single like me and want to spread some love tomorrow here's a few ideas.

Healthy Ideas for Valentine's Day Pinterest Page

Looking for healthy Valentine's Day recipes and ideas? Be sure to check out my Valentine's Day Pinterest Page. Tons of high protein, no sugar added, weight loss friendly recipes, some alternatives to candy and chocolate valentine ideas...

Including...

Shelly's Triple Chocolate Protein Muffins
Shelly's Pretty in Pink Strawberry 5 Minute Cake
Shelly's Chocolate Covered Cherry "Award Winning" Protein Shake
and many more.

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New Product Alert - Trader Joe's (Jose's) Chicken Asada

I spotted this the other day at Trader Joe's and tossed it in my cart. Trader Joes (José's) Chicken Asada, is a fully cooked, heat-and-serve marinated chicken dish. The chicken is marinated in fruit juices then grilled with mild poblano and red peppers and sweet onion. To prepare all you need to do is microwave it for 3 minutes or so to reheat. I love meals like this for nights you just don't want to cook but still want something warm and satisfying. You will find it in the refrigerator section. The generous 15 oz. package was $5.99.

 

It's super tasty and will definitely be something I pick up again. Oodles of protein. My one complaint is the amount of chicken to veggie ratio. They give you TONS of chicken. I sliced it up and literally you could assemble at least 10 tacos with it. The amount of veggies on the other hand doesn't match up to the amount of chicken and to me are just a flavor component and not a veggie "side."

You'll want to add a veggie. Grilled or sauteed zucchini would be great or I make that yummy Calabacitas squash dish or slice it up and turn it into a "Fajita-style" Salad (with lettuce, shredded cheese and a dollop of Greek yogurt) or do what I did and turn it into a one pot meal. After I nuked the chicken I sliced it up and heated it with a can (rinsed and drained) of Cannelini Beans.

Be My Valentine Bento Lunch

Next week is Valentine's Day. Send someone you love (including yourself) off to work or school with this Valentine's Day inspired bento box healthy lunch...

Pink Box (top left): Leftover Meatballs and Sauce with a sprinkle of shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Green Box (top right): Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Cheese (used a mini cookie cutter to cut out a heart)
Blue Box (bottom left): Red Pepper Strips and (in the red cupcake cup) Shelly's Parmesan Greek Yogurt Dip
Orange Box (bottom right): Fresh Raspberries

Shelly's Parmesan Greek Yogurt Dip

3 oz. Greek Yogurt, plain
1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese, grated
a sprinkle of Oregano
dash of Salt

Mix well. Great for dipping veggies, meats, as a salad dressing.

More Bento Box lunches, FAQ's and an Online Source for them

My Bento Pinterest Page

Eggface Love Being Healthy Valentine Giveaway

Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love is just around the corner. While this time is typically spent expressing your love for family and friends. I think it’s just as important to remember to love yourself. This month commit to making healthy choices (food, fitness, vitamins, water) so that you can stay in your loved ones lives for a very long time. As the saying goes, "you can only love someone as much as you love yourself."

Enter to win my Love Being Healthy Giveaway!

The Prize: a super cool Valentine Pink Nike Workout (or Carry-on) Bag filled with some of my post weight loss surgery healthy favorites...

 

Celebrate Vitamins Calcium Soft Chews (Berry) 60 ct. bag 

Celebrate Vitamins Multivitamin Soft Chews (Very Berry) 60 ct. bag

5 Chike Nutrition single serving packets of High Protein Iced Coffee (contains 2 espresso shots, 20 grams of whey protein, 23 vitamins & minerals & only 2 grams of sugar in each serving)

1 Jar of Chike PB - Powdered Peanut Butter

1 Mini Sampler Set of Sugar Free Torani Syrups (4 - 150 ml mini bottles in SF Caramel, SF Raspberry, SF Vanilla, and SF Hazelnut)

20 oz. Pink Blender Bottle Shaker

3 Quest Nutrition Cookies & Cream Protein Bars (brand new flavor)

1 packet of Crunchamame (Onion & Chive flavor)

1 Coupon for a Free 1/2 Gallon of any Silk Milk (Soy, Coconut, Almond)

an Obesity Action Coalition "Your Weight Matters" Bracelet and an Eggface "Remember Why You Started" Bracelet

and a $5 Starbuck's Valentine Gift Card


How to Enter: 1.) LIKE The World According to Eggface Facebook Page 2.) COME BACK HERE and LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

***Want an extra chance to win?***

* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway: Hey everyone enter the @Eggface Love Being Healthy Valentine Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/l5qg4s8

and/or

* Follow me on Pinterest and pin at least one of your favorite Eggface recipes or an Eggface recipe you'd love to try to one of your Pinterest boards.

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, February 9, midnight (pacific), sometime Monday, February 10th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. Remember winners MUST be a Facebook follower (aka have LIKED) of the The World According to Eggface. One ENTRY per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the contiguous United States (48 contiguous only, sorry it's a legal and $ thing.)

Eggland's Best Eggs Recipes from Your Heart

I was challenged by Eggland's Best Eggs to come up with a couple of recipes for their "Recipes from Your Heart" event, a special event to mark February and American Heart Month. Eggland’s Best donated $25 to the American Heart Association on behalf of each of my recipes. That makes my heart happy. Here's what I was inspired to create with their great eggs...

Shelly's Loaded Egg Bites (aka Crustless Mini Quiches)

5 Eggland's Best Eggs, beaten
4 Green Onions, diced fine
2 Tablespoons Bacon Bits (or Crumbled Bacon)
1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon Ranch Dressing Powder Mix, dry
a few twists of Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together.

Spoon into lightly greased (non-stick cooking spray works great for this) mini muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Let them cool a few moments they pull away and pop right out. Makes 24.

Great for lunch or dinner with a salad, soup or veggie side or as party hors d'oeuvres.

Another favorite dish using Eggland's Best Eggs are my Quinoa Burgers...

Shelly's Quinoa Burgers

2 cups Cooked Red Quinoa, cooled
2 Eggland's Best Eggs, beaten
2 Green Onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
1 Tablespoon Dried Chives
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
a few twists of Black Pepper
Salt to taste
Canola or Olive Oil to saute

Cook dry quinoa in broth (1 cup quinoa to 2 cup chicken or mushroom broth, bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer till no liquid remains, fluff with fork) and allow to cool. Basically the directions on most packages on quinoa. I just use broth versus water for taste.

Mix all the ingredients together. Using a 1/4 cup measure make 8 "burger patties." Place in pan and flatten slightly. I saute 4 at a time in a 10" non stick pan with a Tablespoon of oil on medium heat. Cook about 5 minutes on one side. Flip once and continue about 5 minutes on other side till golden brown and crispy. Leftovers keep in fridge for a few days. To reheat, nuke a minute then place under the broiler a few minutes to crisp back up.

Serve with Parmesan Yogurt Dip
3 oz. Greek Yogurt, plain
1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
Salt to taste

Mix till well blended.

UPDATE: Thank you all for entering. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner will be announced 2/9/14.

Want to make these eggciting and healthy dishes at your house... comment on this post and I'll choose a random winner to receive a super cool Eggland's Best Gift Pack. Your gift pack will include:

2 Free Dozen Eggland's Best Eggs Coupons
$25 Visa Gift Card
1 Super Cute EB Plush Egg

How to Enter: 1.) LIKE The World According to Eggface and Eggland's Best Eggs Facebook Pages 2.) COME BACK HERE and LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

***Want an extra chance to win?***

* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway: Enter the @Eggface and @EgglandsBest "Recipes from Your Heart" Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/na6sxbu

Contest Period Ends: Saturday, February 8th, midnight (Pacific), sometime Sunday, February 9th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have **48 hours to respond to my email** or another winner will be chosen. Remember winners MUST be a Facebook follower (aka have LIKED) both of the pages listed above. One COMMENT ENTRY per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the contiguous United States (48 contiguous only, sorry it's a legal and $ thing.) The Eggland’s Best coupons, information, and gift packs have been provided by Eggland’s Best. Your prize will ship directly from them, winner please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your gift pack. 

Good Luck!