Goal for Week 1

I love to cook although I have gotten lazy about it since I retired. My goal is to get back into it only in a healthy way this time. I am looking forward to organizing my kitchen again and making sure that I only keep healthy ingredients in my frig and pantry.

This week I am going to organize my recipes and then make up a meal plan and shopping list for the week. I'd like to start trying one new low calorie recipe per week, so I'm going to search for one to try this week.

Hi, I'm new to this. Do we set our own goals or is there a list of team goals to choose from?
I'm excited about learning new methods and techniques for organizing my kitchen, recipe box and eating habits. Having been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a lifestyle change is definitely in my future.

I'm lovin' this site! All the junk is out of the house...and I am cooking vegetarian most of the time. I've lost another 3 pounds this week and feel so much better. I'm listening to my body now to say when I'm hungry and when I need more protein. Overall I've lost 8 pounds in the last 3-1/2 wks. By changing my cooking style I have to concentrate on recipes and learn more about nutritional balance. It seems to be working!!!!

I just started this challenge. I usually plan our meals for two weeks and shop for everything. It takes some planning because I need to make sure to arrange the perishables for preparation early in the two week cycle. I usually plan the meals and make the shopping list on Saturday and I try to organize the list in the order that our grocery store is laid out so I don't spend too much time looking for stuff. I try to plan to have fish once or twice a week and to have a vegan meal at least once or twice a week. Last night we had lentil and barley soup in the crock pot. I also try to cook ahead - freezer meals and such. I will cook chicken or ground beef ahead of time to freeze for later, I will make breakfast meals (egg muffins and such) ahead of time and freeze those. I work A LOT of hours and have a long commute. I find that if the meals aren't easy and fast I am usually too tired to bother so I look for recipes that fit into our lifestyle. Planning requires some balance though because my husband is VERY picky. He hates fish, veggies and just about everything except pizza and fried food. Also, my kitchen is pretty small too. I have to work to keep it organized. Also, I usually take my meals to work with me each day (I eat six mini-meals per day) and keep healthy snacks at home as well - such fat free Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, fruit and veggies.

sounds like you are making progress. Good luck to you. I'm starting this week too and have decided to put vegetarian recipes in my diet to make a difference totally.
We have lots of good places to shop for veggies here and I'm liking tacos with veggies. What have you found that you like?
Carol

I joined this team a while back but didn't complete all of the action steps including setting a goal. I would like to start over. My goal for this week is to stay within my expected calorie range which is 1200 to 1400. I have been having trouble getting myself to eat that much as I get full too fast. To accomplish that goal I have added an extra snack as I usually wake up about 4 AM very hungry.

Just started SparkPeople. My goal this first week is to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and to eat healthy meals within my calorie range.

Tomorrow will be the start of week one for me, and I'm looking forward to it. I've lost 30 pounds on my own, and I'm beginning to lose motivation, and I'm hoping this will keep me on track. I don't have much money to shop with, but so far on this site I've found ways to eat healthier on a budget.

Hi I'm new to this team and have spent an entire year working and studying and not thinking at all about healthy eating. I actually don't enjoy cooking and I hope somewhere along the line I will develop healthy habits to change this around because I feel this is extremely important to me and my family.

Hi I'm new to this challenge. I love to cook, but being from the south we use a lot of bacon and greese for flavor. Now it's time to learn how to season without.

Hi Everyone. My first day on SparkPeople. This team fit with one of my goals, to cook at least 2-3 meals each week, with at least 1 new recipe each week. I'm reducing our fast food to only once per week. I don't like to have too much variety, because my husband eats at work so it's just me and my son (and he is very difficult to convince to try new things), and I end up with foods going bad, so I'd prefer to plan a week with the number of chicken or fish or beef recipes I will need in order to use what I purchase, and have a plan for both my son and for me. Sometimes makes it a little hard because he's not so interested in the same things as me or trying new things. I want to offer him options I think he would like, but to make sure they are a healthy twist instead of just 'easy'. So finding several recipes I could work with for each food will probably work best for me in getting started. I went through a lot of the SparkPeople recipes today and already have 5 printed ones to try. I tried a Tilapia fish recipe tonight, and turned out great, and was very easy.

I'm in!!

Shopped Tuesday evening in the produce section. Still getting organized as far as finding new receipes, I tend to default on what works for me & eat the same thing over and over.
So for the rest of this week, I'm using SP's meal plan.

Sandy :)

My goal is to efficiently meal plan and try to shop well so we don't turn to junk because it's faster/easier. I want to get more organized and scheduled about meal planning and cooking. I have gotten lazy and fallen into more prepared foods as life got more chaotic. We're a family of 8 and I want to do the right thing and really make things better... so hopefully my children will never grow up with the food battles I did.

Long term, I want to meal plan all the meals and snacks but for this week I am going to focus on planning dinner and snacks because they are my worst slips.

My goal for this week is to diversify my meal plan I have been eating spinach salads with chicken breasts. It's easy and I don't have to heat up the kitchen with the oven. I just need to find some easy light recipes for the summer.

Today is my first day on this team...I'm excited to get going and plan my meals for the week...
I'm a gradener and canner/preserver, so I have a ton of goodies in the freezer and in my pantry.

I am going to try to plan next weeks meals this weekend. This is always difficult for me as am single and don't like to have too much on hand as it often goes bad before I use it since I can make one meal last for 4 different settings depending on serving size. I freeze when I can but prefer to make small portions so I can have more variety. My shelves are pretty good. Another downfall is like an occasional dessert but have a tendancy to go overboard (portion control) so don't really like to have them in the house. Wish me luck!

HI YOU REALLY ENCOURAGED ME ... TO BE AT THE BEACH AND START A HEALTHY PROGRAM IS awesome
keep it going!!!
Pam from Pittsburgh

I am going to go through the pantry and refrigerator to check what needs to go. I am also going to go through my cookbooks and pull out healthy recipes.

I am starting over in the first weeks challenge and going to try and remake over more recipes
We usually buy healthy food like fruit and veggies and nuts. Only options are chocolate and chocolate covered pretzels and things like that.

After joinging this challenge last week I went home and took really look at what we had been eating. So, with the help of my son, this last weekend I pulled everything out of the cupboards, fridge, and freezer. I went thru everything and tossed a bunch that was outdated, took inventory and reorganized it all. Who knew I had 9, oh yes 9!, cans of sweetened condensed milk in my cupboards! LOL After all that, I sat down and made menus for the next two weeks. My son is not enthused about the addition of fish on the menu! I would always cook fish for me and something else for the rest of the family who didnt really care for it. Well no more. I've decided that I'm cooking with healthier choices, no more fast food or mac'n cheese, or frozen burritos.

I am really excited to get cooking!

I'm actually going to sit this weekend and plan my meals for the next week. I joined this team and slowly we've been changing our dinner habits. I bought a steamer and we've been eating alot of steamed veggies and steamed chicken and fish. Last night I made mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. Tonight I think I'm gonna do stuffed peppers using turkey meat or ground chicken. I'm really on board with this...just need to plan better.

research/search for healthier foods that are low in sodium and high in calcium

Edited by: MCNC72 at: 2/28/2012 (10:53)

We always plan menus for the week and try and buy healthier snacks to eat. It helps so you don't buy stuff you don't need.

Hi I just wanted to comment on being a foodie, I am a formally trained Chef and I certainly qualify as a foodie ( though I like to eat too ), this is a wonderful opportunity to not only change your focus on food but ways to create the same meals with less calories yet all the flavor, not an easy task! but you don't have to stop your Love of cooking and I suspect entertaining but develop a Love for healthy cooking.

My goal is to create a meal plan for the next two weeks that will allow me to have all three daily meals and snacks at my fingertips to avoid eating at the cafeteria at work. Have been doing great with lunch and dinner but now is time to plan out breakfast and snacks!

Try using your variety of spices on steamed vegies and lean cuts of meat just remember to back the meat.

Edited by: ROWROW43 at: 2/25/2012 (12:53)

Ok well tomorrow will be the first day of my first week. I have made good progress losing about 15 pounds in the last two weeks but probably not the healthiest way. Went to the doctors for a check up to make sure my health is good.

Tomorrow night I will have to work on my kitchen.

My only problem is that I am a foodie not an eating foodie but I love to cook.

I live alone and always cook alot and bring it to whoever I come across at work during the day.

So I have a husge variety of spices and other ingredients in my house.

I do not want to throw it away as cooking is my passion.

Any ideas or tips on how to continue my passion which of course all of my employees passion. lol

Well, tomorrow beginning of week 2. Did make a an egg, spinach, mushroom, ham & cheddar casserole which I ate for breakfast most of the week but soon discovered that I love my daily breakfast of yogurt and fruit... keeps me regular! Made my lunches all week and discovered 2 new salad recipes that I will make on an ongoing basis... BLT salad & South Beach Tuna salad... dinners I am still struggling with... its the time factor... been looking up recipes that are low calorie but dishes that I can freeze or that I can make within 30 minutes... which is all I have when I get home from work before I run out the door.

not my best week so next week will be better
I will be home at least last week I was at a convention

but I am happy to still be here

Planned all meals since joining. Had breakfast for dinner last night making low calorie pancakes with frozen berries and a little lite cool whip. It was like having dessert for dinner.

I'm working on planning 3 fabulous, healthy meals per day, rather than picking and licking and tasting everything in my kitchen.

For years, I've struggled to stick with the goals I've set to help me be healthier. I plan on using this week to become better aware of what I'm eating. I will use the nutrition tracker the best I can. I will also go through the cupboards to get rid of things that are unhealthy. I will also do my best to stop the grazing pattern I seem to have developed.

This is my final day for week 1 on this challenge. I have really been learning and feel a lot more confident in sodium intake and choices of using and preparing lower sodium meals.

Paula Day 7

My goal for this week is to make and eat South Beach Phase I friendly meals... mostly low carb recipes... have my meal plan written out for next 2 weeks... have tried 3 new recipes to date... and another one tonight.. as hubby is having steak... I am going to have a broiled portabello mushroom smothered in parmesian cheese...

Biggest challenge is time and I am finding that its either food prep or treadmill... must learn to make time for both! This is what I really hope to accomplish by week 4!

Continuing on and learning as much as possible about sodium.

Paula Day 6

Well, I'm still here and still learning. I'm not discouraged as I'm learning everyday.

Paula Day 5

Here I am again, continuing on with learning how to reduce sodium in my diet. It is becoming easier as I go along and learn how to tweak some things in order to reduce the amount used in eating and preparing meals.

Onward and forward!

Paula Day 4

I have met another goal this morning of now moving into the rung of new numbers of the 180's. It has been a long journey from weighing 350 lbs 2 1/2 years ago, but it did come.

Working on my sodium intake, especially in cooking the food is a little more difficult than I thought it would be, but I'm going to make this goal on my first week of this challenge. I am determined to.

Good luck to everyone this week.........let's keep it up!

Paula Day 2

Edited by: CD11380117 at: 2/3/2012 (06:58)

My goal is to start cooking healthier and get away from bad for you foods.

I have been cooking for my family for a while now, and I have my kitchen set up the way I need. Also I've been doing menus for a while now. My menus have always consisted of just pork, chicken, and hamburger. My goal for this week is to include seafood and vegetarian options to decrease our need for red meat. I don't want to eliminate it (I love my beef), but reduce our consumption of it.

My goal for Week 1 is to learn how to reduce sodium in more of the dishes I prepare. Learn how to read labels in a more accurate fashion in order to achieve my 1st week goal.

Paula Day 1

Edited by: CD11380117 at: 2/3/2012 (06:57)

Goal for Week 1? - I have done the menu planning for the week, reviewed the schedule to ensure that slow cookers have been planned for those busy hectic days.

I like the snack ideas - I will need to look into that for the entire family.

My goal for week 1 is to plan my weekly meals and stick to them I have to make breakfast & lunch for work,also I need to plan healthy snacks I sit at a computer for 9 hours and it is easy to snack unhealthy so this will be a new week for me.

Hello, I am Mokay and new to this board. I live with my daughter and her family so can not change the way she has her kitchen. But I do make my own meals, breakfast and lunches. So I am planning them ahead and I buy the groceries once every two weeks. I also have to pack a lunch a few times a week. I sit with my mother while she has dialysis. So instead of take out, I pack a healthy lunch.

My kitchen is all set up. I have two refrigerators, one I keep nothing but meat in the freezer, frozen vegetables and some bread. In the frig itself I keep all the things we get into daily like milk, juice, sandwich makings, fresh vegetables etc. In the other freezer is all my sons snacks like small pizzas, chicken nuggets and corndogs. I also keep a large box of frozen hamburgers and my ice. The frig I keep eggs (I buy the 48 cartons of eggs), fruit I like to eat cold, slim fast protein shakes, extra gallons of milk, my sons fast lunches like his lunchables, yogurt and any other extra foods that need to be kept cold.

My cubbards near my range have my spices, oils, sauces etc. Being I have a pantry that is where all my canned, boxed and dry foods are. All things in this cubbard are organized by types of food. That is on the opposite side of the kitchen in front of the main frig.

I also have a large china cabinet, that is where all my dishes are and under that is my pots and pans. This is right across from the range. Basically, while I am standing in front of the stove all I have to do is turn around and I have all things in my reach when I cook. So, that goal has been completed.

I am going to print out the meal planner that is on this site and do my meal planning. I have enough recipes to do a plan for an entire month! Plus I found some great reipes on the site. I want to start cooking more asian cuisine. My goal is to stay away from fatty foods and not to eat at fast food restaurants.

Edited by: DAMASON61 at: 8/9/2011 (03:58)

My kitchen is already set up fairly well, so that part is done. I went ahead and planned my meals for each day, but I will probably swap the meals around some. As long as I stick to the ones on my plan, I'll be fine -- even if I have the chili on Saturday instead of Thursday.

My main goal is to not eat out except once each week (that's with my dad and since my mom died, missing our weekly dinner out isn't an option). When I eat out though I can always (and usually do) have the soup or salad, or the soup and salad combo.

Another goal is to have at least one salad every day. This is the hard one for me. Once I've been doing it for a while, I'll miss the salad if I have to skip a day, but it's been a long time since I've been at point.

Goals for this week are :

to set up my kitchen more efficiently
to cook larger amounts so I have to cook less / I will start with 3 times a week
eat one salad every day
have a breakfast smoothies every morning
have one emergency plan meal on hand
drink more water


Edited by: SIMONATR at: 6/12/2011 (16:42)

Thanks for sharing the gluten free snack. I do have a sweet tooth some times.

LOJACK73 - I found a lower calorie snack that is gluten free if you have a sweet tooth. It's fruity pebbles marshmallow treats (found in the breakfast isle). Each bar is 90 calories and gluten free. I try to stick to my diet most days but I do have a sweet snack every once in a while. Good luck with organizing your kitchen!