Remember my grocery budget goal? Well I’m happy to say that I’ve been doing a much better job at working with what’s already in my kitchen, and eating out less. (That said, I’m pretty sure the $$$ just floated over into my shopping budget… but I did finally find a maxi dress two maxi dresses that don’t make me look 3 feet tall.)
Anyways, since I’m going out of town on Friday, I’m really trying to use up all the fresh produce and things that won’t stay good for long. I did a pretty good job, but it meant I ate a lot of really random small meals throughout the day!
Breakfast
Nothing new here folks. o% Chobani, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and a sprinkle of cookie dough granola.
Lunch
I needed to use up some egg whites, so I microwave-scrambled them with a wedge of laughing cow cheese, and topped them with a black bean cake and a little salsa. I know you can’t see the eggs, but I promise they’re at the bottom! I’m not a big fan of eggs in general, but mixed together, this was delicious and packed with 25g of protein! I also had an unpictured and unexciting salad, which was just romaine, a little bit of Brianne’s Caesar dressing, balsamic vinegar, and a few croutons.
Dinner #1
Tuesdays are a little strange, because I have a young professionals group from 6-8, so I took a german chocolate smoothie with me, since I knew I’d be ravenous by the time I got home if I didn’t have something to tide me over. I’ll share the recipe with you sometime soon. This was delicious!
Dinner #2
I went out for drinks and didn’t get home until 9:30, and when I got back, I was craving some “bad for me” food, so I decided to make a light version of an unhealthy snack. I’d done it with zucchini, so why not with cheese? I’m actually not even a huge fan of cheese in general, but for some reason, I was craving mozzarella sticks. I literally have no idea why.
Healthy Mozzarella Sticks
- 2 sticks of light string cheese (I used the Weight Watchers brand)
- 2 tbsp bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp fiber one, blended into a powder (or just substitute more bread crumbs)
- 2 tbsp egg whites
- Oregano, chili powder, basil, garlic
- 1/4 cup marinara or pizza sauce (for dipping)
Cut the string cheese in half, and then length wise (or you can keep it long, I just wanted mini ones!) and pop them in the freezer for a couple of minutes. This will keep the cheese from melting all over the pan. Once it’s cold, dip into the egg white, and coat with bread crumbs. Sprinkle with seasoning and pop into the oven on a greased cookie sheet at 400 for about 8-10 minutes, turning half way through.
These were SO good. I think I have a new favorite healthy-pretending-to-be-unhealthy snack. (Above is half the recipe.) The whole recipe is less than 200 calories and so freaking delicious! Not to mention 13g of protein!
Favorite unhealthy snack? I have to pick just one?!?!?
I’m a fan of the cookie. Which is what is being made tonight. But to be fair- they’re not just for me! ha ha
Hahaha I have to be careful making cookies… because even though I don’t MEAN for them to be all for me…
These mozzerella sticks look so great! I never even thought about making my own! I love eggs especially with cheese and mushrooms. One of my favourite high protein snacks!
That cheesestick idea is amazing! Gotta try that!
It’s mozzerella sticks, actually! Melty cheese really does it for me. Excess grease makes me sick so I usually make a baked kind and it’s just as good if not better!
I love mozzarella sticks! These look great!
mmm I love mozzarella sitcks! what an awesome recipe!
My fave unhealthy snack is taro frozen yogurt loaded sky high with toppings. I’m not sure how to create a healthy version, as regular yogurt just doesn’t cut it, hahaha. I’m curious about that bean cake – I’ll have to try it out!
Hahaha I try to convince myself that since it’s yogurt, it’s not actually unhealthy
Mmmm, it’s been too long since I’ve had mozzarella sticks! I don’t think I can pick a fav unhealthy snack, but I’ve been on a fried pickle kick lately.
Haha I’ve only had a fried pickle once, but I was surprised to discover that it was actually pretty delicious!
oh gosh where to start with my favorite unhealthy snack!! I do loooove cheese, so cheese and crackers are a big one for me. But I also adore chips and dip. And pretty much ANY kind of dip…quac, salsa, seven layer dip, bean dip. Just give me some dip and some scoops and Im a happy girl
Oh my gosh, I’m right there with you on the scoops! The fact that there is a Costco size bag of scoops on our counter top right now is kind of detrimental to my health
YUM! I love mozzarella sticks, which is hard as a vegan… but I may have to do some experimenting with some cheese sauce recipes I use. Majorly craving this now..thanks a lot.. lol
Making those mozzarella sticks ASAP!!
And my favorite unhealthy snack?! Prob a huge, gooey chocolate chip cookie. Yum.
Funny I stumbled across this post. This week I started on a new ‘somewhat’ budget. My refrigerator at home is ‘empty’ (food is in there, just not what I’d like to eat lol).
Ohhh man, if I ate cheese, I’d be making those sticks RIGHT NOW. As for snacks–oatmeal raisin cookies are a favorite, and they’re so easy to health-i-fy (but ohhh, the buttery–or soy-buttery–ones are so so good). I also love Poptarts, but nope, healthy versions aren’t even close. Homemade turned out to be so much work for so much disappointment.
Oh I am so making these this weekend!!
That smoothie looks amazing! Can’t wait for the recipe!
Your breakfast and smoothie looks amazing! Happy WIAW!
I’ve been trying to save money by eating out less, but it def takes more planning (and i end up spending much more on groceries). Great eats! Your mozzarella sticks look delish!
Yes!!! It’s so true! I’ve found I really need to meal plan (and eat leftovers) or else cooking is just as expensive as eating out!
I’m a sucker for fries so sometimes I’ll make sweet potato oven fries but often it’s just not the same
I’m right there with you! Especially sweet potato fries! I can’t resist!
I love chocolate chip cookies. I could eat a whole batch
those are my favorite ‘unhealthy’ thing, I am a sweets girl what can I say.
i love crunchy snacks so chips and crackers are my weakness
Looks like some yummy food! Thanks for visiting my blog! I am glad to have found yours. I love veggies too! Really.
I don’t even understand why some people don’t.
Popcorn with lots of butter and salt. The funny thing is I never crave it until I smell it, then it’s all I want!
Yummm I can’t resist popcorn either!!
I have too many favourite unhealthy snacks! LOL. My recent favourite healthy snack is smoothies though – with enough cocoa powder they taste pretty indulgent!
It’s so true! I had a “german chocolate” smoothie last night that was seriously just as good as a milkshake, but healthy!
Yummm those mozz sticks look awesome! I’ve made them like that before too and always think they taste just as good as the store-bought kind. I’ve also found if you freeze them for a little first the texture comes out even better, but I’m just guessing at 10 pm after drinks you were not planning to wait around for that!
Yes!!! Freezing does help!! Depending on the cheese, sometimes it spreads around, if it’s not cold before baking!
Mmm, everything looks delicious! The mozzarella sticks look yummy
One of my favourite unhealthy snack makeovers is salt and vinegar chickpeas… I love the taste of salt and vinegar chips and these replicate the flavour perfectly.
Ohhh my gosh yes! I need to make more of those. When my friend came to visit, we roasted chickpeas in 4 different spice combinations and plain old salt and pepper might have been my favorite!