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September 4, 2011
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 Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions Weight Watchers Newsletter #98
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Hi Everyone!
The photo above is how I feel right now. In fact I thought about having it be one person celebrating and then I thought that more than one is how happy I am...3 times happier than usual.
The festival was great this past weekend! It was full of people eating, drinking, dancing, laughing and seemingly having a wonderful time. There was an abundance of sunshine, but also a nice breeze, as fog sat on the coast just a couple of miles from us. Everything ran smoothly with no major, or even minor, incidences. So my triple happiness is all about this festival and the sense of relief I feel that it is over and all is well.
And so many of you showed up...which was so cool! It was great to get to walk the show and chat with you. And all of you commented on what you were eating...most to tell me not to look, or to judge. If you could have you would have been stuffing the fish and chips or carmel corn down into your pockets or up your sleeve...anything to keep me from seeing it!
I have to laugh at this as I feel like such a spoil sport when you run into me at the festival or at dinner in a restaurant...or heaven forbid in the grocery store! I love the way you stand in front of your shopping carts looking defensive or nervous.
So here's the thing...No judgment. I know it is hard to believe but I really do not judge anyone for their food choices. I think judgment about this would be absurd. I have been there, and even as a very healthy eater you will find chips and chocolate in my shopping cart. I do have steak, french bread, wine and sometimes dessert when I go out. Everything in moderation...including moderation, has always been my life philosophy.
So if you feel guilty the next time you see me out there in the world and you are enjoying food, then think who is doing the judging...because it is not me!
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MEETING TOPICS:
WEEKS OF
September 4, 2011 & September 11, 2011 
SEPTEMBER 4 - SEPTEMBER 10 2011
GETTING RE-STARTED
How do we get back on the wagon once we slide off? What are the tricks to finding that motivational place again?
SEPTEMBER 11- SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
ONE MAGICAL WEEK
Many of us follow the program to a "T" Monday through Thursday and then the weekend comes and oops...And as we weigh in we realize we sabotaged a whole week by this. What would happen if this week was THE week to do it all the way!
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RECIPES FOR THIS ISSUE
I was talking to a member yesterday who informed me my favorite restaurant in Petaluma had closed: Arams. We commiserated, as they served the most divine food. My favorite was the pomegranate chicken, so I decided to see if I could find a version on line. This one sounds wonderful and is quite point friendly!
I also decided having a recipe for tomatoes might be timely as they are beginning to do their thing in our gardens and at the produce market in a big way, so check this one out...
Click for more recipes on my website recipe page.
CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE RECIPE PAGE
(including favorites like: Oatmeal Pancakes, Crab and Shrimp Cioppino, Chocolate Pudding Cake, Butternut Squash Risotto and Black Bean Brownies...)
POMEGRANATE CHICKEN
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup walnuts, ground into a paste
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
Directions
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Brown chicken thighs on both sides and transfer to a plate. Add spices and chopped onion to skillet, and cook until onion has softened. Return chicken to skillet; add walnut paste and pomegranate juice. Simmer for 20 minutes, until chicken is cooked and sauce has reduced and thickened slightly. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over top when serving.
Serves 6 6 POINTS PLUS VALUES per serving
STUFFED TOMATOES
Ingredients:
- 4 medium fresh tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
- 8 radishes, coarsely chopped
- 2 green onions with tops, thinly sliced
- 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 teaspoons seasoned dry bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Directions:
- Cut a thin slice from top of each tomato. Leaving a 1/2-in.- thick shell, scoop out pulp and discard. Invert tomatoes onto paper towels to drain.
- Meanwhile, in a large non-stick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Saute the carrot, radishes, green onions, cucumber, peas, parsley, oregano, garlic and salt until the vegetables are tender.
- Stuff tomatoes and place in a greased shallow baking dish. In a small skillet, melt remaining butter; stir in the Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and sugar. Sprinkle over tomatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes or until crumbs are lightly browned.
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- Yield: 4 servings. 4 POINTS PLUS VALUES per serving
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Product Recommendation
The topic of the meeting a couple of weeks ago was meatless meals, and many member suggested falafels. Generally falafel balls or patties are deep-fried so I decided to experiment making them by baking or sauting in a sprayed pan. With the mix below it worked great!
These are 4 pts per serving, and if you stuff it into a half a pita and use hummus or tzatziki, which is a yogurt sauce traditionally used in Mediterranean cooking, you are looking at about 6-7 points plus values. This is opposed to 12 or more if you deep fry!
I found this at Whole Foods. The package directions say to deep fry, so ignore them and make patties which you can bake on a cookie sheet or saute in a pan.
SADAF FALAFEL MIX
For lots of other product ideas go to the Product Page of my website: http://www.healthythoughtshealthyactions.com/productpage.html |
Is this your doctor? If this does not make you laugh then you have not been paying attention in the meeting room! ...thank you Deyea in Santa Rosa! 
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two body, your ratio two to one.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain...good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?
Q : Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Oh no! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
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THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT MARKET
Two more weeks is all we have left for the market, so I hope you will all come and celebrate these last few days of summer with us. The produce is incredible at the farmers market, we have some new wineries at the tasting, and even a few new vendors in the main part of the market. I am also excited that Ellington Hall will be bringing their dance floor out and we will get to really dance this next week, and on the last week we close the market with the fabulous Jake Richmond and Leah Miller (Brothers of Siren) who have rocked the market several times this season!
HERE IS THE ENTERTAINMENT LINE-UP FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS!
September 7th
Main Stage:
Ellington Hall Dance Night
(swing jazz and blues)
2nd Stage
Edge of Town
(Bluegrass/Folk rock)
3rd Stage
Due Zighi Baci
(Italian traditional)
September 14th
Main Stage:
Dreamfarmers (5:30 - 6:30) (World beat)
Brothers of Siren (7:00 - 8:15) (Blues/rock)
2nd Stage
Marie Louise and Jazz Habit
(jazz)
3rd Stage
John Trubee solo guitar
(jazz/folk)
www.srdowntownmarket.com
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
There are no meetings in any location on Monday September 5th, due to the Labor Day holiday. Hope to see you at another meeting this coming week!
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CONTEST AT SANTA ROSA AND PETALUMA CENTERS!
There is a new contest beginning at the centers in the next week or two...And a nifty cruiser bicycle could be yours if you win!
If you get a friend to join you get one entry ticket. If your friend gets a Monthly Pass you get another. If you attend 6 meetings in a row you get an entry ticket and if you attend 8 meetings in a row you get another!
Now this bike is very much a beginner's type of bicycle. Upright handle bars, a big comfy seat and big solid wheels. So those of you who have been saying you want to get on a bike but have not, here is your chance to win one!
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"Enjoy yourself.
These are the good old days
you're going to miss in the years ahead."
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