A Post To Clear A Few Things Up

HCG approved means that it is ok to eat on the HCG diet. You aren't supposed to mix vegetables on the HCG diet, as long as you do small portions for flavor (like 1 TBS of chopped onion won't make a difference). If you are mixing vegetables and still losing weight, WONDERFUL (I am losing weight while mixing my vegetables), but if you hit a plateau, then you might want to stick to just 1 type of veggie per meal.

I also use a lot of seasoning because you can only use seasoning without added sugar, so you might see me use a lot of different seasonings in each meal. I am a girl who LOVES flavor. Stevia Clear drops are wonderful too, because its a 0 everything sweetener. Just a few drops goes a long way with marinades, soups, salad dressings, and fruity treats. It doesn't add any calories or fat to your meal (like sugar would).

These recipes are also WW approved. I need to actually take the time to post the nutrition facts and points, but I have yet to find a website that will help me break this down. If you know any, send them my way and I will post the nutritional info. I am listing things as HCG approved for my friends that are doing, looking to start, or wondering about the HCG diet just so they have recipes and options :)

*I am also going to start taking pics of the food to help

Skinny Chicken Tacos

I ate half of this yesterday and the other half today, it was DELICIOUS! It is so healthy and flavorful.

Ingredients
1 chicken breast (about 200 grams of chicken)
2-3 smaller tomatoes, chopped
1-2 TBS cilantro
1-2 TBS finely chopped onion (white or red)
juice from 1 lime
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
garlic powder (a few good shakes)
2 tsp ground cumin
1-2 tsp of sea salt (to taste)
chili powder (a few good shakes)
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup of water

*I used Romaine lettuce leaves for my taco shells. Butter lettuce works as well. If you aren't on a super strict diet like me, then you could do taco shells :)

Directions
Grind chicken in food processor
Saute ground chicken with water, lime juice and garlic for about 5 minutes
add veggies and seasoning and cook another 5 minutes
Scoop and enjoy!

Spinach Saute

This one is husband approved and goes great with a yummy grilled chicken breast, steak or fish!

Ingredients
2 cups of fresh spinach leaves (more if you'd like, when cooked, the spinach gets really small)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup of white onion, chopped
1/4 cup of tomato, chopped
3-4 TBS balsamic vinegar
ground pepper and sea salt to taste

add vinegar to skillet, saute garlic, onion and tomato for 2 minutes
add spinach to the saute and cook for 5 more minutes
season to taste

Watermelon Granita

This is a watermelon sorbet (sort of). My neighbor Bonnie made it for me a month ago and I still have dreams about it :) It's from the Food Network.

Ingredients
4 cups of seedless watermelon chunks
1/2 a cup of splenda
Juice from 3 limes
3 TBS of finely grated ginger

Directions
add all ingredients into a food processor or blender and mix until smooth/fine
freeze on a cookie sheet or in ice cube trays (might be the easiest)
when ready to serve, remove and re-blend until smooth (like a slush or sorbet)
*garnish with small watermelon slice or mint leaves

Fall/Winter Stew with a side of cooked Cinnamon Apples

This recipe is a 2 serving recipe (my husband is on a diet as well). This was really flavorful with a perfect amount of spice. It has your veggies and protein. I am limited on my veggie intake, so I will add an "extra's" section at the bottom for people who would like this to be more hearty but still super healthy.

Ingredients

200 grams of extra lean stew meat
1 1/2 cups of low sodium broth (I used organic vegetable)
2 TBS red wine vinegar
2 stocks of celery, chopped
1/3 to 1/2 cup of white onion, chopped)
1/2 cup of red tomato, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
small handful of parsley, chopped
garlic powder (a few shakes)
ground cumin (a few shakes)
chili powder (a few shakes)
onion powder (a few shakes)
fresh ground pepper
sea salt

Optional Extra's
1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup frozen corn

Directions
Saute veggies, garlic and meat in vinegar
add broth and bring to boil, reduce to simmer
add seasoning to taste
simmer for 30 minutes
add 1/2 a cup of water if its too spicy or you want a bit more broth

2 pieces of garlic Melba crackers or Melba toast go great with this!


Baked Cinnamon Apples

2 apples, diced
juice from 1 lemon
2 TBS milk
1 tsp cinnamon
5-6 drops of stevia

Directions
throw on a skillet , cover and cook until tender.

This goes great with a non-Fat vanilla yogurt or a homemade granola. I just eat it plain.

Garlic Lemon Chicken and Strawberry Balsamic Salad

This was really flavorful and delicious!

I measured (raw) 100 grams of chicken (so a little more than 4 oz, about 1/2 of an average size chicken breast).

Garlic Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
1/2 of a chicken breast
lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cloves of garlic chopped
fresh ground pepper
fresh ground sea salt

Directions
* Combine seasoning and ingredients and grill on the good old George Foreman Grill


Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
7-9 strawberries (i used frozen)
1 cup of balsamic vinaigrette
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cloves of garlic
fresh ground pepper and sea salt
5 drops of clear/plain *stevia drops

Directions
blend above in a food processor and refrigerate

Salad
1 1/2 - 2 cups of chopped Romaine Lettuce
1/2 cup cucumber, sliced
1/2 cup tomato, chopped
4-6 strawberries sliced
a small handful of pine nuts (optional)
a bunch of cilantro (about 1/4-1/3 cup) chopped
(2)Melba crackers or (1) Melba toast crunched up like croutons


*stevia drops are a dieters dream. It's sweetener that is 0 carbs and calories. You can find many flavored ones and regular ones at a local health food store or online at Amazon.com
*Melba toast is found in the cracker isle at local grocery stores. It's also known as Melba crackers. You can get many flavors. I love the garlic and I usually crush 2 crackers up for my salad