Low Calorie Mexican Pizza!

When I'm stuck for dinner, I tend to usually make this, or something like it. It's quick, easy, and low calorie. Here is my version of mexican pizza!

What you'll need/Breakdown:

Low Carb 10" Tortilla: 80 Calories

Low Fat Shredded Cheese: 120 Calories (I used a mexican blend, 1 1/2 servings)

Fat Free Refried Beans (canned): 30 Calories (2 tablespoons)

Light Sour Cream: 40 Calories (2 tablespoons)

Salsa: 10 Calories (2 Tablespoons)

Scallion

Taco Seasoning

Cumin

Total: 280 Calories

HOW TO:

Lay tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Spread the refried beans over the tortilla, and sprinkle the cheese evenly on top.

Add taco seasoning and cumin to your liking over the cheese.

Microwave until cheese melts fully, I usually microwave this at 70% heat for a minute and a half to start, and continue in 30 second intervals until melted fully so that the cheese doesn't over cook and get hard. 

Once melted, spread sour cream, then salsa over the top, and sprinkle chopped scallions.

Cut into 6 pieces with a pizza cutter and you're done!

Todays Bento

Breakdown:

Cheese Cubes: 120 Calories (8 pieces)

Turkey: 66 Calorie

Rosemary Wasa Toasts: 70 Calories (2 sheets)

Laughing Cow Cheese: 35 Calories

Cucumber: 2 Calories

Hummus: 70 Calories (2 tbs)

Baby Carrots: 31 Calories (22 pieces)

Total: 394 Calories

Awesome 300 Calorie Wrap!!

I made this wrap for lunch yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I could eat it every day and not get sick of it. I even brought another one today in my Bento lunch. So fresh and tasty!

Heres the Calorie and ingredient breakdown:

Sundried Tomato Wrap: 150 Calories (SOMEONE find me lower calorie wraps!!)

Turkey: 66 Calories (2 oz)

Hummus: 70 Calories (2 tbs)

Cucumber (chopped): 2 Calories

Carrots (shredded): 4 Calories

Tomato (chopped): 7 Calories

Salt, Pepper, Dill to taste.

Total Calories: 299 Calories!

Thats it! Even with a 150 calorie wrap.

Quick & Easy Turkey Wrap

Heres a quick and easy snack or lunch on the go!

Light veggie cream cheese: 60 Calories (2 tbs)

Turkey: 33 Calories (1 oz)

Cucumber: 2 Calories

Tortilla: 75 Calories

Dill, Salt, Pepper, whatever spices you want to taste

 

Total: 170 calories

Bento & Snack

Todays Lunch & Snack

Breakdown:

Turkey: 66 Calories (2 oz)

Cheese Cubes: 120 Calories

Wasa (Rye): 60 Calories (2 pieces)

Guacamole: 60 Calories (3 tbs)

Baby Carrots: 22 Calories (16 pieces)

Broccoli: 4 Calories (1/4 cup)

Special K Bar: 90 Calories 

Total Calories: 422

Pasta Bento.. mmmm

Last night for dinner I made a crock pot Pot Roast, my husband and I had it over pasta. It was deeeelicious. But that also meant, lots of left over pasta. So I decided to make a really quick pasta salad for todays Bento.

Breakdown:

Carrots: 22 Calories

Hummus: 70 Calories

Pasta: 105 Calories (1/2 cup)

Olives: 20 Calories (2 tbs)

Chick Peas: 52 Calories (1/4 cup)

Fresh Cucumber: 2 Calories (1/8 cup)

Fresh Broccoli: 8 Calories (1/4 cup)

Kens Light Olive Oil & Vinegar Dressing: 50 Calories (2 tbs)

I also chopped up some scallions from my ever growing Scallion Re-Plant to throw on the top of the pasta salad, but I did that after I took the picture.

Tota: 330 Calorie Lunch

Bento of the Day..

Todays lunch & snack:

The Breakdown:

Small Turkey Wrap (came in kit, turkey & pepperjack cheese): 220 Calories

Guacamole: 60 calories (3 tbs)

Special K Sea Salt Crisps: 59 Calories (16 chips)

Pickles: 5 Calories (2 sandwich slicers)

Baby Carrots: 22 Calories (16 pieces)

Grapes: 21 Calories (1/3 cup)

Total: 387 Calories

Todays Veggie filled Bento..

Todays Lunch!

 The Breakdown:

Mini Pita: 80 Calories

Chick Pea & Olive Salad (with mushrooms too): 142 Calories (full serving)

Homemade Guacamole: 60 Calories (3 tbs)

Laughing Cow Wedge: 35 Calories

Baby Carrots: 22 Calories (16 pieces)

Grapes: 21 Calories (1/3 Cup)

Total: 360 Calories

And now, for the Daily Bento..

Todays Bento

Breakdown:

Mini Pita: 80 Calories

Ham: 60 Calories (2 oz)

Turkey: 66 Calories (2 oz)

Laughing Cow Wedge: 35 Calories

Hummus: 60 Calories (2 tbs)

Baby Carrots: 22 Calories (16 pieces)

Sugar Snap Peas: 9 Calories (6 pieces)

Grapes: 21 Calories (1/3 Cup)

Total: 352 Calories!!

Today, in Bento Land..

Todays Bento lunch box!

The Breakdown:

Turkey Sandwich Sushi: 180 Calories (two rolls, I will blog this recipe next)

Hummus: 60 Calories (2 tbs)

Baby Carrots: 17 Calories (12 Pieces)

Snap Peas: 14 Calories (10 Pieces)

Grapes: 21 Calories (1/3 cup)

Roasted Chick peas: 105 Calories (3/4 serving)

Total: 397 Calories!

Bento Lunch - Day 2

Yay! Another bento! For this one I used some left over chicken as the main protein in it. This is such an awesome way to reuse leftovers. 

Here is the breakdown of this Bento:
Chicken: 62 Calories (2 oz.)
Mini Pita: 80 Calories
Cheese Cubes: 120 Calories
Laughing Cow Wedge: 35 Calories
Hummus: 60 Calories (2 tbs.)
Baby Carrots: 20 Calories (14 pieces)
Cherry Tomatos: 18 Calories (6 pieces)

Total: 395 Healthy Calories!!

So I'm still under my 400 calorie meal marker, and not only is this lunch but also a snack! I already ate the veggies and hummus earlier as an early afternoon snack, and I'll be eating the chicken soon with the pitas and cheese. Much better than just trying to find random things that are quick during a foodstore run. Definitely better than looking at all the junk food around my office that would rack up calories and not be as healthy.

Bento Lunch - Day One

In keeping up with last weeks vow to bring lunch every day from home, here is day one! I couldn't be more excited! (no really, it's actually a little bit sad how excited I am over this)

Here is the breakdown of this Bento:

Turkey: 48 Calories (2 oz.)

Mini Pita: 80 Calories

Cheese Cubes: 120 Calories

Laughing Cow Wedge: 35 Calories

Hummus: 60 Calories (2 tbs.)

Baby Carrots: 22 Calories (16 pieces)

Total: 365 Healthy Calories!!

My current calorie allowance for the day is just about 1,400 calories. It will drop over time as I lose more weight. This is set for me to lose 1 pound a week.

I try to keep most meals below 400 calories. I tend to eat "6 small meals a day", rather than 3 major meals. It keeps metabolism going, and definitely helps with my stomach problems. It also makes it so you don't over eat in one sitting, by eating every few hours. I'll probably end up eating the carrots and hummus around noon or 1, and having the turkey and cheese a couple of hours after. 

Can't wait for lunch today!

A Typical Day of Food

According to my Calorie Counting app on my iPhone I am allowed to stay within 1100 and 1400 calories a day, in order to lose 1-1.5lbs a week. I re-started this app a week ago, at 142, and I was at 140.5 this morning. I'm sure it will continue to fluctate, but hey its a start. I'd like to get down to under 130, and it will be the FIRST time in my life I'm below 130. My all time low was a year ago at 136.

A typical day is as follows:

Breakfast:
Low Sugar Oatmeal - 120 Calories
Tea with sugar (I cant give up my sugar, the substitutes mess with my stomach) - 68 Calories
Total: 188

Lunch:
Minestrone soup: 165 Calories
Six Ritz Crackers: 96 Calories
Total: 261

Dinner:
Grilled Chicken, 4oz: 124 Calories
Quick and Easy Chickpea and Olive Salad (I'll post a recipe, way easy, way fast): 150 Calories
Total: 274

Snacks:
English Muffin with 1/2 tbs. Low Sugar Jelly: 145 Calories
10 Mini Salt and Pepper Ricecakes: 100 Calories
Tea with sugar: 68 Calorie
Hummus with Pita Chips: 200 Calories

Total Calories for the day: 1,236 - Well within my range for the day

On a day of eating that, I had zero IBS symptoms. Chick peas have become my friend, although some people with IBS cannot tolerate them. They are an amazing source of protein as well as soluable fiber, which is the "Safe" fiber for IBS-D sufferers.

I've fallen into the "same foods every day" many times. I've had oatmeal monday-friday at work for breakfast for the past year. At least its healthy, so I don't mind eating it 5x a week. It is definitely better than a bagel with cream cheese. At home on the weekends, I may have an english muffin with peanut butter and jelly, or a veggie omlette. Same with lunch, I tend to eat a lot of the same foods, just because they're easy while at work. I am trying to break that, and actually hoping this blog with get me excited enough to try new things, pack more from home rather than a can of soup, and maybe experiment with this "bento box" concept that everyone seems to be doing lately.

On any of my posts if anyone has suggestions or recipies they would like to share please feel free! I'm always open for opinions and suggestions!