17 Day Diet - Day 17

 

So my first 17 days are up.  I think I did pretty well.  I had a few slight mishaps with peanut butter and pork but all in all, I stuck with it and I did see results.  I lost a little over 10 lbs. and my daughter lost 5 lbs.  Not bad for 17 days. I'm happy.  I won't be blogging about the next 17 days but I do plan to continue.  The goal for the next phase is to introduce more carbs.  But only every other day.  So I'll be adding some corn tortillas, beans and squash very soon.  

My goal with this diet was to relearn to eat. Healthy, that is. I had the hardest time getting focused and I needed a plan.  This plan worked for me but it won't for everybody.  Everybody who wants to get healthier DOES need a plan though.  Any plan, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Southbeach, whatever works.  But get a plan and stick to it.  I'm back journaling my food and that is essential for me. I don't plan to give that up anytime soon. 

I thought I'd share some recipes that I plan to make in the next several weeks as I continue on the 17 Day Diet.  This egg roll stir fry was really good.  Especially with added hot sauce!

This Raspberry Glazed Rosemary Chicken is one of our favorites.

I haven't had this in ages but it sounds really good!  Ginger Peach Glazed Chicken with sugar free jam is tasty without all the sugar.

I've only made this once but I remember.  It sounds great for the 17 Day Diet, I have Bombay Chicken on the menu plan for next week!

If you're looking for more recipes, Veronica from Veronica's Cornucopia has a pinterest board all set up for 17 Day Diet recipes. I've got several of them printed up and planned for future meals.

I found a bunch of good recipes on Skinnytaste.com also. 

There is a whole section on The Doctors with recipes for the first phase of the 17 Day Diet.

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Smokey Balsamic Chicken - 17 Day Diet - Day 16

 I love BBQ sauce.  What I don't like is all the sugar that comes in BBQ sauce.  I know, I could make my own which is much better but I don't always have the time for that.  This is kinda a cheating way to get the BBQ flavor, without actually having the sugary sauce.  

Liquid smoke.

I always underestimate this stuff. I've used it several times and always forget how awesome it flavors foods. This chicken is very simple and doesn't use many ingredients. It is healthy and full of flavor!  This is seriously one of my favorite ways to eat chicken!

 

Day 16 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Green Chile Eggs

Apple

Yogurt

Turkey (4 oz)

Peanut butter (2 tbsp)

Yogurt

Balsamic chicken

Green beans

2 bites of baked beans

I kinda snacked today. Peanut butter has been my downfall lately.  It's like it is my dessert or something. I'm finding myself dipping in there just to get a tiny bit. Today I was hungry so I ate a bit more than just a small fingerful.  It still all worked out well.

Smokey Balsamic Chicken

2 tbsp. butter

2 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke, divided

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup water

2 - 3 cloves garlic

2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts, I used tenders

3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. brown sugar

salt and pepper

In a large pan, melt butter with 1 1/2 tsp. of the liquid smoke. Toss onions in and saute for a minutes or so. Season chicken with salt and pepper, add to pan and brown for about 10 minutes, turning once. Remove to a plate, add garlic and one cup water to the pan, boil for about 1 minute scraping up the browned bits. Return chicken to pan, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 20 - 30 minutes. Move chicken to one side of pan (or briefly remove), stir brown sugar, balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp. liquid smoke. Boil uncovered until slightly thickened. Move the chicken around in the delicious liquid to slightly caramelize on the chicken. Serve with flavored onions over the chicken.

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Stir Fry w/ Sesame Sauce - 17 Day Diet - Day 15

 So what do you do when you have a refrigerator full of vegetables and you're doing the 17 Day Diet?  Make stir fry of course.  I think I used every vegetable I had.  I just kept chopping until the pan was full.   I love how pretty and colorful it is!  I totally need to make this more often.

Day 15 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Green Chile Eggs
Banana
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Yogurt
Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wrap
Yogurt

I've been eating a lot of buffalo chicken.  I like to cook a whole bunch of chicken in the crockpot and smother it with Franks buffalo sauce.  Sometimes I'll throw a packet of ranch dressing in there.  Then I shred it, or leave it whole and have buffalo chicken in my refrigerator to eat on salad or on a lettuce wrap.

Stir Fry with Sesame Sauce Recipe

1 1/2 lbs. chicken, cut into bite size chunks

1 1/2 lbs. broccoli
1 cup pea pods, ends trimmed

1 zucchini

1 yellow summer squash

2 carrots
2 celery stalks

1 red pepper

1 large onion
1 can water chestnuts

3 green onions

Sauce:

3/4 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp. garlic,minced

3 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar

1/4 cup splenda or other sweetener

1 tbsp. sesame oil

2 tbsp. cornstarch

3/4 tsp. red pepper

Hot sauce, optional

Chop all the veggies into bite sized chunks. Brown the chicken in a pan with a bit of cooking spray. Add celery and carrots and cook for 3 - 4 minutes. Add onions and red pepper, cook for about 2 - 3 minutes. Add the rest of the veggies and the sauce and cook until veggies are done and sauce is thickened, about 6 - 8 minutes. 

 

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Chicken Chow Mein - 17 Day Diet - Day 14

 I know I've shared this recipe before not too long ago.  It's perfect for the 17 Day Diet so I am sharing it again. The amount of vegetables in this dish is insane. It is incredibly filling and delicious. It's easy too, I don't measure the celery and onion anymore, I just cut a bunch and toss it in.  It makes a super big crockpot full of food.  Don't worry, it reheats from the refrigerator nicely. 

 

 Day 14 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

 

Green Chile Eggs

Broccoli Slaw Teriyaki Wraps

Watermelon

Chicken Chow Mein

Yogurt

I love having leftovers in the refrigerator. It makes meals so much easier.  Plus, putting together the chow mein in the morning and then coming home to an awesome smelling house totally rocks.

Chicken Chow Mein Recipe

1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast
1/2 cup water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 1/2 lb. chopped onion (about 2 large)
1 1/2 lbs. chopped celery (about 1 bag)

1/3 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup soy sauce
5 tbsp. molasses
2 cans bean sprouts, drained
2 cans water chestnuts, drained
1 can bamboo shoots, drained
2 red peppers, chopped

Put the chicken, water, bouillon cubes, onions and celery in crock pot. Cook for 7 - 8 hours on low or until chicken is ready to shred. Shred chicken and add back into crock pot.

Add red peppers, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts to slow cooker. Mix soy sauce, molasses and cornstarch in a small bowl and add to the pot. Stir to combine. Cook for about 1 hour on high until slightly thickened.
Total calories = 2242 calories
15 cups = 150 calories per cup


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Green Chile Eggs - 17 Day Diet - Day 13

I eat eggs for breakfast almost every morning.  Well, more often I eat egg whites.  This is an egg dish that uses both whole eggs and egg whites.  The green chiles are wonderful with the eggs. Don't be afraid of using both cans, it's not too much and it's not spicy.  They just give the eggs a wonderful flavor.  This reheats very well and I love to be able to eat it for the entire week!

Day 13 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Fruit Yogurt Smoothie
Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Caramel Mocha (1/2)
Watermelon
Chicken w/Buffalo sauce

Ok, let me explain.  Today was lunch with the girls.  I panicked a little as it was a new vietnamese restaurant and I wasn't sure what they would have.  It turned out well as I found a gluten free meal that wasn't too bad.  I had shrimp lettuce wraps over rice noodles. I didn't eat the rice noodles.  They were very sticky and tasted like nothing so I saw no reason to eat them. Then came dessert.  We went out for dessert. I found it easy to skip the cheesecake but needed/wanted something hot very badly.  It was like 5 degrees outside so warmth was desired. So I drank 1/2 and brought the rest home for hubs. Lunch was late so I ate "dessert" at home and had some super sweet watermelon and just a bit of chicken for dinner.

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Green Chile Cheddar Eggs Recipe
6 eggs
6 egg whites
2 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. flour (I used gluten free)
4 oz. cheddar cheese
2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chiles
2 green onions, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9 in. pie plate with cooking spray or just a wee bit of olive oil.

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the milk and flour, then mix in the green chilies, green onions, cheese, salt and pepper. Pour into the prepared pie plate.

Bake in the oven until the center is set, about 35 - 40 minutes.

Total calories = 1075 calories
8 servings = 134 calories per serving


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Teriyaki Broccoli Slaw Turkey Wraps - 17 Day Diet - Day 12

 

 I know this looks similar to a recipe I posted a few days ago, Asian Turkey Wraps.  I assure you, this is different though.  This is a recipe that I make every few weeks.  We love it.  I've posted it before but it's great for the 17 Day Diet so I'm posting it again. Plus, it really is awesome so you need to make it. 

It makes a really big batch.  You need a really big pan.  The broccoli slaw will fill right to the brim but it will cook down so it's okay.  This stores in the refrigerator nicely so it's ready for you when you need a quick meal.  My family generally eats this on whole wheat tortillas.  I put mine on corn tortillas or lettuce or just in a bowl, as is.  

It does use bottled sauce but like I said, it makes a really big batch so it's not like you're consuming a ton of sauce at one time.  Is that rationalizing?  Maybe, but I'm good with that.  :-)

 

Day 12 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Egg Whites with salsa

Apple 

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Yogurt

Teriyaki Broccoli Slaw Wraps

Yogurt

I know my meals aren't very original or exciting.  My morning usually starts out with eggs.  They are quick, easy and filling.  I've been eating a lot of lettuce wraps. I really, really love them.  You can stick almost anything in a piece of lettuce.  Salads are easier but the lettuce wraps seem more fulfilling to me. It is a pain to tear off the lettuce leaves in nice pieces but it's worth it.  I think that the 17 day diet frowns upon bottled sweet sauces.  I don't use them too often but I really, really like it in this recipe. 

 

 

Asian Turkey Teriyaki Broccoli Slaw Wraps Recipe

1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 large onion, chopped
1 tbsp. ginger (I use from the jar)
2 tbsp. garlic (I use from the jar, we're garlic lovers here)
2 cans water chestnuts, drained and roughly chopped
3/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
Red pepper flakes (I just put a quick shake in it, use to taste)
Salt and pepper
3 - 12 oz. bags of broccoli slaw (sometimes they come in 10 oz, it doesn't really matter)

Brown ground turkey in a pan.  Throw in the onion, ginger, garlic and water chestnuts.  Season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.  Stir.  Pour in the teriyaki sauce and sesame oil.  Stir.  Put one bag of broccoli slaw in at a time and stir after each addition.  The last bag might not stir in right away because your pan will be FULL. It's okay, just cover and let it cook down a bit.  Cook for about 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so.  Serve on tortilla wraps or lettuce leaves. 



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Cheesy Enchilada Chicken - 17 Day Diet - Day 11

 

Ooey, gooey and cheesy!  That's what I should have named this recipe. I'm trying to follow the 17 Day Diet and it's been a long time since I've had cheese.  I figured it was time for a bit of cheese.  I divided this into 6 big portions which is only 1/2 oz. cream cheese and 1/2 oz. cheddar cheese per portion.  I'm good with that.  We ate this with steamed broccoli. I loved the sauce on the veggies too!

This tasted fantastic!  Low carb, gluten free, super delicious and healthy.  What more could I ask for!?  My daughter is already asking me to make it again.   

 

Day 11 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan
Fruit Yogurt Smoothie
3 hard boiled eggs
Leftover Stir Fry Chicken & Veggies
Cheesy Enchilada Chicken
Broccoli

Weird eating day.  I went a little overboard on the hard boiled eggs but I was hungry and it was what was around. We're only supposed to have 2 per day.  Whoops!  I ate the bit of leftover stir fry after lunch which tided me over for the delicious cheesy enchilada chicken.  The 17 day diet calls for fat free cheese but I really, really don't like fat free cheese.  Plus it's not THAT lower in fat and calories considering the taste.  I figure with this dinner, each 6th of the casserole only had 1/2 oz. cream cheese and 1/2 oz. cheddar cheese.  Not too bad.

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Cheesy Enchilada Chicken


3 lbs. boneless chicken breast or tenders
Salt and pepper, to taste
2-3 tablespoons oil, divided
2 red bell peppers, coarsely chopped 
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red enchilada sauce
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Cut chicken breasts in half if they are very large. Heat about 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken in hot oil just to brown the outside well; transfer to a greased 9x13" baking pan. You'll need to cook the chicken in batches, adding a little more oil for each batch.

In the same skillet, heat another tablespoon of oil. 

Add the peppers and onions and cook until just tender, adding the garlic during the last minute or so; season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove the peppers from the skillet to a bowl.



Put the enchilada sauce and cream cheese in the same skillet over low heat. Whisk until the cream cheese is blended into the sauce. Add 3 ounces of the cheddar cheese; cook and stir until the cheese has melted. 

Pour the sauce over the chicken and top with the pepper mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 3 ounces of cheddar cheese over the top. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.



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Turkey Lettuce Wraps - 17 Day Diet - Day 10

We tend to eat a lot of sandwiches around here.  I've made sandwiches with gluten free bread but find that they aren't the greatest.  This month I'm avoiding bread altogether.  While I've made lettuce wraps before, I'm finding I'm using them a great deal more without bread or tortillas.  My daughter LOVES these.  She said, "These taste just like sandwiches!".  Righto chicky, they do! 

Be careful when choosing turkey. Many of the sliced turkeys are super high in sodium.  Find one that is low sodium and you'll be much better off.

Day 10 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Egg Whites with Salsa

Yogurt

Egg Fu Yung

Apple

Stir Fry Chicken & Veggies

Yogurt

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Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Sliced turkey, 4 oz.
Tomato, chopped
Cucumbers, chopped
Green onions, sliced
Lettuce leaves

Carefully remove the outer leaves of lettuce from the head of lettuce.  Place turkey, cucumbers, tomato and a few snips of green onions on lettuce leaves.  Enjoy 

Feel free to add a bit of light ranch dressing but we enjoyed these just as they were.




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Egg Foo Yung - 17 Day Diet - Day 9

I'd say Chinese food is my favorite.  Well, American chinese food.  You know, the stuff you get for take out and those huge chinese buffets?  Yea, that's the kind of food I like. However, it's not the kind of food that likes me.  I tend to eat way too much of it and eat it way too often. 

I have much better eating habits when I eat at home. So I have tried to re-create many of my favorites with much success. I've been making this egg foo yung for years.  It's simple and one of our favorites. It's also perfect for the 17 Day Diet.  I shared it on this blog when I first opened the blog and now it's time to share it again.  My other recipe used egg beaters. While the taste is the same, they don't hold together as well.  This is really a better recipe.  The picture above is an older picture. I did not have an egg roll with my meal this time.  Actually, egg rolls are one thing that I haven't tried re-creating yet. 

Do you have a favorite egg roll or any chinese copycat recipe?

Day 9 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Yogurt Fruit Smoothie
Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Bit of chicken
Yogurt
Egg Fu Young
Watermelon

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Egg Foo Yung Recipe

12 egg whites
6 whole eggs

1 cup celery, diced small
1 large onion, diced
2 green onion
1 can bean sprouts, drained & chopped a bit
1 can water chestnuts, drained & chopped
1/2 cup peas
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped (10 oz)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Foo Yung Sauce

4 small cubes of chicken bouillon
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 1/2 splenda or sweetener
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 cup cold water
2 - 2 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch

Cook celery a for 4 - 5 minutes in a saucepan to soften. I do this otherwise the celery is a bit too crunchy in the egg fu young.  Let the celery cool for a few minutes.  Mix celery, onion, bean sprouts, chicken, salt and pepper.  Stir in the eggs.  Heat cooking spray in a pan.  Measure in a slightly heaping 1/4 cup of egg batter and put in a patty on the pan.  I can get 3 at a time in a big pan.  Cover and cook for about 3 - 4 minutes until the egg on top is almost done.  Flip over and cook until you get a brownish crust and egg is done. 

To make sauce:  Dissolve the bouillon in the hot water in a small saucepan, add a bit of splenda and soy sauce and blend well over medium heat.  Combine cornstarch with the 1/4 cup of cold water to dissolve and stir into the bouillon mixture until thick and smooth.  Serve over the egg foo yung. 








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Green Chile Chicken Soup - 17 Day Diet - Day 8

This is one of my favorite soups!  The flavors are incredible and it's nice and spicy. I posted this before awhile back but I have made some changes since then.  I add more tomatoes now and I love it!

It is pretty spicy so feel free to reduce the rotel to 1 can rather than 1 cans. 

Day 8 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

Egg whites with salsa
Blueberries and strawberries
Yogurt
Chicken breast with buffalo sauce
Yogurt
Apple
Green Beans
3 tbsp. peanut butter

I made the mistake of not eating enough dinner before I went to my exercise class this day.  I ended up just eating an apple and green beans for dinner. My stomach felt weird and I was running late.  Well, it turned out to be more of a workout than usual as we had a different instructor.  While I loved the workout, I came home HUNGRY.  Like I wanted to eat the whole house hungry.  I usually keep chicken in the refrigerator and found that there was just a tiny bit left.  Like a piece that was 2 bites.  Why does someone leave a piece so small in the container?  Really?  Anyways, the kids had eaten peanut butter sandwiches for dinner and the PB was still on the counter.  I ended up eating 3 tbsp.  though I meant to just eat one.  Peanut butter is dangerous for me as once you start, I could eat a LOT of peanut butter.  Even though PB is not on the 17 Day Diet menu for the first 17 days, I still feel like this was a success.  I ate the peanut butter because I was hungry and needed food rather than just eating it because it was there and tasted good.  

***Lesson learned though - make sure to keep wise choices on hand so you won't have to just eat what is around.  

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Green Chile Chicken & Lime Soup Recipe

1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cartons of chicken broth or 64 oz. 
2 cans Rotel with green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
2 - 4 oz. cans of green chilies
2 - 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1/4 cup lime juice
1 1/2 tsp. cumin**
Salt & pepper to taste
Handful of cilantro, chopped

Place onion in pan with cooking spray and cook for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cook for one minute. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, green chilies, cooked chicken, lime juice and seasonings. Cook for 5 minutes, taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Right before serving, add chopped cilantro.

I cooked my chicken in a covered dish in the microwave. I sprinkled about a tablespoon of taco seasoning on the chicken before cooking and didn't add the cumin in the soup. 

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Asian Lettuce Wraps - 17 Day Diet - Day 7

 

Have you ever had P.F. Changs lettuce wraps?  They are phenomenal.  They totally rock. I skip the entre and just have the lettuce wraps as a meal. They are that good. 

 

A few weeks ago, I scoured the internet looking for a copycat recipe.  I found several different versions.  I tried one and found it to be just "okay".  Then I started the 17 Day Diet and knew that lettuce wraps would be a perfect meal for the program.  Veronica sent me a list of her 17 Day Diet friendly recipes and right on top was this recipe for the Asian Lettuce Wraps.  The timing was perfect, I didn't exactly know what was for dinner and was estatic when I realized that I had all the ingredients.  This was a perfect dinner. 

 

My first lettuce wraps used ground chicken, these I used ground turkey.  I always have ground turkey on hand and it's cheaper.  Plus, this recipe used coleslaw in with the meat.  That was my problem with the first wraps, they seemed like too much meat. This was perfect. I think I even used more coleslaw than Veronica did but we loved it!

I just know that these will make an appearance again on the menu.  The next day, I just tossed the meat mixture on a bed of lettuce. It's a much less messy way to eat them.

 

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Day 7 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

 

Eggs

Bacon, 1 piece

Ham, 1 piece

Blueberries

40 Garlic Chicken in the slow cooker

Broccoli

Yogurt

 

I know that bacon and ham aren't on the first part of the 17 Day Diet menu.  I caved. I did just have a little bit though. And I rationalized because the meat and eggs were both breakfast and lunch.  Then we came home to a garlic smelled house. It smelled amazing in here!  I bought a huge back of PEELED garlic at Costco for only $4.99.  So worth not having to peel all those suckers.  I've been using garlic like crazy but have hardly put a dent in the package.  Then I had a yogurt for a late night snack.  All in all, the day went well.  I should have nixed the breakfast meat and had a yogurt instead.  Next time, I promise.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

Adapted from Veronica's Cornucopia

 

1 lb. ground turkey

2 tsp. teaspoons olive oil

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1 tbsp. fresh shredded ginger (I used the stuff in the jar) 

1/2 tsp. salt

1 bag coleslaw

2 cans water chestnuts, drained and minced

1/4 cup green onions, sliced

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. splenda or sweetener

1/2 lemon, zested and juiced

1/2 to 1 tsp. sriracha or hot sauce

1/3 cup cilantro

1 - 2 heads iceberg lettuce

Drizzling Sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

3 tbsp. water

1 tsp. splenda or sweetener

1 tsp. fresh shredded ginger

Heat a big pan on the stove.  Brown ground turkey. When almost done, add chopped onion.  Saute for about 5 minutes.  Add garlic, ginger and salt.  Cook for a few minutes.  Add cabbage, water chestnuts and green onions.  Cook until cabbage is wilted, about 2 - 3 minutes. Then add soy sauce, sesame oil, sweetener, lemon zest and juice and sriracha if desired.  Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. 

 

To prepare the dipping sauce, combine all the ingredients and whisk to combine.  To serve, carefully remove each individual leaf from the head of lettuce, place chicken mixture on the leaves and serve with sauce.

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Chicken Cacciatore - 17 Day Diet - Day 6

 

 

Who loves spaghetti??  I remember eating spaghetti a couple of times a week.  Loading my plate with pasta, plus several slices of bread.  Ugh, no more.  I still love it though but just need to find a different way to get it. 

I love broccoli but I love it even more with a tasty sauce smothered all over it.  So I just use the broccoli as my noodles.  It tastes great.  Seriously.  Do this with regular spaghetti meat sauce or this awesome chicken cacciatore.  

The only thing I left out was the mushrooms.  Go ahead and add mushrooms if you'd like, I just don't like them.  I'm trying but I just still can't like them.  I don't know for certain how much spice added. I started with a teaspoon of each but I know I added quite a bit more as it was cooking. I like lots of Italian flavor.  

 

We had plenty of leftovers the next day.  Just for kicks, I put some of it on a bed of lettuce.  A chicken cacciatore salad.  It wasn't too bad. It was a little weird with the cold crunch. I've never had tomato sauce over a salad before.  My husband looked at me kinda weird but it was more filling than just eating the meat and sauce alone. 

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Day 6 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

 Yogurt fruit smoothie

6 oz. turkey

Blueberries

Yogurt

Chicken fajita bowl

Turkey 6 oz. 

I escaped veggies again today.  I kinda just munched throughout the day.  It was a non cooking day so I just had leftovers and whatever I could find in the fridge. I need to up the veggies though. 

 

Chicken Cacciatore

2 1/2 lbs uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed (I used tenders)
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 - 15 oz can chopped tomatoes
6 oz can tomato paste
15 oz can tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on low 8 hours

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Aztec Chicken - 17 Day Diet - Day 4

 

I searched my archives, looking for some low carb chicken recipes. I posted this recipe almost 2 years ago. It was so good, it deserves a comeback. I did make a larger batch this time. My plan was to have chicken leftover for lunch the next day. Instead, we all ended up eating way more than expected. It was low calorie, low carb, so it all worked out.

 

 

 I bought 2 bags of chicken tenders at Costco last weekend. I knew I'd be making a lot of chicken this week. That's okay because we love it!  The seasoning on this chicken was super tasty and the pico on top just blew it away.  I could eat this everyday. Don't be surprised if you see this again on my menu in the next few weeks!

 

I'm going to make more chicken tenders with a similar spice marinade just to have in the refrigerator for salads.  There is nothing worse than being unprepared while trying to diet and cut calories. 

 

 

 Day 4 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

 

Veggie Omelet

Apple

Chicken Cacciatore Salad

Fruit Yogurt Smoothie

Asian Lettuce Wraps (recipe to follow)

 

My recipes will not always match what my menu plan says as I'm 2 days ahead of my posts.  I made and ate this Aztec Chicken 2 nights ago.  I'm just giving you my eats for the day in case you're wondering how to eat on this plan.  I found several blogs that did this and it was very helpful. 

 

Aztec Chicken

2 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken
1 tbsp. oil
5  cloves of garlic
1/2 medium onion
1/3 cup cilantro
1 1/2 tbsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2  tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Combine oil, garlic, onion, cilantro, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper in a food processor. Pour into a large baggie with the chicken, mix and let marinade for a few hours.  

Throw it all into a big hot pan and cook until done.  Most of the sauce will disappear and cook onto the chicken.  Serve with Pico de Gallo. 

Pico de Gallo

1 lb. tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 jalapeno, diced
3 -4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper

Mix everything together and refrigerate until ready to use.

6 servings = 250 calories per serving

I had a serving and 1/2 and I am plum full!  I ate a whole bunch of green beans so my calorie count came to about 450 calories tops. 



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Omelet with Fresh Veggies - 17 Day Diet - Day 3

In an effort to lose weight,  I have started The 17 Day Diet.  I don't believe that there is one diet that works better than another. I do however believe that if you want to lose weight, you have to have a plan to follow.  There are many, many good plans out there, this just happens to be the one that I chose.  For the first 17 days it is basically high protein, lots of veggies, no sugar and low carbs.  I do get to eat fruit though. I don't think that I would go on a diet that wouldn't let me eat fruit.  It's only this strict for the first 17 days.  I need strict for awhile, my diet has been horrible and I'm excited to have a plan again.

Actually, it's really not that hard.  It really is similar to how I eat anyways.  The only carbs I am missing is the beans on my salad for lunch and a sweet potato for dinner. 

 

Omelets are one of my favorite breakfasts. I make them for the kids all the time so I've become a pro.  I often use Egg Beaters instead of real eggs.  The Egg Beaters are harder to flip and make into a pretty omelet though.  I often just have a "scramble" because it's easier.
One tip I have for a fast breakfast is to chop all your veggies ahead of time and keep them in a baggie on the refrigerator.  This makes life so, so, so much easier in the morning.  Peppers and onions are the basics for me, I always have those.  Today I had some broccoli and some leftover green beans from last nights dinner. I also had some tomatoes in a pico sauce that I threw in there.  Great way to clean out the frig!  You can throw any veggies you want in there.  I just chop them fairly small and toss them all together. 

 

I throw them in a pan and saute them for 2 - 3 minutes.  Then I dump my egg mixture over the top of it all.  If you're lucky, after a few minutes you'll be able to flip this baby over and cook the other side.  Otherwise you might just end up stirring it all up. 

 

My daughter likes me to cook the egg first and then put the sauteed veggies on half of it and then just fold it over.  This involves an extra step of taking the veggies out of the pan to put the egg in there.  I'm all about cutting steps, so I just throw it all together.  Hers is neater though.  :-)

 

Day 3 - 17 Day Diet Menu Plan

 

Veggie Omelet

Apple

Yogurt

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Yogurt

Chicken Cacciatore

Broccoli

 

 

 

 

Veggie Omelet Recipe

 

There really is no exact recipe. 

 

Throw a bunch of chopped raw veggies into a baggie or container in the refrigerator.  Add to eggs or egg whites as desired. I like to top mine with just a bit of sour cream.

 

 

 

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