EAT HEALTHY AND SAVE MONEY

Hi Everyone,

"With sixty-six percent of American adults overweight or obese, investing in a healthy lifestyle is a smart financial strategy that can yield a lifetime of benefits." financial expert Jean Chatzky.

Eating healthy is a big step to a healthy lifestyle. You can eat healthy and keep the cost reasonable by doing some planning first.

Checking out the sales at the grocery store can save you money, but only if you buy just what you need. When I go to the store without a list I always end up forgetting something I needed and bringing home several things that I do not. Does that sound familiar?? Step one is to make a list of what you need.

Did you know that buying frozen and canned foods are just as nutritious (sometimes more so) than buying fresh products? Think about buying extra when these items are on sale.

Buying in season also makes a big difference. I like to buy extra strawberries when they are at a good price. I cut them up, put a few in the blender and make my own strawberry sauce. This can be put into containers and frozen for great strawberry shortcake, or pancake syrup all year long!!!

How about bring you own lunch and snacks to work. Not only will you save money, but you will probably save calories also. According to the lunch savings calculator on American Public Media Website, brown bagging it can save you $70. per month.

This week at our meetings we will have more cost cutting tips - so see you there!!

Lorraine

How about this for a great appetizer!!

GRILLED CLAMS CASINO
8 servings (3 clams each)
2 points per serving

2tsp olive oil
2 slices canadian bacon, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove minced
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 dozen littleneck clams, shucked, bottom shells reserved

1. Preheat the grill to medium high.
2. Heat the oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon, bell pepper, shallot, garlic, and salt; cook, stirring, until softened, 6-8 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat; stir in the parsley and lemon zest.
3. Place 1 clam in each shell and top each with about 1 teaspoon of the bell pepper mixture. Place the clams on the grill rack and grill, covered, until just cooked, about 3 minutes. Serve at once.

KEEPING OUR MOTIVATION HIGH

Hi Everyone,

I'm back from England after having a great time with my daughter and son-in-law!! The weather was lousy - fog - windy - some rain, but we had fun anyway.

Vacation, holidays, and summer are a time when we have to keep our motivation going. How do we do that? Sometimes it means going back to the beginning. Do you remember why you came to Weight Watchers on that very first day? What did you want for you. Did you have a picture in your mind? Can you bring that picture back?

As we go along sometimes the original reason we came fades. We lose some weight, feel better about ourselves and sometimes the "immediate need to lose" diminishes. Our motivation becomes casual instead of intense.

To kick our motivation up a notch we need to go back to the beginning. First make a list of why I want to lose weight. Make it positive. Make it specific. Reminding ourselves of our "vision" for success can really make a difference in our motivation level.

Check out the week four book "Habits of Successful Members" for more tips on the habits that we can develop to keep our weight loss going, and our motivation on high!

GRILLED DRUMSTICKS WITH MOLASSES BARBECUE SAUCE
Makes 4 servings (2 drumsticks each) Points Value 4

6 Tbsp bottled chili sauce
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp molasses
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp minced chipotle en adobo
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 (3 ounce) skinless chicken drumsticks
1/4 tsp salt

To make the sauce, combine the chili sauce, vinegar, molasses, chili powder, chipotle en adobo, and garlic in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring, about 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, spray the grill rack with nonstick spray, prepare the grill. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt, place on the grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 8 minutes. Brush with the barbecue sauce. Cook, turning frequently, until the chicken is deeply glazed and cooked through, 5-6 minutes longer.

See you at the meeting!!!
Lorraine