An Off Week and Testing Eligible Batchelors

Bonjourno!

First of all, lots of apologies for not updating too often, it's half term and as a teaching assistant, it's the only time off I get! I've had probably the most horrendous week SW wise - not on plan at all. It's all down to being away from home, visiting my family means I can't cook for myself and I didn't think they would appreciate me cooking them a syn free meal. I've also had a lot of meals out - it was Valentine's Day just before half term, meaing a gorgeous romantic meal.. full of hidden syns! I tried to keep it fairly healthy, but then I thought, screw it.

Half term was pretty eventful, driving for 5 hours down to Canterbury to see my sister, niece and nephew. I started out so healthy by taking a pasta and sauce for the drive, but ended the day with a creamy pork pasta in the hotel,, with garlic bread! We also had a cheeky Frankie and Benny's as well as a Toby Carvery, the latter of which was definitely the healthier option.

I've also come to the conclusion this week that it's okay to have a bad week, it's not like I've given up on the plan or anything, but life does happen. People can't expect you to be on a diet for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I know any weight that I will inevitably put on this week will be lost within a couple of weeks of being back on the plan. I won't let a gain put me off track, but I also won't let Slimming World control my life. As of Friday I was straight back on plan, but I have to admit, it was nice to not count syns for a few days.

Anyway, when I checked my cupboard when I came back (not a lot there after 4 days away) I discovered that the only Pasta 'n' Sauce in my cupboard which I thought was syn free, actually wasn't. I thought that ALL pasta n sauce was free if you made them without milk and butter, but apparently not! So, I've put together this little diagram so that none of you get tricked into thinking you're eating syn free when  you're actually not.

I was eating the tomato, onion and herb one religiously as I was convinced that it was free, when it actually has one of the highest syn values. These syn values are when the pastas are made with just water, no added butter or milk.

Please comment below if you would like a Batchelor's Super Rice syn diagram, or any other brand I would be happy to do.

Enjoy!

Ciao 

x

Simple Carbonara!

Bonjourno!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling so much healthier since I started Slimming World. I feel like I'm not on a diet at all - I even had a bagel at work the other day and didn't feel guilty about it. I love that I can have foods that I love without having to give up much, though I do still crave the odd packet of crisps.. 
This week has been another brilliant one for me, another 2 and 1/2 pounds off which takes my total to 1 stone and 7 1/2 pounds! In just five weeks I have managed to shed 1 and a half stone of my body weight, which is unbelievable. I'm aiming to have my two stone award before Easter, that should be easily done I think!

This week I've found an AMAZING recipe for a syn free carbonara - a dish which is traditionally quite high in calories and syns. Here's how I made it:

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breasts OR 6 rashers of Bacon

Mushrooms

4 eggs

4 tbsp fat free fromage frais

Spaghetti

Garlic powder

Oregano

Cook and drain the spaghetti, leave in the pan for later. In another pan, fry the chicken and mushrooms in frylite until browned. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and the fromage frais, adding the garlic and oregano to taste (you can use any seasoning here). Add the drained spaghetti to the chicken and stir well, take the pan off the heat and add the egg mix, stirring it until the egg is cooked. 

Serve with your HEXA cheese (I used Mozzarella because you can have more!)

This is the creamiest, tastiest pasta dish I have ever had on slimming world. I would thoroughly recommend it!

Ciao for now!

x

Syn Free Quiche Muffins!

Bonjourno!

I can't believe how many people are tuning into my blog! It's a little overwhelming the amount of support that I've had from the Twitter community, and I really can't believe how nice everyone is. As of last night (03/02/15) I've lost a staggering 1 stone and 5 pounds - all in the space of 4 weeks! Slimming World is definitely the right way forward for me, I can't stop talking recipes and healthy extras.. I think the people who I work with are getting a little sick of me talking food optimising 24/7!

Last night in class was the first taster night of the year. Honestly, some of the food that people brought was unbelievable - a cake made from chick peas that tasted SOOOO good, almost as good as real cake and only 2 1/2 syns for the entire thing! I shall have to find the recipe and share it with all of you as that is the kind of thing that you can't keep to yourself!
For this taster night, I decided to make something syn free, I always feel a little bit guilty when I have syns, like it's something that I shouldn't have. I'm slowly learning to have a few more syns and feel better about it, but it's going to take some time! I decided to make some quiche muffins - amazing for taking to work or just having in the fridge for something to snack on when you're feeling peckish. I thought they tasted amazing, so here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

6 eggs
1 tub low fat cottage cheese
2 chicken breasts
1/2 pack bacon
sweetcorn
garlic powder and mixed herbs

Pre heat oven to 180 degrees then spray a frying pan with frylight and cook the chicken and bacon. In a jug, mix the eggs and the cottage cheese until it's all blended, then add the garlic and mixed herbs. Put the sweetcorn in the bottom of the silicone cases then divide the chicken and bacon equally between them. Add the egg and cottage cheese mixture on top, use a knife to stir them a little so that the mixture goes all the way to the bottom. Put in the over for around 30 minutes, or until they're browned on the top.

Enjoy :)
Ciao for now! 

x