Saturday, October 1, 2011

Last Night's Dinner - Sloppy Joes

It wasn't a new recipe, but it is a recipe that I found in an old cookbook and modified to make it healthier. I looked up the nutritional information on Fitday.com so that I could give you a basic calculation of what you're eating. Bear in mind that Fitday didn't have a category for ground turkey breast meat, so the fat content will be lower if you use that option, and I also use the "no sugar added" Ragu sauce, which will lower the carb content.

What did I make? Sloppy Joes on whole wheat buns with mixed vegetables on the side.
I buy the Green Giant Steamers because they are just a pop and nuke option for veggies that I don't have to think much about. I check the packages to make sure they're not coated in butter or sauce. They make it much easier for me to fit our veggies in without taking another hour to prepare them, which I appreciate as the person who works full time and cooks all the meals.

The recipe as modified serves 4. Per serving: 339 calories, 16g fat, 19g carbs, 28g protein. Buns cost additional calories - I didn't include them in the calculations.

1 pound ground turkey (breast preferred)
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp mustard
1/2 cup catsup
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
8 ounces (1 cup) Ragu no sugar added tomato sauce
whole wheat buns

In a large skillet sprayed lightly with cooking spray, combine the meat, peppers, and onions. Brown and drain excess fat. Add the remainder of the ingredients, stirring until well combined. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve on wheat buns.

This is a great recipe to use for cooler days where you are craving one of those belly-sticking hearty dinners but you don't want to consume millions of calories and clog your arteries. Not difficult to make, and tasty. Win-win-win.

The family's vote on this is a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Even the most picky eater, the Daughter, consumed her sandwich in practically one gulp. And she didn't complain about the vegetables, either, which is very unlike her.

Tonight - not sure what's on the menu, but it's due to the fact that I take my cookbooks and choose 7 meals for dinners, and we can pick and choose from those options. That way, I can still plan my meals and eat healthy but I can also choose what I'm in the mood for on that particular day. I need that flexibility yet loose structure in my eating plan.

This week's lineup:

Garbanzo stew, Cuban style
Black beans & rice
Chicken spinach salad
Spinach ravioli
Chinese chicken stir fry
Turkey burgers with side salad
Taco night

If you have a favorite from the list and would like me to blog about it, let me know and I'll make it for dinner that night.

Until tomorrow...may all your culinary adventures be tasty and healthy.

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