Staying on Program While Recovering from Stomach Flu

This is the first time I have been violently ill while on Weight Watchers.  When I say violently, I mean violently.  I will spare you the gory details.  Feel free to imagine, if you like.  I used some of the skills I learned through having colds while on the program.

First of all, while you are in the throes of illness, stay hydrated and keep something in your stomach like a bit of dry toast or some crackers.  Gives your body something to work with and keeps you from becoming completely dehydrated.  I sipped water until I could manage diet ginger ale.

On the second day, at which time the violence calmed to just weakness and lots of rest, I continued with the ginger ale and toast.  Whole wheat toast can be too much for your system, so I ate whole grain white bread which gives you more of the fiber, less points, but is still easy on your stomach.  Depending on the brand, you can eat 2 slices for 3 points.  That's a lot of toast!

Toward the end of the day, I decided soup would be good.  A can of Campbell's tomato soup or chicken noodle soup is only 5 points for the ENTIRE can.  If sodium is a concern, get the lower sodium kind.  While Progresso soups already have WW Points on them, they can still cost you about the same amount per can and tend to be chunkier and harder to digest.

On the third day - day two of recovery - I added Jello.  The sugar free 0 point Jello is soothing and is a power food.  I continued with soup and a few crackers.  Late in the day, I re-introduced my Greek yogurt with fruit.

I will say that the upside of all this was that I lost 5 pounds in that one day of illness.  Once I was rehydrated, I only gained back a portion of 1 pound.

As you can guess, I won't post any pictures with this blog post.  There aren't any, but you wouldn't want to see them anyway!

Comfort Food!

For 8 points+ for 1/8 of this casserole, you can enjoy a filling comfort food.  This is a Weight Watcher recipe that I have made for my family, potlucks at church, and to take to families who need meals provided.  Everyone loves it and it is easy to make.  You can also freeze it for lunches during the week.

Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

I have a hard time finding whole wheat ziti, so I use penne pasta.  It works just as well.

Ingredients:

3/4 pound(s) uncooked turkey sausage(s), spicy-variety, casings removed  

1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped  

1 medium green pepper(s), chopped  

28 oz canned diced tomatoes  

10 oz frozen green peas, thawed  

2 Tbsp canned tomato paste  

1 tsp dried oregano  

1 tsp dried basil  

1/2 tsp dried thyme  

1/2 tsp fennel seed  

1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste  

1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground  

 12 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta, ziti, cooked according to package directions  

6 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese   

Directions:

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.

Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes.

Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often.

Stir in the cooked pasta and half the cheese. Spread evenly into a 9- X 13-inch baking pan. Top evenly with the remaining cheese.

Bake until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before slicing into 8 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Chips 'n Dip!

BRAVO for this dip!  If you love spinach dip, but hate counting the points, I have the answer to your snacking prayers.  <<Insert drumroll here>>

I have been eating this with carrot chips making this my new party dip.  Serve it with bell peppers, carrots, or your favorite chip (if you want to count the points).  Now...besides the flavor...guess why it earned a bravo?  ONE WWpt+ for 2 Tablespoons!!!!  Amazing!  You can eat 1/2 cup for only 4 points!  The Greek yogurt gives you more protein and more calcium!  It is available at Trader Joe's!

I have a recipe for a satisfying comfort food to share with you in my next post.  Stay tuned!!!