Chicken All Day Every Day

Hi y'all! It's Monday again but this week I am motivated by the fact that I will be in Colorado next week. It's going to be a busy few days but I'm looking forward to exploring Denver with Ian. I weighed last week and the three pounds I magically lost the week before came back. I didn't have a great reaction to this so I don't expect that I'll lose any this week. It doesn't look like I'll hit my goal before Colorado but that's OK, I've set another one for Halloween. I need to work on positive reinforcement for myself and also not reacting by indulging but hey...I have been needing to fix that for years. I'll tell you if I find the magic trick.

I know I talk about chicken a lot and I promote grilling chicken ahead of time to make recipes throughout the week. This post is no different. Chicken is a lean protein that those who are trying to eat healthy flock to on a regular basis. Sometimes it can get boring. The trick is knowing that there are about a million ways to prepare chicken. During the summer, I eat a lot of salads. I can get lazy when it comes to making salads because there's a lot of measuring and chopping but sometimes, I force myself to make one. I used chicken I had grilled for the week, tossed it in my "bang bang" sauce mixture of peanut sauce, sesame garlic sauce and sriracha sauce. Then after that, I added fresh corn from the cob that I had also grilled. Once you lay out your greens and add the chicken and corn, you can make it your own. I added feta, green onions and Greek olives. I used my ginger dressing that I've been using on everything. You really can make a healthy and tasty salad and this is coming from someone who likes a salad that is basically ranch soup with cheese and bacon.

Many fast food places are getting in on the "healthier" breakfast. This is great news for those of us who like to swing through a drive-thru from time to time. So far, the most convenient and calorie friendly option is the Egg White Delight from McDonald's. I've eaten countless EWD's as Cassandra and I call them. Now, Chick-Fil-A is in the game. I eat a lot of Chick-Fil-A. They have something called an "Egg White Grill" that's 300 calories. I've had it. It's got grilled chicken, egg whites and cheese sandwiched in an English Muffin. It's pretty good! I had an easy time replicating it at home using my own grilled chicken as well as a wheat bagel thin. While I do love the convenience of fast food, sometimes, it's just as easy to make it at home. See, you can even have chicken for breakfast!

Finally, I wanted to show you my little baby squash. I have been trying to grow a squash plant all summer. The first round was a complete failure but after making a couple adjustments I tried again. This time, I actually got some results! I was so proud of this plant! Ian named one squash Seth and the other Bubba. Seth is no longer with us and Bubba's health is failing. I'm disappointed but I know the hot Alabama sun and the size of the planter has limited the ability for the squash plant to grow to its full potential. My goal is to take a chunk of my yard in the spring and try planting a few things the right way. I never thought I would be this person but the joy my little squash plant brought me has inspired me to continue my attempt at having a green thumb.

I hope you all have a wonderful, stress-free week. AND ROLL TIDE!!! I can't believe I almost forgot! It's time for football again!