Let's eat healthy!

Hello everyone!! I hope ya'll are having a great week so far! I'm getting really excited because we are having a low country boil this Saturday!! I have been trying so hard not to spend a lot of money but it's been hard. I can't help but decorate and I'm sure ya'll know how expensive shrimp and crab legs are. However, I think it will be totally worth it and I just cannot wait! Also, if you haven't entered my giveaway yet you better get on over HERE and do it! It ends today at 4:00 pm EST!!

I thought I would share with you a great recipe I made for dinner the other night. For those of us trying to eat healthy and lose a little weight before bathing suit time rolls around, it is a yummy, healthy, and filling meal. Actually, here in NC it HAS been bathing suit weather for the last week!!

Low Calorie Manicotti

8 oz. fat free cream cheese at room temperature
2 cups of fresh mushrooms
1 package of chopped frozen spinach
1/2 cup of low fat parmesan cheese
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 package of manicotti noodles
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
A handful of shredded low fat mozzerella cheese (optional)
Lean turkey sausage (optional)

1. Cook manicotti noodles according to their directions, drain and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Thaw the spinach in the microwave, put in a dish towel and squeeze all excess moisture out.
4. Mix cream cheese and spinach together in a medium mixing bowl.
5. Saute mushrooms and garlic in olive oil. Add salt or herbs to taste. Add sauteed mixture to cream cheese mixture along with the parmesan cheese and mix together.
6. Fill the manicotti noodles with the mixture.
7. If you choose to include the lean turkey sausage, go ahead and cook in a skillet.
8. Coat the bottom of a baking dish half of the jar of spaghetti sauce.
9. Place the stuffed manicotti along the baking dish and pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over them. If you chose to use the sausage and mozzerella cheese, sprinkle them over the top.
10. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
11. You can also broil for a few minutes to brown the mozzerella cheese after it's done.


So there ya go!! It's not beautiful but it IS delicious and healthy. Of course you can cut the calories a lot by leaving out the mozzerella cheese and the sausage and I'm sure it will be just as good. Okay, maybe not just as good...but it will still be good I'm sure! What are ya'lls favorite healthy recipes?



Here is an example of what NOT to eat while trying to lose weight. I saw this while on my trip to New Orleans. I swear, people will deep fry anything these days!