Bell Pepper Nacho Boats weight watchers SmartPoints: 4

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey
1 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
3/4 cup salsa, no sugar added
1 cup grated cheddar cheese, reduced-fat
3 bell peppers

Directions

Remove seeds, core, and membrane from bell peppers then slice each one into 6 verticle pieces where they dip down. Set sliced bell peppers aside.

Cook ground turkey over medium-high heat, breaking up as it cooks. Cook until the turkey loses it’s pink color and is cooked through. Drain off any fat.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine cooked turkey with spices and salsa. Evenly distribute mixture into the bell pepper boats, top with cheese. Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and peppers are hot.


NOTE: If you prefer much softer bell peppers, add a few tablespoons water to the bottom of a large casserole dish, add filled nachos, cover tightly with foil and bake 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and add additional toppings, If desired.

Optional ingredients: sliced Jalepeno peppers, diced avocado, fat-free Greek yogurt or sour cream, or sliced green onions.

Yields: 18 boats – Serving: 2 boats
Nutrition information:
Calories: 145
Saturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 4g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 2g
Protein: 13g
SmartPoints: 4

BLT Wraps (3 SmartPoints)

Ingredients:

1 large stone ground 100% whole wheat tortilla
1/2 cup chopped romaine lettuce
2 slices fat-free turkey bacon
5 grape tomatoes, halved
1 teaspoon ranch dressing
1 tablespoon grated monterey jack cheese

Directions:

1. While heating Bacon to desired crispness, warm the tortilla and spread thin layer of Ranch Dressing on top.

2. Arrange the chopped lettuce and halved grape tomatoes in center of tortilla being careful not to overstuff.

3. When Bacon reaches it's desired crispness, chop into bitesize pieces and layer over the lettuce and tomatoes. Sprinkle with cheese.

4. Roll-up the tortilla and serve

Makes 1 Serving


Nutrition Information:
96 calories; 7.5 g fat; 8.6 mg cholesterol; 5.2 g carbs; 3 g protein; 1.5 g fiber; 142 mg sodium

Diet tips from Weight Watchers

It’s common for dieters to set lofty weight loss goals for themselves. That’s one of the reasons why many people don’t succeed. Lynn Pauly from Weight Watchers stopped by NewsChannel 13 with some tips to help.
Here are a few things you can do to help you continue on your path to achieving your goals:

1)      Shift your focus from “one and done” to “this is for keeps”: Replace the word “diet” with “lifestyle” because losing weight and getting healthier is all about making long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes that involve so much more than just food. Adopt this attitude and you’re more likely to make it permanent and not a temporary course in your life.

2)      Focus on the good stuff: Whether it’s the camaraderie you get from your support group, that powerful feeling of making a healthier choice or the energy you get after a workout, focus on those moments that make you feel good emotionally and physically.

3)      Set non-scale goals: Setting goals that are beyond the number on the scale is a great way to keep you motivated and on course.  And they don’t have to be big, lofty goals. Small ones like taking more steps in a day, trying one new food or recipe a week or committing to personal “me time” are all effective ways to stay motivated.

Speaking of trying new things, fall is a great time of year to incorporate new foods or recipes into your routine.  Apples are a quintessential fall food, and there’s so much you can do with them.

Chicken Salad
If you want to add some crunch to your Chicken Salad, fold in some apple chunks instead of celery.  This is  great way to make your meal more filling and vibrant in a very healthy way.
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Did you ever think to use apples in a salsa recipe?  Here’s a great Spicy Salsa that will add a touch of sweetness to any chicken or fish dish.

Spicy Salsa

Ingredients:
Apple diced into 1/4-inch pieces.
Chopped orange segments
Jalapeno, finely minced
Onion, chopped
Lime juice
Apple cider vinegar
Vegetable oil
Fresh cilantro

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, toss apple with chopped orange segments, a finely minced jalapeno, chopped onion, a little lime juice, apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil and fresh cilantro.
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Apple Braised Chicken
This easy one-pan supper pairs juicy chicken breasts with a tangy apple-onion compote. It’s a wonderful autumn-inspired meal.

Recipe link

Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
1 pound uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), four 4-oz pieces
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 large uncooked red onion(s), sliced
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 1/2 cup(s) apple cider
1 cup(s) fat-free reduced sodium chicken broth