Top tips for stretching those propoints...........

[choccywoccydoodar]

Hi everyone........

Just thought I might start a thread on tips for making our pro-points go further.............. I know from past experience if I eat all my dailies and weeklies I wont lose weight so I need to make my dailies go further. Any tops tips?

Some of mine are:

* I have recently switched from skimmed milk to unsweetened almond milk its only 1pp for 250ml. I think its lovely! bet more expensive but worth the save on points.

* I am going to get back into Cajun seasoned roast butternut squash. I used to love this instead of potato/ rice and it's 0pp!

* I'm really into frozen banana - chop it up and freeze it in bags for smoothies and also its nice to eat like sweets when you crave sweet stuff. 0pp

* I've remembered its better to plan my evening meal and work backwards so I don't run out of points.

* WW spread it ok too for 0pp

Any top tips guys? I'd love to hear them, I really want to shift this weight. :help2:

 

[Featherhat]

"Plan your evenings" is a definite one for me. I live with roomates, uni friends and we've often cooked together. They are mostly healthy and active and supportive of me, so its not as bad as it might be but I do have to be careful either to opt out of a dish or be sure to leave sufficient points.

This is where bulking meals out with veg is also important. Keep a frozen selection handy for short notice or after work/baby/kids quick additions and it stretches the meal right out. IF you don't like a side of veg or salad consider preparing sauces with extra beg in them or having a starter of soup to help fill you up.

Take advantage of all the 0PP herbs, spices, sauces, try something different to keep similar dishes from being monotonous.

If you are still dubious of sweet potato give it another go in a way you've never tried before. I hated it until I hate it in wedges-now I love it more than regular potato in anything. That goes for swapping out any food, give it at least three goes and flavour it in something you like to minimise the damage. Quinoa vs rice is also something that grew on me.

If you can't live without something point it and focus on other areas of improvement, that's the beauty of the system.

Speaking from my own personal experience, I was terrified to dip into my weeklies, and whilst I can't eat them all and loose what I want, I do have a safety bumper and have discovered not having a "meltdown" every time I went over by a couple helps a lot as went I stress I'm likely to retain a lot more.

 

[seadie]

I will be trying to have all of my weeklies, certainly wont have any trouble eating my dailies, only have 26 pps. I dont eat fruit so can probably have the weeklies and still lose. Will see how I get on

 

[Clairebear1000]

I find that using lots of vegetables is really key for me. Last night, I made a stir fry- 1 small ish portion of rice noodles (4pp) with 85g quorn chicked pieces (2pp) and lots and lots of vegetables (0pp) and a dash of soy sauce. That makes a very low PP dish for quite a lot of food, and only because of all the vegetables. The noodles and chicken on their own would not have been enough! Psychologically it's good too, cos it looks like I'm eating loads, haha!
The same goes for pasta and rice dishes. The WW portions are so small (I often double them) that I use lots of vegetables to bulk them out. Broccoli is particularly good! xx

 

[choccywoccydoodar]

I agree veg is the key! I must admit I like a decent portion. WW ready meals are ok but teeny and need to be served with side salad or veggies. I sometimes make spicy tuna pasta which is quite low. I measure the pasta and use a small portion but then serve it with a 'free' veggies sauce using tinned tomatoes, courgette peppers, garlic, onion and chilli - then add some tuna. Tasty and low for lots of food. Miss the melty cheese on top but hey ho, its a small sacrifice.

Stir frys are fab too......

 

[Clairebear1000]

Haha, I still have the melty cheese if I'm having pasta. I just have 20g of full fat very strong tasting cheddar. It goes further than you think! I do miss a properly cheesy mac'n'cheese though!

 

[scoobysue]

Oh I wish I liked veg... I eat loads of fruit but can't be doing with veg! I know I'm missing out but I have tried and tried and just don't like it. I can manage carrots if they are covered in gravy but that's it. I am like a child

 

[Clairebear1000]

What about if they're blended, like in pasta sauce or soup? You aren't the only person I know who doesn't like veg, haha.

 

[pattipen]

I was never fond of veg when they were sitting on my plate staring at me - but chopped up in a soup or stir fry, or my favourite way - replacing some of the pasta in a pasta dish with sliced courgette, peppers and spinach, and I have become a veggie fan.

 

[Featherhat]

I like most veg but I often blend/grate/chop things into tiny pieces it bulks out the dish so my brain doesn't see just a small portion of mince/meat etc and it also makes sauces very tasty, and admittedly there are days when you really don't want to see veg covering 2/3 of you plate. Even if its not a sauce heavy recipe a blended leek or similar basically disappears into the recipe when mixed.

I've also done a lot of spinach and courgette into burgers which again bulks out the portions, gives flavour and helps with your 5 a day etc.

Maybe you could also blend it into soups and then add your favourite savoury flavours so its not bland.

 

[scoobysue]

Now I do make a mean stew. I fill it with curry so I can't taste any veg lol. But that is it I'm afraid. I think a dinner with all the veg on it looks so good but still I can't eat it. Saddo!!

 

[Rochelle1]

Planning the day around the points in my tea I'm with that one, I need a decent evening meal to look forward to.

Pad meals out with veg, have side salads. Fruit with cereal etc. Makes meals more filing and portions seem bigger.

I use warburtons thins, ryvitas, bread from 400g loaves, ryvita crisp breads as they're lower in calories than large bread and do great for sandwiches! I love the ryvitas and crisp breads ,topped with laughing cows and cooked turkey or ham

 

[choccywoccydoodar]

Everyone is doing so well! I know if I make the right choices I don't need to feel hungry and can have decent portions. Scoobysue, what goes into your stew please? I like the sound of it!! Good luck everybody - keep those top tips coming....

 

[choccywoccydoodar]

Another ... Work things out before you scran them. Seriously.... One chocolate digestive for 2pp. Some things just aren't worth it. You need two,with a brew. Glad I bought some 2 point bars at the meeting, they are ok for a small treat.

 

[SlimmingKitchen]

Another ... Work things out before you scran them. Seriously.... One chocolate digestive for 2pp. Some things just aren't worth it. You need two,with a brew. Glad I bought some 2 point bars at the meeting, they are ok for a small treat.

I love the WW chocolate digestive biscuits. They are 1pp each or two for 3pp.

I also love the mini gingerbread men from Asda which are 1pp each and great dunked in coffee xxx

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins

 

[SlimmingKitchen]

Now that I am doing ProPoints & counting everything I eat I love to use a crinkle cutter to make my chips or crinkled sliced potatoes with my meals.
They look a lot more than they are if left in the usual shape lol. For only £1 from Asda they are great too. I can make 115g of raw potatoes go a long way now lol. xxx

 

[choccywoccydoodar]

Have to get myself one of these!

 

[SlimmingKitchen]

I had some crinkly chips earlier they were lovely. It also makes it easier for me to work out which chips are mine when ProPointing too. As I cook mine and Hubbys chips together in the Actifry, I weigh mine out first and crinkle cut them and Hubby has just normal straight chips. Once cooked I can dish up knowing I have still had the right amount for my ProPoints xxx