Sunday, 10-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.
Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

Yesterday's meal photos:

Breakfast was an easy peeler, an apple and three plums which really needed using up.

All toasties are delicious and this was no exception.  Stilton worked just as well as brie (both are cheats on SW, to be fair) and, in the end, I made the cranberry sauce using three syns' worth of demerara sugar, some orange zest and some festive spice and it made enough for three portions so one syn per portion.

The turkey cranberry burger was delicious.  I did adapt the recipe somewhat - I added one rosemary and red onion sausage (free) and used fresh thyme 9nstead of dried thyme and sage.

It made enough for portions so I had the burger last night and I have some Christmas meatbaubles for dinner today.

And I didn't put cheese in the middle, I crumbled some over the top - easier and less messy! 

Dessert was an apple.

Today's meal plans:

B:  fruit

SW:  syn free

L:  Christmas Yorkshire wrap 🎄, various veg; fruit

This is a take on the Pinch of Nom beef yorkshire wrap.  I plan to make the yorkshire as usual and properly use it as a wrap with turkey or chicken, a piggy in a blanket and some cranberry sauce inside - and, maybe a roastie and a roasted parsnip, depending on how much room there is.

I thought this recipe was just in the book but it's also on the site:  I just make the wrap and add my own fillings or use it as a platter.  https://pinchofnom.com/recipes/yorkshire-pudding-wrap/#google_vignette

SW:  four and a half syns for the Yorkshire wrap, two syns for one chipolata and one syn for cranberry sauce.  Oh, and part of an A for milk.

D:   Christmas meatbaubles 🎄, cheesy pasta, salad

Lovely name, isn't it?  Another idea from Pinch of Nom but I realised that the burger recipe I used yesterday was very similar so I used half of what I made to make the meatbaubles for today.  I will add extra veg to the cheesy pasta to bulk it all out and make sure I have my 'speed veg' for the day.

(I think they'd also be nice with some crumbled chestnuts added but the syns are high enough today.  Maybe later on in the week.

Here's the actual meatbaubles recipe.  I'm not making the sauce.
  https://pinchofnom.com/?s=Christmas%20meatbaubles&type=recipes

SW:  it's a bit tricky to work out the syns but it's around two syns plus a healthy extra A to mix with the pasta and a bit of a B for breadcrumbs in the baubles

Exercise:   online pre-recorded shimmy class

Summary:

up to two healthy extra As

half (ish) a healthy extra B

nine and a half syns

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Saturday, 09-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.
Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

I was so pleased at weigh in yesterday.  Yes, I had gained from a fortnight ago but I didn't weigh last week because I knew it would be bad so, in fact, I lost a bit.  Best of all, I'm still in target range - just!  Phew.

So that's another shiny star on the Christmas Tree.

Yesterday's meal photos:

Breakfast was just fruit so no photos - I don't see the point really.

Things were a bit complicated for much of the morning and early afternoon so when I finally got home, I needed something quick and easy so just had beans on toast and it was lovely.
Mind you - have you noticed and there seems to be more sauce than beans nowadays.  Maybe it is just the Sainsbury's ones.  I must get some Morrisons ones and see if there's any difference.

The steak for dinner wasn't the nicest one I have ever had - you don't expect a fillet steak to be chewy, do you - but the crumbled Stilton on top was delicious and I must do that again.

Later on . . .

Some nibbles and a few drinks during a four way Messenger Christmas get-together put me well above syns but that's no problem, I'm back on it today.

Today's meal plans:

B:  fruit

I'm carrying on with this breakfast strategy as it suits me really well.

SW:  syn free

L:  Christmas toastie 🎄, salad; fruit

Yes, again.  I still have cooked turkey and ham to use up and I love, love, love it!  I can't use brie because that's all gone but I do have Stilton so - another cheat because Stilton isn't an A choice really.

SW:  one healthy extra A (sort of), one B and two syns for cranberry sauce unless I make my own in which case it will be no syns.

D: turkey cranberry burger, roasted veg, sprouts; fruit

This is a Pinch of Nom recipe.  I went onto the site, put 'Christmas' in the search box and up popped several festive themed ideas/recipes.

Here's the link.  https://pinchofnom.com/recipes/turkey-cranberry-burgers/  Just scroll down past all the adverts . . .

I will make a few changes:  using wholemeal breadcrumbs instead of panko ones for a start, using 100g turkey mince because that's how it is frozen and adjusting the other amounts, etc.  Also, I will just make the burger(s), not add a bun, mayo, cranberry sauce, etc - although I might do that another day.
I hope it tastes as nice as it sounds - because it sounds delish.

SW:  the dried cranberries will be one and a half syns, the breadcrumbs are one syn, some cheese in the middle will be part of an A, and I believe the rest is all speed and free.

Exercise:   just houseworky type exercise.

Summary:

up to two healthy extra As (sort of)

one healthy extra B

four and a half syns (I think)

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Friday, 08-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

It's SW group today.  I'm in two minds whether to weigh or not.  I don't HAVE to but perhaps it would be sensible, just to see what the damage is.  Oh, I may as well, then I know what I need to do for next week which is my last before the cruise.

I'll let you know tomorrow!

Yesterday's meal photos:

Breakfast was a banana.  I really didn't want anything else.

This isn't yesterday's lunch but it's the same - a turkey, ham, brie and cranberry toastie.

I had a friend here and it just wasn't appropriate to take any photos.
We had a ham, turkey, brie and cranberry toastie with a salad and it was scrumptious!

We had an easy peeler each for afters and it kept me going until dinner time.

I had planned to have a samosa and some rice with this curry but when it came to it I was perfectly happy to add vegetables to the turkey and ham in the sauce and to finish off the salad that was left over from lunch instead.

No need for dessert.  This was very filling.

Today's meal plans:

B:  fruit

I'm pretty busy this morning so will have fruit on the run, so to speak.

SW:  syn free

L: Festive pancakes or waffles 🎄, fruit and yogurt

I'll make the pancakes festive by flavouring them with my festive spice mix.  I know it's breakfast really but why not?  

SW:  half a healthy extra B

D:   steak, chips, mushrooms and tomatoes; fruit

I don't know how to make this Christmassy but not to worry, a nice steak is a treat at any time, isn't it?

SW:  one syn for 15g Dijon mustard

Edit - yes, I do.  I will get some stilton and crumble it over the steak.  According to Nutracheck, 30g stilton is 123 calories which is the equivalent of what's in a Healthy A so, like the brie, I will cheat a bit.
It's making it work, that's the main thing over this season.

Exercise: walking

Summary:

one healthy extra A (for the stilton)  

one healthy extra B

one syn

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Thursday, 07-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

Yesterday's meal photos:

I just had a banana for breakfast

I found a portion of my tomato, roasted red pepper and lentil soup - very tasty, very filling and very healthy

Dinner was nice too.  I totally forgot to put any h m cranberry sauce on the chicken but not to worry.

The wine tasting event was great fun but I'm not used to drinking so fast or mixing drinks like that and I have a 'muggy' head this morning.
The price you pay!

Today's meal plans:

B:  fruit and yoghurt

. . . if I want any -I probably won't.

SW:  syn free

L:  turkey, brie and cranberry toastie 🎄, finger salad; fruit

I know I had this on Tuesday but I have a friend over and I know this works.

SW:  one healthy extra A, one healthy extra B, one and a half syns

D: turkey curry 🎄, rice, maybe a samosa; fruit

I'm going to be lazy this evening and use some Mayflower chinese curry mix.  It counts as festive because I'm using up leftover turkey!

SW:  It's quite hard to work out the syns - it will be around four, I think.  One vegetable samosa (from Iceland) is two syns

Exercise:  none today apart from everyday activity

Summary:

one healthy extra A

one healthy extra B

seven and a half syns

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Wednesday, 06-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

Today, in particular, I am being very careful as I am 'going' to an online wine tasting 'event' (good old Zoom) via Naked Wines.
The supplies have already arrived - two whites, three reds and one port - in sort of mini tetra-packs.  The whites are in the fridge!

The bumph that came with the wines says
1.  Set up a couple of wine glasses and get your favourite Christmas nibbles at the ready.
2.  Grab your white wines from the fridge
3:  Use the details on the right to join Matt on Zoom . . .   etc.

OK, so no Christmas nibbles as I plan to have a substantial dinner beforehand to stop the usual wine induced scoffing - I will have some fruit nearby, if needed - and I will have a jug of water to hand.  Each sample is just 100 mls - but six of them.  Hmmmmm.

Definitely off plan today and am focusing on calories instead of syns, etc.  Not exactly counting calories, I don't want to do that, but I have roughly checked the calories for the wine and I can stay in a deficit providing I eat carefully through the day.

Yesterday's meal photos:

Breakfast was on the run - an apple before groove class and some pineapple and a banana afterwards.  No photo.

I had started nibbling around the crust before I remembered a photo of this Christmas toastie - opps.

 

It was so, so delicious and really Christmassy.  Filling too.  It set me up for the whole afternoon.

Another delicious one.  Cheesy pasta with mushrooms underneath, topped with broccoli and cranberry and chestnut falafels.  

I have to do this again, I really do!  It was good.

Today's meal plans:

B:  fruit and yogurt

SW:  syn free

L:  soup; fruit

I have a couple of different portions of soup in the freezer which makes life easy (assuming I can find them!)
SW:  syn free

D:   chicken, cranberry sauce 🎄, chips, salad

I had planned to be carb free but realised that actually carbs are great for soaking up the alcohol.  I will get a chicken sizzler, rub some of the Just Spices chicken seasoning over (it's so delicious) and bake in Nellie.  If I have cranberry sauce, I will make it so it's syn free (in my book it's syn free anyway)
SW:  should be syn free

And that wine tasting.

Exercise:  personal training

Summary:

No As or Bs today
no syns until the wine tasting which will take me well over.  Just a one off and straight back on plan tomorrow.

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Tuesday, 05-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

I was going to have a friend round today but we have had to reschedule for next week.  She is a SW girl though so it doesn't change the planning at all.

Yesterday's meal photos:

Smoked salmon and avocado go so very well on a bagel, especially with avocado topping sprinkled over.
A lovely breakfast.

This is what Alex and I had for lunch.
Turkey and ham (and a couple of pigs in blankets for Alex), roast potatoes, parsnips and onion and carrot, sprouts and cauliflower.

So delicious,

Later on, after moving some stuff around, we had a mince pie each from the freezer with a splash of cream.

Alex polished off the roast potatoes and parsnips but there were leftovers of everything else so . . .

I lay the ham and turkey in the bottom of an oven dish, spread over the veg, poured over the gravy and reheated it in the microwave.  Then I sprinkled over a good portion of grated cheese (2 x A) and popped the dish in Nellie for around ten minutes.

It was delish.

Today's meal plans:

B:  fruit and yogurt

Something easy and simple because I will be pushed for time.
SW:  syn free

L:   christmas toastie 🎄, side salad; fruit

Leftovers of ham and turkey with some cheese and some cranberry sauce - because you have to, don't you?

SW:  I'm cheating a bit and counting 40g brie as a healthy extra A - which is isn't because not enough calcium - so shhhhhhh; the calories work though.  Also one B and one and a half syns for cranberry sauce.

D:  spaghetti carbonara with cranberry and chestnut falafels 🎄; fruit/yogurt

So,  basically, cheesy spaghetti with falafels and I will cook some mushrooms to go in the spaghetti carbonara.  

Or I might forget about the carbonara sauce and just melt in some Seriously Light cheese spread instead.  Easier and I don't have to worry about accidental scrambled egg.  I enjoy scrambled eggs but not with spaghetti!

Should be nice enough, whichever I do.

SW:  three and a half syns for the falafels and one A for grated hard Italian cheese or cheese spread.

Exercise:  Groove class - last of the block.

Summary:

two healthy extra As (sort of)

one healthy extra B

five syns

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Monday, 04-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

Yesterday's meal photos:

It was a busy morning and by the time I was ready for 'breakfast', I really couldn't be bothered with an all day thingy so I used ryvita (fruit crunch and a B), Seriously Light spread (part of an A) and some slices of the leanest ham I've ever seen (Sainsbury's Be Good To Yourself) that I cooked in my air fryer earlier.

A bit grab and go but actually really nice.

Afternoon tea started with some prosecco which got us all chatting . . .

And then in came the food.  Apologies for the bad photo but you can see what was on offer.  Lovely sandwiches, excellent scones and some lovely, squidgy cakes.

It was hard, believe me, but I managed to force it all down.  😇

Much later, in the evening, I wasn't that hungry so I just has a couple more slices of ham - very nice too.

Today's meal plans:

B:  avocado bagel with smoked salmon 🎄 (smoked salmon is definitely festive!)

Really looking forward to this.

SW:  one healthy extra B for a bagel, three syns for 40g avocado

L:   roast turkey dinner 🎄; fruit

Alex is coming round after circuits and I've promised him a roast turkey dinner.  I have ham too and will make him a few pigs in blankets as he really loves them.

SW:  about three syns for some pigs in blankets gravy and one and a half for cranberry sauce

D:  leftovers 🎄 :  fruit/yogurt

There will be leftovers but what and how much will determine what I do with them.  Watch this space.

There will definitely be turkey and ham.  Maybe a leftovers curry?  I really don't know right now, first thing on the morning.

SW:  unknown at the moment, maybe syn free but time will tell.

Exercise:   small group circuits class

Summary:

possibly a healthy extra A in the evening

one healthy extra B

seven and a half syns plus whatever I have for dinner

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Sunday, 03-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

Today, I have to be off plan as this afternoon I'm off to a Lindsey organised afternoon tea at the County Hotel.  Fun, posh and calorific.
Oh, well!!

Yesterday's meal photos:

Bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast and jolly nice too!

The smoked salmon pate was really nice - but next time I will add a touch of nutmeg, I think.

It was

smoked salmon - I couldn't find trimmings which would have been best really - a couple of slices (go by taste and add more if necessary)

80-ish g Philadelphia light

lemon zest and juice black pepper (no salt)

Bung in a small blender and zizz until it is how you want it.

Sadly, what with watching Doctor Who and then Strictly, I totally forgot to photo dinner - the falafels were lovely!
I added an edit yesterday to say that I worked out the synnable calories (just the chestnuts) and divided by the number of falafels made (13 calories each) and used that to work out the syns for the number I had.  I've frozen the rest and will write this info on the freezer bag.
(Note - that's not 13 calories in total, it is just for the chestnuts)

Today's meal plans:

B:  all day breakfast
Just two meals today and this will be an all day breakfast brunch

SW:  syn free

T:  festive afternoon tea at County Hotel  🎄

SW:  absolutely no idea

Exercise:  lots of walking

Summary:

Unknown today.

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Saturday, 02-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

It was interesting, going to group knowing I wasn't going to weigh.  I think I will build this on from time to time, because I don't have to.  I think the SW way of organising one's eating is great but there's some flexibility that can be introduced into it all as part of the ongoing 'journey'.

I may not have weighed but I was lucky enough to win the raffle.

These Beanies get everywhere - I gather there's a nice Beanies Advent Calendar too!  I thought this was a nice idea for the raffle and it came with a Christmas mug - the clear glass kind with a foot, a bit like a large schooner glass with a handle.
It has holly decorating it and will go nicely with the ones I already have, one just glass and the other with snowflakes painted on.

Definitely a raffle prize I will use.

Yesterday's meal photos:

Yummy!!!

The brown stuff sprinkled over is 'coffee kiss' spice mix.  Not specifically sweet but it does impart a depth of flavour.

You almost didn't see this photo because I had scoffed a good couple of mouthfuls before remembering to take a photo.  So it doesn't look as 'arranged' as it should have, but it was lovely, all the same.

So simple but really nice and all cooked in Nellie the Ninja, apart from the cranberry sauce.  

Today's meal plans:

B:  bacon and egg sandwich, mushrooms and tomatoes

Just what it says really.

SW:  one healthy extra B

L:  smoked salmon pate 🎄, ryvita; salad; fruit

I make this with smoked salmon (obviously) and philly super-light, blended together with lemon, black pepper, etc.  No extra salt as the ingredients are salty enough.

The ryvita is a new addition to my range of Bs.  It counts as a healthy B in the right amount.  I bought two, the fruit crunch (three slices) and the dark rye (four slices).  

The Philly light doesn't count as an A nowadays but I am going to sub it in as an A - it used to be.  One healthy extra A is around 120 calories and I can have up to 80g Philadelphia light for that.
Yes, I'm mixing my strategies - so shoot me.  < grin >

SW:  one healthy extra B for ryvita and up to one healthy extra A for the soft cheese

D:  cranberry and chestnut falafels 🎄, roasted veg, chips (maybe); fruit/yogurt

The falafel recipe is on BBC Good Food, here:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cranberry-chestnut-falafel

I'll concoct a lemon and mint sauce to have with them.

SW:  the chestnuts are four and a half syns, the cranberries are fresh so no need to syn them and I will spray air-fry them.

Edit:  In the end, I went into Nutracheck, worked out the calories for the chestnuts (the only thing I needed to syn), divided that by the number of falafels the mixture made (24) and then timed by five (how many I was going to have) and it came to three and a half syns.  So better than expected.

Exercise:  perhaps SET online.

Summary:

one healthy extra A (sort of)

two healthy extra Bs

four (three, in fact) and a half syns

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.

Friday, 01-12-23: Christmas Challenge

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my maintaining on Slimming World blog where I talk about the meals I enjoy while maintaining my target weight and keeping a healthy balanced diet.

Through December, I am going to try to incorporate as much Christmas themed food as possible while still following SW guidelines (mostly) and remaining within my target range.

It's SW group today but I'm not going to weigh this week.  As a target member, as long as I weight once every eight weeks (at least), I keep my membership.  This week has been difficult what with one thing and another so I'm opting out for once.
I've checked with Jen and I can still go to group.

Yesterday's meal photos:

Breakfast was just some fruit and the leftover baked beans - no photo.

I really ought to have an all day breakfast more for lunch.  Just two syns for the sausage; the rest was speed or free.

I couldn't be bothered to make a hash brown; I air fried the potato cut into cubes instead.  It was lovely!

Later on, I had some easy peelers

This was so good!

I used two thin cut steak sizzler thingies, seasoned with Montreal steak seasoning, some tomato chutney, some softened sliced red onion and some sliced cornichons and I spray fried the bread in the same pan I had cooked the steak in.

Very delicious and very filling.  No room for any dessert.

Today's meal plans:

B:  festive pancakes 🎄 with fruit and yogurt

I have some home made festive spice mix which I will add to the pancake batter plus some dried cranberries which I will need to syn.

SW:  I'm approximating four syns for 25g dried cranberries and half a healthy extra B for 20g wholemeal SR flour (not SW canon but I count it as B)

L:  cheesy jacket potato, salad

Not particularly festive but really nice.
SW:  up to two healthy extra As for grated cheese and two syns for light salad cream

D: turkey escalope 🎄, cranberry sauce 🎄, roasted veg; fruit/yogurt 

I will egg and breadcrumb a turkey breast steak and make my own cranberry sauce to keep it syn free (I don't syn cooked fruit).

SW:  half a healthy extra B for breadcrumbs

Exercise:  a walk

Summary:

two healthy extra As

one healthy extra B

six syns

For information:

The Slimming World structure:

While following the plan, you can have . . .

Any amount of speed and free food - BUT try to have a third of your plate as speed food as a sub for free food, NOT as well as . . .  Eat to satisfaction, not to stuffed-ness!

Two healthy extra As (calcium) and one healthy extra B (fibre) - details in the SW pack and on the SW web site/app.

Between five and fifteen syns-worth of synned food - again, details in the pack, site and app.  They are a limit to stay within, not a target to hit.

As a target member, I can also have . . .

Another two healthy extras each day
Another fifteen syns up to three times each week

BUT - only if I need/want to.  It's a limit, not a target

. . . with the ultimate aim of not needing to count healthy extras, syns, etc at all but just knowing and eating well instinctively.