Thank you to Weight Watchers for getting my new year started off right. Though I was compensated for my time and commitment, all views, positive and negative, are my own.

So…2014.  Canyouevenbelieveit?

If you’re like a lot of other folks, the beginning of a new year sparks a desire to make some healthy changes to your eating habits.  Let me just say this: having a baby post age-30 + writing a food blog = the skinny jeans are not happening.

And I’m not so much as concerned about the skinny jeans as I am about maintaining healthy eating habits and setting a good example for raising a healthy child.  But for me?  It’s really, really hard.  I have a terrible habit of ripping open a bag of tortilla chips after work in the early evening and just going to town.  Willpower when it comes to food is not my forté.

I’ve been a long-time member of Weight Watchers – and not primarily because I have a lot of weight to lose.  But when Doodle was about two years old, I realized my personal health was taking a backseat to my mommy duties.  I was too tired, too stressed, too focused on everything else in my life to take time for me.

And that wasn’t good for anyone.

So I took charge of my life again, and signed up for Weight Watchers.  I lost weight, yes, but more importantly, I felt better about myself.  Healthier.  Stronger.  Happier.  In control.

And then…I started blogging.  My snacks of fresh berries and veggies with hummus slowly became replaced with bites of cheesecake cookies and chocolate banana bread during photo shoots.  My jeans got a little tighter.  I felt tired and sluggish, and I knew I needed to make some changes – again.  So when I saw Weight Watchers had a new Simple Start plan to get into the swing of things, it was just the push I needed.

The goal of Simple Start is to get you in the habit of eating good-for-you foods. During the first two weeks of this plan, you don’t have to worry about portion size.  All you have to do is choose meals and snacks from the lists provided, and eat ’em. 😉

Weight Watchers even created a shopping list to help you navigate the grocery store aisles. The meals have swap options and flavor boosts, and there are plenty of options for vegetarians.  Yep, it’s really that easy.

Not only that, but on the Simple Start plan, you get 7 point-plus per day to spend on indulgences.  That includes chocolate, peanut butter, and/or wine.  I don’t know about you, but it’s the times that I’m too strict or deprive myself that I have a hard time staying on track.  Knowing that I have a daily treat to look forward to really helps keep me motivated.

While this smoothie isn’t specific to the Simple Start plan (I’ll talk about specifics in a later post), it is one of my favorite snacks when I’ve tracked points in the past.  Loaded with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, coconut milk, and a bit of ground flaxseed, you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging!

Tell me: what are your tips for maintaining a healthy diet?

Berry Power Smoothie

 

Print

Ingredients

• 1 banana, sliced and frozen
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup light coconut milk
• 1 cup mixed berries (I used strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries)
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed
• 1 large handful fresh spinach, optional

Method

1. In a blender, combine banana, yogurt and milk and process until smooth. Add in remaining fruit, flaxseed, and spinach (if using), and blend until desired consistency is reached.

3.5.3251