Cuban Pork Crock Pot Stew Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean pork loin, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 red pepper, chopped
- 14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 1 small can green chilies
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 3 medium green onions
- 1 tsp table salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Directions:
In your slow cooker, put pork, potatoes, chilies, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, orange juice, green onions, yellow onion salt, pepper, and; cover and cook on low setting for 6-8 hours.
Stir in parsley lime juice, and cilantro; cover slow cooker and cook for 10 minutes more.

Serving size = 2 cups
Each serving = 6 Point Total

photo credit: elev8

Mashed potatoes is one of my favorite foods…you can make them so many ways and they are just the perfect comfort food. But most homemade mashed potatoes recipes come with lots of fat and calories, which can add up to lots of Weight Watchers Points. This alternative dish -Cauliflower Mashed ‘Potatoes’, is a great substitute. While I won’t lie and tell you that it’s as fabulous as traditional mashed potatoes, it definitely makes for a great low point substitute. Just by replacing the potatoes with cauliflower, you eliminate most of the calories. You’ll notice that this Mashed Cauliflower Recipe still uses one small potato. This helps the dish to keep a texture similar to that of regular mashed potatoes and helps add a bit of potato-y flavor. The end result is really quite tasty! And though this is not an official Weight Watchers Mashed Potatoes Recipe, it’s a great meal idea for anyone who wants to eat more veggies and cut excess calories.

Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 small head cauliflower, trimmed, core removed, cut into small florets (should yield about 2-3 cups of cauliflower
- 1 small red potato, unpeeled and chopped
- 1 cup turnips, trimmed and cubed
- 2 tbsp fat free half & half
- 1 tbsp fat free sour cream
- 1 tbsp light butter (I used Brummel & Brown)
- Salt and pepper to taste

Top with chives or green onions if you’d like!

*OPTIONAL: add in freshly chopped thyme, sage and rosemary for a fabulous Fall- like flavor

Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add about 1 tbsp salt; add the cauliflower, potato, and turnips as they’re prepped. Reduce heat to maintain a fast simmer, cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through. Drain well and transfer to a food processor. Process until smooth. Return pureed cauliflower to the hot pan on medium high heat. Stirring often, cook off the excess liquid, about 5 – 10 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Transfer to serving bowl. Serve and enjoy!

Serving size is 3/4cup
Each serving = 1 Point Total

photo credit: Koko’s Kitchen

Traditional hummus recipes get a new twist with this flavorful version! When I found this pumpkin hummus recipe, I was really excited to give it a try! I love hummus, and even though it’s good for you, it tends to be pretty caloric, which can really rack up those weight watchers points. This lower calorie version uses pumpkin instead of the traditional garbanzo beans, which helps you get more quantity in each serving than you would with your traditional hummus recipe. It doesn’t taste exactly like regular hummus, but the new taste is absolutely fantastic! Each serving of the Pumpkin Hummus Recipe has just a 2 Point Total, which isn’t bad. And I think it’s a really unique dip recipe that is ideal for any party or appetizer. Try serving with some 1 Point Pita Bread, or with some 0 point veggies! It also makes a great spread for sandwiches too! This hummus recipe has endless opportunities. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Hummus Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounce) can of pure pumpkin
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a food processor.

Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Each serving = 2 Point Total

I have always been a fan of low calorie Chinese fast food recipes, but this one really caught my eye, as sweet and sour chicken is my all time fave! This chicken stir fry recipe is pretty easy to prepare, and tastes great!! In the past, I’ve just used pre-made sweet and sour sauce, but this dish uses a sweet and sour sauce recipe, made from scratch, so the taste is really fresh. With just a 4 Point Total, this popular Chinese dish is loaded with protein and veggies, but also full of tangy flavor. Each nicely sized serving gives you a healthy dose of vitamins and antioxidants too. Though this is not an official one of weight watchers chicken stir fry recipes, it’s an ideal meal choice for any weight watcher who loves Chinese fast food as much as I do!

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:
– 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 oz thinly sliced carrots
- 3 stalks green onions, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 oz sugar snap peas, cut in half width-wise
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup canned pineapple in it’s own juice
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 packets Splenda sugar substitute

Directions:
Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Spray a non-stick skillet with non-fat cooking spray and saute the garlic for about 2 minutes. Add the chicken and brown over medium heat. Add the carrots, bell peppers, and peas, and stir fry for about 5-7 minutes (until the carrots soften a little bit). In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce and cornstarch; mix. Pour into the skillet, along with the vinegar, pineapple, pepper, Splenda and ginger. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 1-2 minutes (until the sauce thickens). Serve over some 0 point cabbage for added crunch and aesthetic appeal.

Entire recipe makes 2 servings
Each serving = 4 Point Total

This Greek-Style Pasta Casserole Recipe is truly a unique and flavorful dish. I love almost all Mediterranean recipes, so I was excited to give this one a try. And I was NOT disappointed. It’s a pretty easy dish to prepare, and it packs a lot of flavor. With each serving only having a 3 Point Total, this is a wonderful low point dinner recipe that the whole family will enjoy. It’s also a great , original dish to take to a potluck as well. If you like mediterranean flavors, you’ll like this casserole…it was delicious. You can also add in some toasted almond slivers for added crunch, but make sure to factor that in to the Point Total. Though this is not an official one of Weight Watchers Recipes, it’s a great meal that just about any dieter will enjoy. You can also prepare this dish cold as a great greek pasta salad recipe!

Greek Pasta Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:
- 8 oz dried, low calorie pasta like Ronzoni Smart Taste, penne or rotioni
- 1 1/2 cups butternut squash, peeled and sliced into small pieces
- 3 handfuls spinach, chopped
- 2 cups fat-free, plain Greek yogurt
- 2 large egg yolks
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 8 large Kalamata olives, pitted and torn into pieces
- 1/4 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
- zest of one large lemon
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray an 8×12-inch baking dish with non-fat cooking spray. Sprinkle with lemon zest and set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and cook the pasta until al dente. 10 seconds before the pasta is cooked, stir in the spinach and butternut squash; drain quickly and carefully. Run cold water over the pasta, squash and spinach (just enough to stop it from cooking), shake off any extra water and set aside. While waiting for the pasta water to boil, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, garlic, pepper and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside until the pasta is ready, then add the pasta-squash-spinach mixture to the yogurt mixture. Scoop the mixture into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with Feta cheese and the olive pieces and bake for about 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve sprinkled with some chopped fresh mint.

Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is 1/8th of dish
Each serving size = 3 Point Total

I LOOOOOVE sweet potatoes, so when I found this awesome recipe, I was psyched to give it a try! It’s super creamy and yummy, and loaded with fiber and antioxidants. This low calorie sweet potato soup is a perfect easy crock pot recipe for any weight watcher. It tastes great and is good for you too! Plus, it’s seasonal flavor makes it a wonderful soup to add to your collection of holiday crock pot recipes. Though this is not an official one of Weight Watchers Crock Pot Recipes, I think anyone watching their weight will truly enjoy this sweet potato soup.

Sweet Potato Soup Crock Pot Recipe

Ingredients:
- 2 cups fat-free chicken broth
- 4 medium sized sweet potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups fat-free half-and-half
- 2 packets Splenda or Truvia
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dry mustard

OPTIONAL: I topped mine with a tablespoon of non-fat sour cream for additional flavor and 0 points

NOTE: To make this into a vegetarian recipe, just use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth

Directions:
Peel and slice the sweet potatoes. Place them with the chicken broth in your slow cooker. Cover and cook on medium for about 3 hours (or until the potatoes are tender).
Using an immersion blender (or putting the sweet potatoes and broth into a food processor), blend until smooth. Put the soup back into the crock pot. Add the half-and-half, Splenda, salt, dry mustard and allspice. Cover and cook on medium for about 1-3 hours.

Entire recipe makes 6 servings
Each serving = 2 Point Total

Nutritional Stats:
Calories: 112
Total fat: 1g
Sodium: 298mg
Total carbohydrates: 23.1g
Dietary fiber: 2.6

Well, it’s that time again…another new year is upon us. Welcome 2010!! And yet again, we are all ready and motivated to get in shape, lose weight, and get healthy! But dieting isn’t always easy. And if you like to eat like I do, it can be truly impossible at times. That’s why I created this blog…to share recipes that feel bad for you, but are actually good! As a weight watcher myself, I know that the key to sticking to any diet plan is to feel SATISFIED with what you eat. So I’m always on the hunt for popular diet recipes that can be rejuvenated to create a more filling flavorful dish. And to start off the new year, here’s a FANTASTIC mixed vegetable casserole recipe that I found and altered to be diet friendly!
This healthy casserole is a great way to get your veggie servings in! All the other yummy flavors really enhance the dish, so if you don’t like the taste of vegetables, this casserole may help you get you get those all important daily vegetable servings. Each serving has just a 4 Point Total, and makes an excellent side dish recipe to take along to a potluck dinner, or a great main dish recipe to serve at any family meal. It’s a pretty quick and easy casserole to make and doesn’t involve any veggie chopping (yes, I can be that lazy at times to appreciate this). Though this is not an official Weight Watchers Recipe, I think that anyone who is following the Weight Watchers program will certainly find a use for this tasty recipe. Plus, this dish is loaded with fiber, calcium and Vitamin A, so not only is it low calorie, but it’s good for you too!

Vegetable Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
- 1 cup fat-free milk
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 2lbs of any mixed frozen vegetables of your choice (I used the broccoli, cauliflower and carrot mix)
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup Fiber One cereal, ground into fine, breadcrumb-like consistency
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large pot, combine broth and milk and set on medium heat. Whisk in the flour and dry mustard; continue to whisk until thick and bubbling, about 4 minutes or so. Stir in all the cheddar and 6 tablespoons parmesan cheese until melted; then add in the vegetables, salt and pepper. Pour into a 9- x 13-inch baking dish.
In a separate bowl, mix the Fiber One crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and the remaining 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese. Then sprinkle this mixture over the casserole. Finally, spritz about 10 sprays of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” Spray all over the top of the casserole.
Bake until bubbling and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Let stand at least 5 minutes at room temperature before serving. Cut into 8 equally sized pieces. Enjoy!

Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size = 1 piece
Each serving = 4 Point Total

I have loved chicken pot pie ever since I was a kid. There’s something about biting into that buttery crust and getting a mouthful of that creamy, chicken-y sauce that is just truly an experience. But now that I am on the Weight Watchers program, I figured that I’d have to forego my beloved chicken pot pie recipes for good. But then, in my eagerness to indulge in it again, I experimented with a traditional recipe, and came up with a pretty simple, yet tasty and low Point Total version of this American favorite. My version has just a 4 Point Total per serving and it tastes pretty darn good! One of the best low calorie chicken pot pie recipes yet! If you are looking for a good Weight Watchers casserole recipe, this is a great one to try. Though it’s not an official Weight Watchers Recipe (I have to note this for all my recipes, if you haven’t noticed by now;)), it’s a great dish for anyone who is looking to enjoy some hearty dishes, without racking up the points. Enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 cup Bisquick All Purpose Baking Mix, Reduced Fat
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 1/4 cup egg substitute
- 2 1/2 cups frozen mixed veggies, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups grilled skinless chicken breast
- 1 can Campbell’s Fat Free (Healthy Request) Cream of Mushroom soup
- 1 can Campbell’s Fat Free (Healthy Request) Cream of Celery soup
- salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8 casserole dish with non-fat cooking spray. In a separate bowl, combine chicken, vegetables and soup. Pour into casserole dish. In another bowl, combine Reduced Fat Bisquick, milk, and egg. Pour over the top of chicken mixture in the casserole. Bake for about 30 min, or until crust is golden.

Total recipe makes 6 servings
Each serving = 4 Point Total

It was a cold and chilly morning here in LA, and I was craving a hot and hearty breakfast. And this tasty Pumpkin Oatmeal Crock pot Recipe really hit the spot! All of the autumn like flavors in this breakfast recipe were just what I was looking for on this winter’s day. This delicious oatmeal recipe is a definite crowd-pleaser that not only tastes fantastic, but is really quite good for you too! It’s also a wonderful vegan or vegetarian recipe. Though this is not an official Weight Watchers breakfast recipe, it’s a wonderful dish for any weight watcher who wants a hot, nutritious slow cooker oatmeal recipe that will warm you up anytime of the year! And with just a 3 Point Total per serving, this filling breakfast will leave you feeling satisfied.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Crockpot Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 15 oz can of canned pumpkin OR 3 cups of fresh pumpkin (peeled, seeded, and cut into small cubes)
- 5 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups steel-cut oats
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
OPTIONAL: Garnish with a few dried cranberries, for a fabulous taste and dislpay

Directions:
Combine everything in a crock pot, cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Stir well before serving.
NOTE: If you use the canned pumpkin instead of the fresh, your oatmeal texture will be creamier and more like a chunky puree.

Entire Recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is approx 1 cup
Each serving = 3 Point Total

With all the holiday parties coming up, it’s easy to be tempted by all the fabulously delicious food, and to let yourself be seduced into an all you can eat holiday buffet. But just by making some healthier versions of the holiday favorites, you can save yourself some calories and weight watchers points! If you are hosting a holiday party this year, and are in need of a good, low calorie Christmas appetizer recipe, this Spinach Puffs Recipe is a must try. Full of flavor, but low on fat, I found them to be much more yummy than I expected. And it’s a quick and easy Christmas recipe to make if you need something in a pinch. Just prepare it the night before, them pull them out of the freezer, pop them into the oven, and you’re good to go. Though this is not an official one of Weight Watchers Christmas Recipes, I think it’s a great holiday appetizer for anyone who is watching their weight, but wants to serve an appetizer that tastes good enough to serve to everyone.

Spinach Puffs Recipe

Ingredients:
- 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion (I used red onion)
- 3 egg whites, slightly beaten
- 1 cup dried bread crumbs
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp marjoram
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons light butter, melted (I used Balade Light Butter)

Directions:
Squeeze liquid from spinach very well. Chop garlic and onion in food processor and process until finely chopped. Add spinach and remaining ingredients. Pulse two or three times, leaving spinach in distinct pieces but the mixture well combined. Chill 2 – 3 hours or overnight. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheet. Freeze. When frozen, transfer to freezer bags.
To serve, bake at 300F for 30 minutes.

Entire recipe makes 36 puffs
Serving size is 1 puff
Each serving = 1 Point Total