Zoodles Zucchini Low Carb Pasta

Continuing on my quest to treat myself better I was on a mission to find the perfect low carb pasta. One of my all time favorite meal is spaghetti. I have been hearing good reviews on zoodles so I decided to give it a try.

Being a gadget type person I first needed to seek out a spiralizer (I wanted my zoodles to look like noodles). I did not find one at Walmart so I headed to Target where lucky for me they had a very nice one on sale. I purchased the Farberware Spiraletti Slicer Cutter with Stainless Steel Blades for $22.49. Note: the blades are extremely sharp (I cut my finger and so did my son) so be very careful when using and when cleaning.

A quick stop by Kroger for some zucchini and I was set for my trial run. My zoodles turned out great (they looked liked noodles). I sauteed them in a pan with a little olive oil (zoodles will have a lot of natural water so just a touch of olive oil to keep it from sticking is all that is necessary). While sauteing my zoodles they put off a strong veggie smell which caused concern about how this would change the taste. I was pleasantly surprised after adding my tomato sauce, I used Contadina Sauce (as it is a lower sugar tomato sauce) and some lean ground beef and voila I had a very low carb spaghetti that even I the most critical spaghetti lover loved.

I have since used zoodles as a side dish. You can season them to taste with spices and other veggies to create many low carb dishes to suit your personal tastes.

This gadget came with attachments one that sliced thin chip sized slices. I tried sweet potato chips that were very tasty.

I like these so much I am going try my hand at container gardening this year and my main item will be zucchini.

Favorite Finds From Trader Joe’s

Trying to treat myself better this year I made a trip to Trader Joe’s courtesy of my son and daughter-in-law. I found a few things I have been enjoying the last few weeks and thought I would share them with you.

Trader Joe’s Steel Cut Organic Oats

While these take approximately 30 minutes to prepare I took the suggestion of my son fixed the full cooking portion once and store them in the refrigerator. This worked out nicely for me the one who does not take the time to cook breakfast. I prepare it on Sunday, store in a mason jar so on the mornings I want oatmeal I spoon out a portion, heat in the microwave for 1 ½ minutes which results in my quick and healthy breakfast.

150 cal, 27g carbs, 4g fiber, 5g protein, 1g sugar

Like most things that are good for you it took me a few days to get used to it but now I find myself looking forward to it.

I alternate this and the Garden of Life Shake in a previous article to provide some variety to my morning meals.

Trader Joe's Oh My! Omega Trek Mix is a blend of the most Omega-rich nuts and dried fruit we could find, in one oh-so tasty combination. Almonds, walnuts, pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds), pecans and pistachios make up the nut portion of the mix. For the fruit, we've included omega-fortified dried cranberries—the added omegas in the cranberries actually come from oils extracted from the cranberries' own seeds. You get 560mg of Omega-3s in every serving.

There are times when a big bag of trek mix is appropriate and times when you really just want a handful. For those times, Trader Joe's just a handful of Oh My! Omega Trek Mix is likely just what you had in mind. We've taken 10 individual portions of this tasty mix—just a handful, really—and packaged them together for the ultimate in freshness and convenience. Toss one in a briefcase, lunchbox or backpack and you'll have Omega goodness at the ready any time at all. And since each "handful" is individually packed, the last is as fresh as the first.

While my last find is not food related I am excited about this product for my skin care routine. I use this soap as a body wash and a face wash.

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Oil Soap

Very Basic, Natural Ingredients

Contains No Laurel / Laureth Sulfates

Cruelty Free – Never Tested on Animals; No Animal Products in Ingredients

Ingredients

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water, Glycerin, Tea Tree Oil, Sodium Chloride, Pentasodium Pentetate.

Organic Meal Replacement Shake

Like many people I have had ups and downs with my weight for most of my life. Diets do not work at least not for me. Now that I found myself in the midst of menopause I find health in general a struggle especially with my skewed schedule of trying to keep my online business running smoothly. My day takes on a life of its own and  in the past I have  looked at the clock just to realize I got busy and forgot to eat breakfast. I know in my heart breakfast is very important and very well may be the downfall of my weight struggles (not taking the time to eat). I have tried many times to slow down and take the time to  fix a nice healthy breakfast, for a few weeks anyway. I eventually fall back into my same old pattern.

A few months back I made the decision to find a way to resolve my breakfast dilemma with a solution that would work for me no matter what my mornings threw my way.

Shakes were going to be my easiest, healthiest, quickest way to get my day started in the right direction. I have participated in enough diets in my life to know the tried and true go to shakes would be the most accessible way to get started but my question was it really healthy? I knew enough to know that they are full of sugars and the low carb ones are full of fake sugars. I wanted something that would be easy to mix (I have a blender but I hate dragging it out and cleaning it up afterwards). Knowing this would derail my permanent hope for a healthy go to breakfast each and every day I would need a shaker cup mix.

Off to GNC I go as I feel confident the employees are pretty knowledge. I wanted a high protein, low carb healthy meal replacement with NO Soy and no aspartame/fake sugars  that would mix easily in a shaker cup. The GNC employee listened to all my requirements of what I wanted and suggested I go with their Total Lean 25 Shake.

• 25 grams of high quality protein
• 8 grams of fiber
• 24 vitamins and minerals

I did not like that it had 17 carbs per serving and upon internet research it did indeed contain two different artificial sweeteners in the powder mix. A side note it caused me to feel nauseated within 30 minutes of consuming. Fortunately GNC has a no questions asked return policy so I returned this product.

My next road trip was to The Vitamin Shoppe and after talking to employees there along with internet researching the recommended product I decided on Garden of Life RAW Organic Meal Replacement.

• 20 g of Clean Organic Plant Protein per Scoop Loaded with 44 Superfoods
• 6g of Organic Fiber and Less Than 1g of Sugar

I have enjoyed this meal replacement and all it has to offer for over 2 months now. It has been a consistent way for me to enjoy a complete healthy breakfast and a nutritious way to get my day started. When I have more time I may eat 2 boiled eggs with my shake or a small bag of nuts. Some days I add organic strawberries to my shake itself to “shake things up a bit”.

In the beginning I was using water which was fine but it lacked a little something for me so I ventured into the world of Almond Milk and love it.