Migrant Mom

Surviving a Brunch

Any Brunch lovers out there? I attend a lot of buffet brunches at churches, and let me just tell you, these ladies can cook! As I look down at a meticulously decorated table full of beautiful, glistening dishes of mouth watering deliciousness, it can be easy to get carried away. Very easy. Here are my tips for enjoying yourself at a brunch and guidelines I use for filling up my own plate.

Bring something. Even if you are not asked, being something you know doesn't have a pound of butter and 60 carbs per serving in it! Bring your blender and whip up some smoothies in adorable cups.

Think it through. Spend some time thinking through how much you really should eat. Take into account if you will get hungry between brunch and dinner time. Did you eat breakfast or skip it to indulge at brunch.

Example: If I skip lunch and breakfast and replace them with this one meal at brunch, I give myself the allowance of roughly 15-17 points for this one meal. That may sound like a lot of points, since I have 29 a day, but this leaves me a couple points for snack, and 10 for dinner.

Canvass the competition. Survey the food well before getting your plate so you can carefully calculate the best choices. Don't be afraid to ask the cooks questions of what the recipe is so you know.

Step up to the plate. Calmly get your plate, don't let anyone see you panic (yes, I have had someone ask me if I am ok in a brunch line), approach with confidence, you can do it! You can make healthy choices and will feel good about it!

Fill up with freshness. Are there Fruit or veggies? Load up! I try and fill at least ½ of my plate full of fruit and veggies, NO DIP (unless it is salsa; most dips are loaded with calories and fat).

Beware of people pleasing. I am a teddy bear at heart and just want everyone to like me and give me a hug, which I constantly have to work on. So if, someone's favorite cousin's aunt brought it to the brunch, and they tell you, "Honey, you will just L-O-V-E it!" You might, but should you? You can admire a food tactfully without putting it anywhere near your mouth. :)

Quality not Quantity. Do not listen to the little voice saying, "Oh I'll just take a little of that." This is DANGEROUS! If you get 2 TBS of ten different high fat content items, you probably have just set yourself up for failure.

But it's so cute. Also dangerous is the, "That little pastry is just too cute to be bad for me!" mindset. I have a weakness for anything bread, including pastries, donuts, croissants, and if they are miniature, just shoot me in the foot why don't you! It takes a lot of will power for me to pass one up. I must not have much because I tend to have one on my plate at a brunch. I don't wanna sound extremist on you. If you know me you know I do believe in moderation, but I think the mass populous does not know what is in a lot of foods we haphazardly put in our bodies because they appeal to our visual senses (way to go marketing companies across the world)!

Knowledge is the best ammunition. At least when it comes to food, you will be more successful with weight loss/management if you know what's in what you are eating. Here's a list of common brunch foods and their nutritional values: (keep in mind content will vary depending on brand and cook)

Croissant (7 WW Plus Points/11g fat/31g carbs/6g protein/2g fiber/260 cal)

These used to be my favorite thing to grab at brunch before they all ran out...now I avoid them because is to much fat and carbs for how non-filling they are. Since they are my favorite though, I will sometimes put a 1/2 croissant on my plate and savor every morsel

Mini cinnamon rolls (2 WW Plus points each/3g fat/9g carbs/0g protein/0g fiber/105 cal)
Mini quiche (1 WW plus point each/1g fat/ 2g carbs/7g protein/0g fiber/50 cal)
Bagels

Be careful here, especailly if you see a bag from Panera. I love the Panera, but if a bagel is a bagel, it's probably loaded with carbs. Bagels generally range from 8-10 WW plus points/1-10g fat/50-75g carbs/2-6g fiber/8-13g protein.
Now, bagels are not terrible! You can enjoy them for breakfast from time to time, but what I am trying to show you is that if I get much more than a whole bagel, I have overeaten, and who only gets a bagel at a brunch, and I haven't even gotten to the cream cheese!

Plain Cream Cheese, 2oz (5 WW plus points/18g fat/2g carbs/0g fiber/3g protein)

Lest you think if it says "reduced fat" on the cream cheese it's harmless, please be warned, there is not much difference (4 WW plus points per 2 oz serving and up to 12g fat)

Sausage, egg & cheese casserole, 1 cup (11 WW plus points/29g fat/12g carb/1g fiber/25g protein)
French toast casserole, 1 cup (10 WW plus points/10g fat/57g carb/0g fiber/10g protein)
Little Debbie Pinwheels (3 WW plus points/4g fat/17g carbs/1g fiber/1g protein)

But it's so cute!? Resist or use moderation, the pinwheels will not start crying if you leave it on it's plate, or separate only 1 from the herd.

Buttermilk Biscuit (5 WW plus points/7g fat/21g carbs/1g fat/4g protein)
Fruit

If it is fresh, go for it! I mean come on, it's all natural!
If it is canned fruit cocktail or salad, beware! Even if it is in light syrup, it is packed with sugar and those can really add up if you are not careful. Especially if you are on weight watchers, take note 1 cup can be 4 points! And you thought all fruit was free? Not this kind!

I want to close this short post with a reminder that if you do realize you overate at a brunch, the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up about it. Just adjust the rest of your day accordingly. Maybe exercise later in the day to help get a positive outlook again, and just keep pressing on. Being healthy is a journey, a lifestyle, one that is not dictated by ONE meal of thousands you will eat in your lifetime. Just do your best to make the rest count for the better and learn from your mistakes.

I would love to hear from anyone if you have any tips on how you "Survive a Brunch"! Happy Brunching! Leave me a comment below!

Surviving Brunch Diet Weight watchers plus points

Fast Facts on Fries

Fries, Weight watchers, Travel, Fast Food,

Well we are travelling on the road again. On our way from Flint, Michigan to Queens, New York. I always get a little nervous before we head out to a new place because I know I am really going to have to put more effort into putting good things into my and my daughter's body and not just what is convenient!

True story: A few days ago we stopped at McDonald's after church to grab a quick bite to eat. As we pulled into our parking space, my precious 21 month old daughter lets out an excited request in the sweetest little voice, "FRIES!?!" My heart sank into my stomach and almost simultaneously I burst out into uncontrollable laughter! We have only been to McDonald's a handful of times in her life, but somehow her little mind had already made an association between those famous golden arches and the flavorful crispy goodness that is a french fry. Little did she know those fries were the very things I was dreading trying to resist.

I recently embarked on an endeavor to loose weight with my best friend using the weight watchers points plus system, and have thus banished eating fries while trying to get to my goal weight. Before I banished the fries, I did a little research comparing 6 popular fast food chains fry nutrition facts to see, just how bad they are for me. Knowing what's in my food nutritionally before I eat it helps me make wise choices and keep me on track with my weight loss and eventually my maintenance. I got my figures from the restaurant's websites themselves, and have included the links. There are plenty of substitutes at all of these restaurants if you are watching what you eat, and I enjoy eating at them, but I want to empower you with the knowledge that has helped me make wise choices for my daughter and myself. Key word....moderation. :) As you can see, even the beloved french fry can fit into a diet if you can practice a little self and portion control.

My tips if you need to indulge in some deep fried spuds?
1. Bigger is not always better: Get a kid size and share it with your little one. Or get one large for the family and split it up that way
2. Enjoy each fry: None of of that three fries at a time madness, pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth and how much
3. I know fries are the best hot, so eat your sandwich, side salad, and water first, then eat some fries, and the draw may fade a little
4. With kids: I always have a healthier option on hand to give between the fries to be sure my daughter's nutritional needs are met