Unsafe at Any Size

Do you like sushi? Of course you do!  How about a snack that tastes like sushi but without that pesky rice and fish?  How about 1 calorie per snack, or 10 calories per serving, with a big punch of flavor?

If you’re still with me, then nori snacks are what you’re looking for.  Trader Joe’s sells something called Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed Snacks, but these from Yama Mota Yama are better: they have a bigger, resealable package so they don’t go stale.  They also have less fat than the Trader Joe’s kind, which has 2 grams of fat per serving.  Now, a serving of the TJ kind only have 30 calories, but hey, 0 grams of fat still rules.  I believe you get more for your money, too; these were $2.30 a jar, which has 8 servings.  Trader Joe’s had 2 servings for a dollar.

Once you get over the fact you’re eating seaweed, these are fantastic.  They come in different varieties: plain, teriyaki, and my favorite, Hot ‘N Spicy, which indeed are, hot and spicy.

Best of all, you can just keep eating them and not feel guilty at all.  Indeed, they are healthy!  10 sheets are 10 calories, 0 fat but 50% of your Vitamin A requirements for the day.

Yes, it does taste better with the sushi rice and fish, but these nori snacks are very delish.

I found these at Berkeley Bowl, but you can probably find them at any store that sells asian foods.  Nori also comes in larger sheets for sushi making, but I prefer these jars because each sheet is smaller and more snack-like.

You’re still skeptical. I can feel it.  But trust me: these are great!

A salad is a great way of getting in lots of veggies.  But unless you’re like my father-in-law and like to eat your salad with a wedge of lemon, you’ll probably want some kind of dressing.

It’s very easy to make a dressing, but let’s face it: I’m lazy.  I buy the pre-washed leaves in an environmentally unsound plastic tub, and you think I’m going to whisk together vinegar and oil?

Not a chance, especially when there’s Newman’s Own Lighten Up Sesame Ginger Dressing.  It’s got a lot of flavor, and only 1 Weight Watcher Point per generous serving size of 2 tablespoons.  With that, I can feel free to sprinkle on a few slivered almonds for a whopping 2 point salad.

Alas, it does contain sugar and perhaps more salt than many would like.  But for my husband and myself, this dressing is a pantry staple.  Got it on sale for $3.00, and usually a similar price at Target.

Stats

Serving Size:2 Tablespoons

Servings per Package:16

Calories: 35
Fat: 1.5 grams
Sodium: 390 mg
Fiber: 0 gram
Protein: 0 grams
WW Points: 1

Ingredients:

Water, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Soy Sauce (Wheat, Water, Soybeans, Salt), Ginger Pulp (Ginger, Cane Sugar), Ginger Puree, Sesame Oil, Canola Oil, Salt, Pineapple Concentrate, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Lemon Juice Concentrate, Garlic*, Onion*, Toasted Sesame Seed, Xanthan Gum, Caramel (Color), Spice *Dried

I’m not quite a vegetarian.  I still eat meat occasionally, though when I do buy meat I do my best to get happy meat–meat from animals that weren’t raised entirely in a metal box eating the animal equivalent of Soylent Green.

Whether or not you believe that the meat you’re eating really did come from humanely raised, organic feed, free range, grass fed animals, you can’t help but notice that eating happier meat definitely eats away at your grocery budget.  It’s a lot easier and cheaper to go vegetarian.

It’s better for weight loss, too, it turns out.  The vegetarian versions of your favorite meats won’t trick you into thinking they’re the real deal, but some of them are plenty good.

Would've looked better with grilled onions and peppers

Take the Morningstar Farms Italian sausages.  They look reasonably like a sausage, and taste good, too.  And only 120 calories?!? That’s 3 WW Points, for those who are Pointy like me. Heck, I can go crazy and eat it on a bun!

Compare that to a pork Italian sausage, with 286 calories and a whopping 8 Points. Yikes!  Gimme fauxage any day.

Stats

Serving Size:1 link

Servings per Package:4

Calories: 120
Fat: 6 grams
Sodium: 350 mg
Fiber: 1 gram
Protein: 10 grams
WW Points: 3

Did I mention I have an evil Weight Watchers meeting leader?  She mentioned that this nonfat frozen yogurt, which is tart instead of being sugary sweet, and would be great with a ripe peach.

So I bought some and tried it with ripe strawberries.  Did you know it tastes great with strawberries, too?  It tastes great all on its own, too.  In great quantities.

They might have taken out the fat, but have done a great job of preserving the flavor with lots of sugar.  But it is fairly healthy as desserts go, with active cultures, vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium.  It’s healthy!  Eat half a carton!

Stats

Serving Size: 1/2 cup (BWAHAHAHA!  Oh, they’re serious)

Servings per Package:8

Calories: 100
Fat: 0 grams
Sodium: 50 mg
Fiber: 0 grams
Protein: 3 grams
WW Points: 2

Trader Joe's Organic Polenta

Eating whole grains is tasty when you’re eating polenta.  And it’s remarkably low in points/calories, too.  Although you can make it from scratch, using it premade makes it a lot more likely you’ll actually use it and eat it.  Trader Joe’s polenta is under two bucks, is organic, and tastes great.

Stats

Servings per Package: 5

Calories: 70
Fat: 0 grams
Sodium: 310 mg
Fiber: 1 gram
Protein: 2 grams
WW Points: 1

Using it is super easy: open the package, slice, and bake or saute if you like.  I use it as a substitute for noodles in a vegetarian lasagna.  At this time of year, it’s a great base for Polenta with Tomato and Basil.

Polenta with Tomato and Basil

Serves 5 as an appetizer, or 2 as a light meal

Ingredients

1 chub polenta
2-3 ripe tomatoes
10 leaves fresh basil
parmesan cheese (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375.  Slice the polenta into 10 slices, and arrange on a cookie sheet.  Slice the tomatoes, and place on the polenta rounds.  Chop the basil, and arrange on the tomato slices.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese if desired.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tomatoes are roasted.  2 slices are 1 WW point.