A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way

Well, it feels like we’re officially in apple and pumpkin season!

I have mixed feelings about this time of year—I love the change of seasons and a break from the summer heat, but I’m always a little sad when melon season ends. I bought a cantaloupe this week, knowing it was probably the last good one of the year, and sure enough… bland. A disappointing farewell.

I’ve always preferred melons to apples. For one thing, they taste better, but the real win (per Program) is that you get more of them! Just like with proteins, different fruits have different serving sizes. So why have only 4 ounces of apple—which can be less than a whole one—when you can enjoy a generous 12 ounces of melon?

And yes, I know pumpkin is a “freebie,” but let’s be honest—it’s very pumpkin-y. Plus, once you turn it into pie, it’s no longer free! So instead of fighting the season, I’ve decided to take a little inspiration from it (and from Dianne’s reminder to add more variety to my weeks) and start getting creative with my foods.

This past week, I began by reimagining one of my favorite old recipes to make it Program-friendly. Ever since high school—when I had to make it for a Spanish class—I’ve loved cooking paella. My version has evolved over the years, but the key to adapting it for Thin’s In is the same as with any recipe: cook everything separately, then weigh, measure, and combine.

My modified paella uses chicken, chicken sausage, and shrimp, plus veggies and rice. In recent years, even before Thin’s In, I started swapping part of the rice for riced cauliflower—which helps a lot since 1 oz of uncooked rice isn’t much! I cooked and measured each protein and veggie separately, using the same seasonings for consistency. Then I tossed everything together with my 1 oz of rice, the riced cauliflower, and some free chicken broth. It came out just as delicious as when I used to make it all in one big pan!

Of course, not every experiment is a success. I tried making a “Lite Chicken Salad Sandwich” recently and… no. Just no. Let’s just say when even the dog won’t eat it, you know it’s not a keeper!

Still, I highly recommend getting creative in the kitchen. Challenge yourself to take a dish that isn’t exactly Thin’s In–friendly and find a way to make it fit the Program. Not every try will be perfect, but creativity doesn’t hinder weight loss—it helps it. You might just surprise yourself with how delicious staying on Program can be!

This week’s loss: 6 pounds

Total loss so far: 41 pounds