Just the name “Lettuce Wraps” sound like they would be a healthy option when going out to eat… but be careful. Some restaurants like to douse lettuce wraps in tons of oils, sauces, and fats.

Just check out the P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps (one of my favorites) … 630 calories and 12g of fat. I’m afraid to know how much sodium is in these little guys.

Cooking at home is great for several reasons, but I mainly love the fact that I can control the amount of sauces, oils, and fats that go into food preparation.

Here is a great healthy, low calorie lettuce wrap recipe that will leave you satisfied without all the calories and fat!

Ingredients

2 cups Boca Ground Crumbles lightly seasoned with salt and pepper

½ cup diced onions

1 cup diced celery

¾ teaspoon garlic powder

8 oz sliced water chestnuts-drained and coarse chopped

6 scallions sliced thin on the diagonal

¾ cup snow peas

½ cup diced mushrooms

½ cup shredded carrots

Handfull of toasted almonds

Roasted garlic teriyaki sauce and or Low Sodium Soy Sauce

½ head iceberg lettuce, cored, quartered, and peeled into individual leaves

Directions

* Heat a large skillet or wok with a generous amount of Cooking Spray

* Add Boca, onions, celery, and garlic powder. Cook till the onions are golden brown

* Mix in water chestnuts, snow peas, mushrooms, and carrots

* Add enough Garlic Teriyaki Sauce to coat Boca Ground Crumbles and Veggies to your liking

Done!!!!!

Spoon into lettuce leaves and top with almonds, roll up and Bon Appétit`

ps- Only a few more days left of the VitaTop Giveaway!

Did you know that as a bell pepper ages, it changes colors and tastes. For instance, A red bell pepper is a mature green bell pepper and the older it gets, the sweeter it becomes and it contains eleven times more beta carotene than a green one. Beta carotene from bell peppers reaps great health benefits such as eye problems, skin disorders, and enhance immunity.

I love bell peppers… chopped up in salads, sliced and dipped in ranch, or my all time favorite sauteed with onions. Not only do I enjoy bell peppers for their great taste, but also for the vast assortment of rainbow colors they come in. There are so many different colors to choose from: red, green, yellow, orange.

Here is a great low-fat, low-calorie, and low-carb bell pepper recipe to try when these colorful bell peppers are at their abundant best. Red, yellow, green, orange – no matter which you select, this recipe will bring out their true colors.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients

* 4 large bell peppers

* 1 tablespoon olive oil

* 1/2 cup mushrooms (chopped)

* 1/2 cup onions (chopped)

* 1/2 cup celery (chopped)

* 1 garlic clove (chopped)

* 1 1/4 lb lean ground turkey meat or boca crumbs

* 1/4 cup egg beaters

* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1 teaspoon italian seasoning

* 1 can italian style diced tomatoes

* Salt and pepper as desired

* Italian seasoning and parmesan for toppings

Directions

* Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

* On stovetop in a medium skillet or saucepan, sauté mushroom, onion, celery and garlic in olive oil until veggies are soft; remove from heat.

* Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl,combine ground turkey, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

* Add sauté veggie mixture to turkey mixture; mix well.

* Stuff peppers with turkey/veggie mix and place in an ungreased shallow casserole dish.

* In a small bowl, combine undrained tomatoes and tomato sauce; pour over peppers to cover.

* Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Italian seasonings; cover with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes.

* Uncover, sprinkle with mozzarella and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browned.

ENJOY!

Question: Do you like Bell Peppers and if so, what is your favorite way to eat them?

Calling all Carb Watchers!

You can have your pasta and eat it too! I have discovered a miracle noodle for carb haters called Tofu Shirataki Noodles that are a measly 20 calories and 3g of carbs. They come in three different kinds of pastas: spaghetti, fettuccine, and angel-hair.

Ok, I know what you are thinking… TOFU?

Call me crazy, but it is actually really good. I’m not a fan of tofu by the slightest amount until I tried this pasta. These noodles actually taste just like your everyday carb loaded noodles. It’s a little on the chewy side… but hey, if it’s only 20 calories and 3g of carbs than I will take the chewyness. The best part is that it is ZERO points for all you weight watcher peps out there!

I found them in the tofu aisle next to all the lunchmeats at Ralphs… click HERE for other locations. They come in a package full of water, so make sure to rinse them very well and pat dry them. When I first tried them I mixed in some boca ground crumbs with Fat Free tomato sauce. For those of you that enjoy Fettuccine Alfredo, Hungry-Girl has a great recipe. Check it out:

Ingredients:

1 Package Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Tofu Noodles

1/2 Wedge The Laughing Cow Light Cheese

1 teaspoon Fat Free Sour Cream

2 teaspoons Kraft Reduced Fat Parmesan Cheese

Salt & Pepper (if desired)

Directions:

Rinse fettuccine noodles VERY well.  Microwave them for one minute, then drain them and pat dry. Add cheeses and sour cream.  Mix thoroughly. Microwave to help melt cheese further, and mix some more.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

This remarkable meal is a whooping 80 calories and 1 weight watcher point.  What would we do without hungry-girl?

Serve this with a chicken salad and some fruit and you are set to go for a healthy, low calorie Italian dinner!

ENJOY!

Have your mexican food and eat it too!

Mexican food doesn’t have the greatest reputation in the health realm. With those deep fried tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, and greasy cheese you are destined to a heart attack at an early age! But wait one second before you throw all mexican food out the window and avoid it all together.

I found these great low calorie tortillas called the Low Carb/Low Fat La Torilla Factory Tortillas for a whopping 50 calories. They are also loaded with fiber and protein to keep you full longer.
As for the taste, they are amazing!

I love them… and there are so many different ways to use with them.
Here is one of my favorite taco recipes that I make with them… more recipes are to come!

Click HERE to find Low Carb La Tortilla Factory Tortillas Nearest You!

The Skinny Taco

Ingredients:

* 1/2 original boca burger patty- 50 calories
* Low Carb La Tortilla Factory Tortilla- 50 calories
* Shredded Lettuce- 15 calories
* Taco Sauce- 10 calories

Directions:

* Heat tortilla in skillet for a few seconds
* Cook boca burger in skillet and ground up
* Spread laughing cow cheese over tortilla and add rest of ingrediants

This is a great home-made taco that is huge and filling for only 125 calories!

Add some fruit with light yogurt and you have one great healthy meal

…ENJOY!