Tag Archives: Dieting

Healthy Greek Yogurt Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Posted on by — Leave a reply

I’ve been dieting for just over a month. You could say I’m preparing for the upcoming holidays. I’ve taken off over 10 pounds using 2 methods – intermittent fasting and eating in a calorie deficit. This seems to be the formula that works for me, but, of course, everyone is different. However, the point of this blog is to let you know that I’ve come up with a salad dressing that is tasty, fat-free, and low in calories. I hope you’ll try it. Let me know in the comments if you like it.

Greek Yogurt Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Makes about 3/4 cup of dressing (6 servings)    Serving size: 2 tablespoons

  • 1/2 cup Greek Fat-Free Yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon Buttermilk Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Granulated Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Granulated Onion Powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Fresh Lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Lemon Zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried Dill Weed
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • Pinch of White Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Water (to thin)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Honey (optional)
  1. Add all ingredients to a glass jar and shake to combine. Store in the refrigerator. For best flavor, allow to sit for at least 4 hours. Shake before serving. Keeps for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

At just 20 calories for a generous 2 tablespoon serving, this dressing is good on green salads or grain salads. It’s also good drizzled on fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, zucchini, etc.). I also use this to make egg salad.

Check out this month’s FREE and Bargain-Priced books and anthologies.

Snacks, 100 Calories or Less – #HealthyEating by @Donna_Fasano

Posted on by — 3 Comments ↓

Let’s face it, we all overeat now and then. Whenever I overindulge, I do what I can to get myself back on track as quickly as possible. Here’s a list of my go-to snacks when I’m focused on sticking to 1200-1400 calories per day:

Snacks

  1. 1 cup frozen seedless green grapes – 65 calories
  2. 1/4 cup wasabi peas – 100 calories
  3. 1/2 cup of slow-churned ice cream – 100 calories
  4. 2 stalks celery (about 7” long) and 2 tablespoons hummus – 100 calories
  5. 30 goldfish crackers – 100 calories
  6. 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and a small wedge of cantaloupe – 100 calories
  7. 2 tablespoons PB2 spread on 1/2 granny smith apple – 90 calories (PB2 is powdered peanut butter that is 80% fat free. Mix 2 tablespoons PB2 with 1 tablespoon water.)
  8. 1/2 of a medium-sized baked potato and a heaping tablespoon of salsa – 100 calories
  9. 8 baby carrots – 100 calories
  10. 2 Tablespoons PB2 spread on 2 stalks celery – 66 calories
  11. 1 cup of tomato soup – 75 calories
  12. 1/2 banana (sliced and frozen) dipped in 2 teaspoons dark chocolate chips (melted)  – 100 calories
  13. 1/3 cup Greek Gods Vanilla Honey yogurt – 96 calories
  14. 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon – 75 calories
  15. Banana smoothie – blend 1/2 a banana, 1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt, and a handful of crushed ice – 100 calories
  16. 2 long pretzel rods dipped in 2 teaspoons yellow mustard – 77 calories
  17. 1/2 cup steamed edamame (shelled) with a splash of soy sauce – 100 calories
  18. 16 cherry tomatoes sliced in half, 1/8 cup crumbled feta cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice – 95 calories
What are YOUR go-to snacks when you’re trying to get your diet and your weight back on track?

~  ~  ~

This month, I’m offering A REASON TO BELIEVE to Kindle readers for just 99¢. You save $3 off the regular price!

A Reason To Believe

A Real Fairy Tale

It seems like a grand idea, temporarily trading her pixie wings for a womanly form to help handsome widower Paul Roland with his baby girl. And the moment she holds the precious bairn in her arms, Fern knows true happiness for the first time.

But Fern never anticipates the dizzying emotions she feels for the man who not only needs her as a nanny, but as a woman whose passion can heal his wounded heart. Suddenly the forbidden fairy rule she gently bends because of the baby is in danger of being irrevocably broken.

Some things are meant to be…