Ca_Vol’s Favorite Foods
by: Ca_Vol
 

Today I am going to share my favorite food finds of all time.  I am very “stingy” with my WW points, so when I find a delicious food that is low in points, I just want to shout it to the world!  Some of these will be repeated from previous articles, but some will also be new.  Enjoy!

#1  Van Eggrolls

Let me begin by saying that I was never a huge eggroll eater before finding these.  I never had cravings for them and usually “passed” on them at Chinese restaurants.  These eggrolls, however, changed that.  I promise that they will rock your world!

 They make veggie, chicken, shrimp, and pork versions.  All are 2 points each except the pork flavor.  Not only are they low in fat and calories, but they also contain a good deal of protein.

 If you are normally a “dipper”, you won’t be with these.  I do not need nor want dipping sauce for the chicken and shrimp ones.  If you insist on having sauce for your eggrolls, eat them with a 3 point WW Smart Ones Sweet and Sour Chicken frozen dinner and dip them in the extra sauce.  Note:  The veggie ones are not as tasty and I do not recommend them as much as the chicken and shrimp ones.  If you eat the veggie ones, they do need to be dipped in something.

 Here is detailed information on their points:

 1 veggie=2 points
2 veggie=4 pts

1 shrimp=2 pts
2 shrimp=4 pts

1 chicken=2 pts
*2 chicken=5 pts

1 veggie and 1 shrimp=4 pts
1 veggie and 1 chicken=4 pts
*1 shrimp and 1 chicken=4 pts (this is what I do)

 You can cook Van Eggrolls in the oven or the microwave, but I highly recommend not nuking them because they come out soggy instead of crispy.  I personally overcook them to make them extra crispy, but you should experiment to find the way you like them best.  This is how I bake them:

·        Preheat oven 400-425 degrees

·        Cook 13 minutes

·        Flip

·        Cook 12 minutes

·        Cool 20 minutes

 These huge, crispy eggrolls are found in the open refrigerated, not frozen, section of the Super Walmart Deli with the prepared foods.  They can also be found at Hannaford’s in the Northeast. 

 **If you can’t find them in your area, call or email the company.  Their information can be found at http://www.vaneggrolls.com/.  If you contact them, please be sure and tell them Ca_Vol from HalfMySize sent you.  I want to make a commercial for them!  I’m serious!!!

 Okay, I promise not be be as long-winded with the rest of my favorite foods.  I just get so “passionate” about Van Eggrolls.  I LOVE them.

#2  Breyer’s No Sugar Added 98% Fat Free Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream

 This chocolate ice cream contains big chunks of brownie inside of it.  At only 90 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per half cup, it is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Best of all, it is only one point per half cup!  Let’s face it though, who can only eat a half cup of ice cream?  I eat two servings of it, but understand that two servings are 3 points instead of two because of the fiber cap.  Yes folks, you can have a full cup of ice cream for only 3 points.  For help finding it in your area, go to http://www.breyers.com/locator/.

 I must also add that lately I have been eating my ice cream with hot sugar free chocolate syrup on top.  I use Walden Farms brand and add a packet of Equal to it just after heating to make it sweeter.  Zero added points!  www.waldenfarms.com.  Hershey’s also makes a new 25 calorie sugar free chocolate syrup if you want to use a point for that brand.

  #3  Lean Cuisine’s New Brick Oven Style BBQ-Recipe Chicken Pizza

 Hot off the press!  I just tried this last night and all I can say is, “WOW!”  First of all, you must know that not only am I a BBQ Chicken Pizza addict, but that I am also very picky and fussy about them.  I eat two frozen California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizzas per week.  I try not to do that, but I love them so much that I can’t resist! 

 Anyway, about two years ago, I wrote Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and WW Smart Ones inquiring why they did not sell this kind of pizza!  I know that Smart Ones used to make them but they stopped.  Well, finally, Lean Cuisine stepped up to the plate and did it. Yay!

 Now, I have to be honest and admit that I was leery.  I had low expectations of this new product.  I hate onions but after five minutes of picking them off before cooking, I stuck the pizza in the microwave.  After heating, I bit into the pizza expecting a soft or soggy crust.  I was so wrong.  YUM!  It was crispy and absolutely delicious.  There was a ton of BBQ sauce on my hands.  It was very messy but worth it.  I will still eat my 18 point CPK BBQ Chicken Pizzas, especially for their wonderful crust, but hopefully these Lean Cuisines will squelch my cravings for them a little.  I highly recommend them and they are only 7 points each (but two are only 13 points…<evil grin>.)

#4 Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon

Forget turkey bacon.  Yuck!  You can have real bacon for only 1 point!  Yes, two slices of this bacon is only 1 point.  Be careful though!  Four slices are three points, not two.  This bacon is great alone, with pancakes, on BLT’s or breakfast sandwiches. 

#5  Nature’s Own Healthline Double Fiber Wheat bread (purple pack)

 Everybody loves bread.  It took three years but I finally found a low calorie bread that is a good size, fluffy, soft and tasty!  It is really good and only 1 point for two slices.  Each slice only has 40 calories and one gram of fat.  There are also 5 grams of fiber per slice, giving you 10 grams if you eat a sandwich!  I used to eat Sara Lee’s DeLightful bread but this kind is much better.  Give it a try!

#6  Aunt Jemima Original Complete Just Add Water Pancake and Waffle Mix

 Raise your hand if you love pancakes!  Raise both hands if you love them at night!  This easy mix is only three points for 3, 4-inch pancakes, which is the normal serving size for all mixes.  Two servings are 6 points and three servings are only 10 points.

 There used to be an even lower point mix called Aunt Jemima Pancake and Waffle Mix “for a Lower Carb Lifestyle”, which was also a just add water mix.  It was the lowest point mix out there but AJ got rid of it! (1 serving=2 pts; 2 servings=5 pts; 3 servings=7 pts).  It had 130 calories, 1 gram fat, 6 grams fiber and 11 grams protein per 43 gram serving!!!  HELP ME BRING IT BACK!!!  Write AJ and let them know you want it back. http://www.auntjemima.com/aj_contact/

 #7  Raisin Bran Bars, Cinnamon flavor

 Do you like cinnamon?  If so, then you must try these.  There are two kinds:  cranberry and cinnamon.  I only tried the cinnamon flavor and it was really good!  If you don't like cinnamon, you won't like it.  These are only 2 points each.

 #8  Walden Farms Apple Butter

Toast some hot bread and then put this zero calorie treat on top.  If you like cinnamon toast, you will love this.  www.waldenfarms.com

  #9  Ca_Vol’s Made-Up Concoction

     I don’t really know how to describe this.  It sounds gross but is really good.

 Mix bagged broccoli slaw mix (25 calories, 0 fat, 3 fiber for 85 grams) with a little more than two Tablespoons Walden Farms zero calorie/zero fat Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing and two packets of sweetener (Nutrasweet or Splenda).  This zero point snack or side dish contains 110% Vitamin C and 80% Vitamin A and is really good!

   #10  Russell Stover Sugar Free Chewy Granola Bars

 If you have a major sweet tooth, these little treats taste more like a chocolate bar with some “rice crispy things” in them than a granola bar. In fact, they taste more like chocolate than anything.  They are only two points (100 calories).  These will not fill you up but are a really good substitute for a chocolate bar.

  #11  No Pudge Brownies

 I gave a recipe using No Pudge Brownies in my last article, “Savory Summertime Sweets”, to make a Mock Dairy Queen Brownie Earthquake.  These brownies, however, are also absolutely delicious by themselves.  If you like gooey, “fudgy”, brownies, No Pudge is definitely for you (www.nopudge.com)!  They make different flavors but I have to say that the original in the hot pink box is the best.

 Now I have to confess that the first time I tried these, I only made an individual serving and did not like them that much.  Two years later, I decided to give them another chance but made the whole batch that time.  I couldn’t believe how good they were and even my husband said, “These brownies rock!” 

Krusteaz (http://www.krusteaz.com/) also makes a fat free brownie mix that is also quite good but different than No Pudge.  If you like brownies that taste more like cake, then you might prefer the Krusteaz brand.  I personally prefer the No Pudge brownies because I like them gooey.  Both kinds are two points, but the serving size is bigger for No Pudge than for the Krusteaz brand.

 #12  Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop 94% Fat Free Butter Popcorn

 I know I’m preaching to the choir but we all know that 4 points for a full sized bag of popcorn is a real “points bargain”.  I also spray 24 squirts or less of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray to it and then top with salt.  The spray makes the salt stick to the popcorn.  Yes, you can have a minibag for two points, but four points isn’t bad and takes care of about 45 minutes of the “munchies”.

 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray
12.5 sprays (2.5 grams) = 10 calories; 1 fat gram (0 points)
25 sprays (5.0 grams) = 20 calories; 2 fat grams (.5 point)
37.5 sprays (7.5 grams) = 30 calories; 3 fat grams (1 point)
24 sprays or 1 teaspoon = 17 calories; 1.9 fat grams (.5 point)
72 sprays or 1 tablespoon = 52 calories; 5.8 fat grams (2 points)