So as a busy mom of two kids I realized that I need to work on my week night meals. My goal for this new year is to be really focused on my health and one of those ways is making sure that I have good healthy food to eat. So here is one of my recent go to meals. Mainly because pork loins were buy one get two free at the store I had a small stock pile of them. So below is my recipe for a super easy crock pot meal. It isn't the prettiest but it sure is tasty.
So first up-The ingredient list
Apple Cider-Enough to coat the bottom of the crockpot I would estimate about a cup
Apples: I used this whole bag because they were starting to go. The kind that are too yucky to eat but perfect for baking on applesauce
Pork Loin-You can use any size this was just your standard grocery store variety
Oh and that is it! (oh and yes i was doing that at 6am)
Pork loin in the bottom of the crockpot
Apples peeled and chunky sliced on top with cider to cover the bottom
And the finished product. I cooked mine on low (my crock pot runs high-for about 8 hours) This is the entirely of the crockpot. For my family this was one nights dinner and lunch the next day. If you want two meals you will need two pork loins or maybe a pork roast.
Now a serving suggestions....My kids favorite veggie broccoli and a little mac and cheese for the kiddos.
According the recipe builder the Smart Points value of this meal (not including the mac and cheese) would be 5 smart points for a sixth of the crock pot. I also think you could measure it as 1/4 cup of cider and whatever the ounces of pork you choose to eat. Which I think would come out to be about five.
Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!
Its been a long time since I posted....things got well holiday crazed around here that is for sure. I was having some medical issues that hopefully I will get around to posting about then just getting ready for the holidays with two small children is always crazy. Plus if I am being honest I was having a real hard time without having my dad around.
Now up until the week before Christmas I was doing ok with everything. Work was good, kids were good. weight watchers was good. Then all the balls up in the air started to fall and well.....hit me on my head!
A long time ago someone said to me as hard as the first holiday without your loved one is hard-the second one is worse. I definitely don't think it was worse just more permeant in a way. Just the reality of him being gone as really begun to set in. It is almost as if I head my breath for the whole first year dealing with all of those firsts but now it is the reality of the loss is starting to set in. Its not harder it is just different. Sometimes the gravity of the loss is really hard. Lately Josie has been talking about my dad and how she misses and her memories of him. Thankfully her mentioning him doesn't bring me instantly to tears....but it does hurt at the thought of how much he is missing each and every day.
The holidays round these parts were good. We had a nice time celebrating with family and friends and the kids were spoiled rotten. Mainly what I am looking forward to is some quiet time with the family at home.
I didn't even take that many pictures this year....not because I didn't want to but because I was busy enjoying. If one thing the loss of my dad has taught me.....life is far to short to spend my time doing things that don't bring me joy.
I hope you and your family enjoyed your holidays!
So this vacation I brought no work home. All of my grading is done and I knew I would be spending a few days in NYC and then want to be with my kiddos for the rest of the vacation. Well I was fighting a cold before school got out for the holidays and it has only gotten worse. I even went to the Dr's on Monday to make sure it wasn't something serious. Thankfully just a nasty cold and cough. I was so sick that I cancelled a much look forward trip to NYC with friends for one night and the hubby another.
So that has left me home with no grading, no plans, and no graduate classes to complete. I have seriously found myself wandering around my house. I am so used to being busy...to the point that when my dad died I signed on to sell Jamberry wraps to ensure that was always busy with selling them.
I have been reading, cleaning, and organizing a bit. Since I am sick I haven't felt up to doing much else. We took the kids to see two movies (The Good Dinosaur-which I slept through and Star Wars).
I figured as hard as it it for me to sit around and not do stuff I think that is maybe just what I need to be doing. Taking time to just be with my kids and family. Make myself sit and reflect. I am trying to be focused on myself and take some me time. That is one of the new focuses on the new weight watchers program. Taking me time. That is really hard-to just take time and be....
For me when I am not busy sometimes that means I am left to deal with my emotions. Me dealing with my emotions is not an easy thing for me. This is why I have eating issues. To ignore my emotions I eat or keep busy.
Like I said I am not good at relaxing and not being busy but maybe this is exactly what I need to be doing.
So although I have been working my weight loss program for a few weeks sadly I am not that skinny bitch I really want to be. Tonight while trying no clothes (I am currently doing GwynnieBee) and I caught a glimpse of myself in my mirror. Typically, I just look at myself at the floor length mirror at the end of the hall in my house. But I got a real good look.....maybe good isn't the word to use.
What is interesting is this wasn't one of those self hatred moments....mostly it made me sad. It made me upset that I have let me body get to this point. I know exactly where that 25 pounds I put on went. It hit me in that moment just how big I have let myself get. I have always been a big girl...no secret there. But I am the same size I was after I had both my kids....I am sad that I have not taken care of myself and this is the result.
It was also highly motivating. It made me realize there just can't be anymore BS. For the most party I have tracked every point and need to get back to adding in regular exercise. Although most days I walk at least 10,000 steps I need to do more not only for stress management but to get this weight off. I don't have to do anything radical just do something.
I won't lie I am sad....not the usual I hate myself. Just more taking that feeling in and realizing I need to change. I also promised myself to give the new weight watchers program my all. For another 47 weeks since I am one week five now. Its not running a marathon it is sticking to a plan to help myself. Otherwise I may need to consider other option because what I saw in the mirror was the one thing I can't afford to be and that is unhealthy. I no longer have the luxury of saying.....well my parents are fat but they are healthy. I don't get that anymore-I get a parent who died at 64....that right there my friends is some serious shit that needs to be dealth with.
So yes, I am a bummed and sad-but sometimes I think we need reality to bitch slap us across the face to motivate us.
