Stacy Craft

5 THM Things I Don’t Do

February 18, 2019 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

5 THM things I don’t do according to the plan and the one thing that I always do in order to make the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle work for me.

Trim Healthy Mama is a lifestyle (not a diet) that teaches you to basically alternate between low carb meals (S) and low fat with healthy carb meals (E). There are a few more details in the book but that is a very basic overview. The THM plan has worked well for me as a way to eat healthier and lose weight. However, many people find it complicated and difficult to follow.

I decided to share 5 THM things I don’t do that are mentioned frequently in the book or on the Facebook support groups. For me, simplifying the plan allows me to be more compliant. And therefore, lose more weight!

5 THM Things I Don’t Do

Let me start this off with a little disclaimer. These things that I don’t do are probably beneficial to some people. I am sure they help some people stay on plan or to lead a healthier lifestyle. I don’t want this post to sound like I am telling you not to do these parts of the plan.

I just want you to know that they are not necessary in order to succeed. The plan actually started based on the very simple principle of separating fuels (fats from carbs) and some of the newer and more complicated add ons may scare some people off from starting.

So if you like these 5 things that I skip, by all means do them. But if you are struggling with feeling overwhelmed, overworked in the kitchen or just scared to start, read this and know that you can make it work without all the special items and complicated meals.

1. NSI (No Special Ingredients)

If you have read many things on Protecting Your Pennies, you know that saving money is our thing! And one reason that I do not use many or any special ingredients is because of money. The special items tend to cost a lot more than just buying whole foods.

When I committed to the program, a change in my eating habits was my goal. So I stopped trying to eat like I was eating (meaning that I am not attempting to THMify a triple chocolate molten lava cake). And I started trying to eat healthy, simple and whole food meals.

So as opposed to trying to figure out how to take 10 ingredients to make a waffle or a cupcake, I just skip those things. And that is hard for me to say because I LOVE sweets. I choose to go off plan once in a while and eat a treat that will really be enjoyed. Yes it takes some willpower to hop right back on plan but it works for me.

The second reason that special ingredients are skipped in my house is the complication that they add to my life. You will read more about this in number 3. When I hop in the kitchen, I want quick and easy. I want foods I am comfortable with and know that will develop into a meal that my family will eat with no waste.

Special Ingredients Used at My House

While talking about 5 THM things I don’t do, I should probably include what I do purchase. There are a few personal choice items that make my life easier instead of complicating it! So for that reason, I do buy a few of those items fairly consistently. The best news is that these items are typically available at Walmart (and sometimes even Aldi).

Joseph’s Lavash Bread & Pitas

Mission Low Carb Tortillas

Halo Top Ice Cream

Stevia (I very rarely use this but I do usually have it in the pantry)

2. No Shakes, Trimmies, GGMS, Sippers

The first time I did THM and failed, I did try lots of the shakes and GGMS. While I don’t care for the GGMS, many of the shake recipes that I tried from the cookbook were good. I liked them. They were packed with healthy items (although I skip those Okra recipes, I just CAN’T) and tasted yummy.

So why do I not do something that I like? I have two kids and work full time. I am the diaper changer and the runner to extra curricular activities. I am also trying to squeeze in a workout here or there for me. So just like many of you, I am busy.

Although I like the shakes as a snack, most times my snacks need to be quick and even premade or proportioned for grab and go portability. I will make a green smoothie as a breakfast on occasion but in general, my blender stays in my cabinet collecting dust. Only to be used on special occasions.

I know this is not for everyone. I have read on the Facebook groups about plenty of women that have literally burned their motors up from all the use that they give their blenders. But I am just more of a string cheese and handful of nuts THM girl.

3. No Complicated Desserts or Homemade Bread

Lots of people seem to struggle with the desserts that are on plan. The recipes can be time consuming and use lots of special ingredients making them costly. And then if you don’t like the taste, it can be really frustrating to see all of that effort and money wasted.

Since I am not one to stock a ton of special ingredients, I stick to a few very simple desserts that can eliminate my sweet tooth in a pinch. Choosing this path also makes my time in the kitchen much less.

For the bread, I purchase a loaf of sprouted bread for my E meals every week (Aldi makes this so affordable). As I said in number 1, THM meant life changes for me. So as opposed to trying to make a bread that I can eat with S meals, I just don’t eat bread with those meals. It is a small sacrifice for me when I can eat bacon, steak or cheese during those S meals if I choose. And if I am just desperate for something that “feels” like a carb in an S meal, I might choose to have a Mission tortilla or a Joseph’s product.

4. No Eating When I am Not Hungry

The recommendation is trying to eat every 3-4 hours on THM. So for this “rule” I feel like I kind of follow it and kind of don’t.

I never really eat a morning snack. I don’t need a snack in the morning so I don’t eat one. Avoiding a morning snack works for me and I don’t find myself eating more at lunch because I skipped the mid-morning snack. I also don’t experience the sugar valleys with the space between meals here.

I do typically have lunch, an afternoon snack and then dinner. I don’t always have an afternoon snack but I do enjoy one pretty frequently. Lots of people seem to ask on the Facebook THM groups if you HAVE to eat every 3-4 hours.

The principle about why to eat that often is a good one in my opinion. However, sometimes life gets in the way. I also don’t like to eat when I’m not hungry because it isn’t a good habit for me. You may hear to eat smaller meals so that you get hungry by the 3-4 hour mark.

My policy is just to listen to my body. I don’t eat a big breakfast typically so their is not much to cut. I think it is probably the coffee that gives me a full feeling. So for me, sometimes I eat a snack, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I eat every 3 hours and sometimes I go longer. It what works for me.

5. Few Veggies at Breakfast and None Stuffed into Desserts

Ok, so this is not a steadfast rule for me. I will occasionally eat veggies for breakfast. I do like zucchini with my eggs occasionally or a little fresh spinach on a breakfast sandwich. But in general, I don’t eat a lot of veggies at breakfast and I don’t do it daily.

So if you are great about eating veggies at breakfast, just skip this! I think eating more veggies is a great thing and I do TRY to make an effort to include a veggie a couple of times a week in the morning. I just in general can’t stomach eating a veggie for breakfast, so I don’t make myself miserable forcing it. And I still lose weight. Maybe I will get better!

I also don’t make brownies with Okra or muffins with spinach. It just isn’t appealing to me. I choose to eat my veggies at my other meals and snacks. I just try to make sure I get plenty non-starchy veggies throughout the day. Don’t stress about the time of day that they are going in!

1 THM Policy That I Follow Religiously

After writing about the 5 THM things I don’t do, I thought it was only right to tell you the one thing that I always do when following Trim Healthy Mama!

I eat simple, real food meals while alternating fuels. I can tell you 100% honestly that I do not spend any more time in the kitchen when I am doing THM than I would if I was eating in another manner.

By separating fuels at meals, you eat what the plan calls S meals or E meals. There are a few variations listed in the book (Deep S, S helper, FP), however, I think when you are just starting out that just sticking with S or E makes it easier.

My Trim Healthy Mama Success & Resources

You can read about my trim healthy mama story where I have now lost a total of 60 lbs since having my baby boy at the end of 2017.

I have a couple of popular meal plans on the blog that may help you if you are just starting out on THM or if you just need a fresh idea or two. The 7 Frugal THM Dinners meal plan is great if you are on a budget. And the 7 Day THM Meal plan will be of interest if you are visual because I photographed everything that I ate for a full week – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

And if you are a “drive thru Sue” looking for what you can eat on the go, check out my THM S Meals Fast Food Cheat Sheet.

Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Review

February 16, 2019 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

If you find yourself around the University of Memphis area and need a yummy breakfast, Brother Juniper’s is the place! You will find the massive open face omelets that they are known for piled high with delicious and unique toppings.

I can’t believe that I grew up in Memphis and I had never tried this place until today! Let me tell you, I have been missing out and you have too if you haven’t tried Brother Juniper’s breakfast! And since Frommer’s recently named Memphis as one of the Best Places to Visit in 2019, I am going to be reviewing more fun things to do in my hometown!

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Location of Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Restaurant

The location could not be better if you are visiting for a Tiger’s game or visiting your child at college. It is just a short walk from campus if you are at the University. Or even if you are visiting Memphis and staying Downtown, you are only a 20 minute Uber ride away from a delicious local breakfast experience.

This part of the University area has been revitalized in the last couple of years and offers a pretty cool scene. You will find some newer, upscale restaurants like Char and some long time Memphis favorites like Garibaldi’s Pizza. Some other neighbors to Brother Juniper’s is The 901 Scoop to try out the rolled ice cream trend or the Tiger bookstore to get yourself outfitted in Tiger blue.

So now that you know the area you are going to, the actual Brother Juniper’s breakfast that you want is located at 3519 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN 38111.

Hours of Operation :

Monday : Closed

Tuesday – Friday : 6:30a – 1:00p

Saturday : 7:00a – 12:30p

Sunday : 8:00a – 1:00p

Brother Juniper’s Atmosphere

There is a small outdoor area out front but it was super cold today so we entered into the old house right away. We were promptly greeted by a friendly hostess. Since it was a Saturday morning, we were expecting a little wait but were pretty pleased that it was only about a 10-15 minute wait. There are also two fairly large bar seating areas if you don’t mind sitting there as opposed to a table to avoid the wait.

We were quickly called back to our table by the hostess. And in true southern, Memphis style “follow me ya’ll” is probably what you will hear. In the dining room, you will find a diverse crowd of people ranging from families with young kids, couples and college kids.

The main sitting area has a warm, family feel. I always love restaurants that are in old homes because it just gives it that quaint feel that you want when you are about to eat a big stack of pancakes and a hot mug of coffee.

On the table, you will find a laminated menu with the extensive offerings. The large menu is printed front and back, completely filled with every breakfast option you can probably think of. There is sure to be something to please your belly!

Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Review

Right when we sat down at our table, our server came to take our drink order. I was really excited about this because while we were waiting, I had been scoping out a big chalkboard that detailed all of their specialty lattes. I love a sweet coffee treat.

Coffee

My husband takes his coffee black so there isn’t much to talk about there but he did say that it was a good cup of coffee. (I wouldn’t touch a cup of black coffee with a ten foot pole. Give me ALL the sugar.) I chose the Juniper Latte. It is an espresso with caramel and topped with whipped cream. The caramel was prominent and delicious.

It was one of my favorite parts of our Brother Juniper’s breakfast experience. If you love good coffee, you know a lot of times the coffee at a breakfast diner tastes like burned motor oil but that was not the case here! My hubby even tried it, his exact comment was “that tastes like candy!”

Savory Brother Juniper’s Breakfast Entrees

There were so many options, I had a really hard time choosing what I wanted. Thankfully, I did know that I wanted to try some type of eggs benedict so that narrowed down my choices a bit.

The gravy benedict was the option that I chose featuring a southern, fluffy biscuit topped with chopped sausage, tomatoes, green onions and two over medium eggs. But here is the kicker. It is topped with hollandaise sauce and white gravy. I love biscuits and gravy and adding in the hollandaise just elevates it to the next delicious level.

My husband went with one of the Brother Juniper’s breakfast specialties, the open face omelets. The Hungry Tiger is a three egg open faced omelet featuring tomatoes, green onions, bacon, ham, sausage, feta, cheddar, mozzarella and swiss. Basically every breakfast item you can think of piled on top of an omelet.

Omelets are not usually my personal favorite but I love trying things so in my mouth it went! I really enjoyed this for two reasons. Piling all the toppings on top made it taste less eggy to me which is why I don’t love omelets in the first place. The open face omelet style was a nice twist on the original and is something that Brother Juniper’s states is unique on their menu. The other thing that really made this choice stand out was the feta. I don’t know why more places don’t use feta at breakfast because it is delish!

Sweet Breakfast Options

I will literally not go to a breakfast restaurant if they don’t have good sweet options. My idea of a perfect breakfast is a little savory and a big sweet something on my plate. And I don’t want just a pancake! I want some delicious bakery dessert stuffed into my french toast or pancakes.

Brother Juniper’s did not disappoint. I wanted to sub my home fries that came with my meal for a Cinnamon Roll pancake but our server let me know that was not an option. We decided to just order one pancake as a side to try it. The one pancake is huge! Both of my kids could have shared that as their main meal and been full with leftovers.

The cinnamon roll pancake does not just make an impression for the size. The cinnamon sugar and cream cheese icing will leave you feeling like you had an amazing dessert for your early morning meal. We added a teeny tiny bit of syrup to our pancake but it really needed nothing.

And that Monte Cristo on the menu is calling my name for next time.

Side Dishes

The two main sides offered are the home fries or cheese grits. The home fries are diced potatoes that are well seasoned with savory spices and lightly fried. A quick dip in ketchup and these started disappearing quickly.

But the table favorite was definitely the cheesy grits! The grits were full of cheese which is important because why call them cheese grits if they are not going to be swimming in ooey gooey goodness? And the consistency was perfectly creamy and just what I think of when imagining some good southern grits.

Overall, we really enjoyed both the food and experience at Brother Juniper’s. Do you have a favorite Memphis breakfast or brunch place to eat?

Heart Slime Valentine Cards (With Free Printable)

February 14, 2019 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Finding a Valentine favor that pleases everyone can be a difficult task. These simple heart slime Valentine cards are fun for both boys and girls!

Valentine’s Day already! I feel like I just got done with Christmas (ok, let’s be real, my back porch Christmas tree is still up). So maybe that’s why I am running a little behind on the school V-day gifts?

My daughter and I have been working on some cute and very girly nail polish Valentine cards this week. And then I needed to think of something for the boys and slime is of course top of mind! But what I really love about these heart slime Valentine cards is that they are great for boys or girls! Everyone loves slime! (Except maybe the parents)

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Heart Slime Valentine Cards

When I was growing up, my mom always had a little Valentine treat for us when we woke up on 2/14. It wasn’t anything big but it was always something fun that we looked forward too.

One year we got these stuffed animals that sang the lyrics “Wild thing, you make my heart sing.” So while I was designing these “you make my heart slime” cards, that song was playing on repeat in my head! Isn’t it weird the tidbits of things that you remember from your childhood?

So back to these easy, last minute heart slime Valentine cards! I picked up everything at Walgreens and they take no time to make!

Supply List

You only need a few things to make these gender neutral Valentine favors.

Heart shaped slime (in the Valentine section of Walgreens)

3M putty (you could use double sided tape or just skip it altogether if you use the bags)

Clear Favor bags

Free Printable Card

To assemble, print the free printable and trim the paper to create 4 cards. Using your adhesive method of choice, adhere the slime carton to the heart slime Valentine cards.

I was out of card stock and was worried about the slime being to heavy on the regular paper. So I stuck the entire Valentine into a clear favor bag to make sure it stayed altogether.

Then fold over any excess bag and secure it on the back with a piece of tape.

These heart slime Valentine cards are an inexpensive way to send home a non-candy Valentine treat with your child’s school friends.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Nail Polish Valentine Cards For Kids (With Free Printable)

February 12, 2019 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Nail polish Valentine cards are a fun way for kids to gift a colored nail polish to their friends during the class party.

It is February 12th and we just finished the Valentine’s day treats to send for the school party. If this sounds like you, you can still make a cute, homemade Valentine treat to send with your kiddo without any stress!

And if you are looking for more of a gender neutral, last minute Valentine card, check out these slime Valentine cards.

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Nail Polish Valentine Cards for Kids

When making these nail polish Valentine cards, I wanted a non-candy treat that my daughter would enjoy sending to her mother’s day out classroom. The favors that are in the seasonal areas at the store are often junk. You know the kind of stuff that is played with for 5 minutes and then litters your home until you can get it in the trash without your child noticing.

And then you feel guilty. Because some parent spent money on that little piece of junk in hopes of delighting your child. So back in October for the Halloween parties, I started searching out no-junk party favors. I was hopeful that I could find some treats to send that wouldn’t find their trash status within a day of arriving to their new home.

So after thinking about that, these nail polish Valentine cards were born. You can create a fun Valentine card with just two items plus the free printable that the girls will love.

Items Needed for Nail Polish Valentine Cards

So, remember I told you it is almost 2/14? There is no time for massive craft lists and lots of intricate instructions! For these nail polish Valentine cards, you need just 3 items (and one of those is a free printable that you will find at the end of this post)!

The rest of the items could be found on Amazon, Target or even a drugstore.

Nail Polish (I like to buy a Princess nail polish multi pack and then break it up for the Valentine’s)

Clear Favor Bag (Or even a ziplock bag)

Free Printable Valentine Card

The cards come 4 to a sheet. Trim the sheet to create 4 cards. Then fold horizontally right above the words. This will create a little tent that you will fold over the clear treat bag.

Click Here for the free printable.

I cut my treat bag in half since my bag was much bigger than the bottle of nail polish. So to finish these nail polish Valentine cards, just place the folded card over the clear bag and tape it.

Voila! Super cute nail polish Valentine cards that will be a hit at daycare or elementary school. These would even be fun for older girls to gift to their friends.

Hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day! And check out this Nutella and Strawberry Heart puff pastry for dessert!

10 Keto Recipes Using Cauliflower Rice

January 27, 2019 by Stacy Craft 1 Comment

Find 10 keto recipes using cauliflower rice that will spice up your dinner table but keep your pants fitting well!

A bag or two of riced cauliflower is always living in the bottom of my freezer. It is kind of a Keto/low carb rite of passage. It is the Kale of 2015.

The trend is to eat cauli rice so of course, I buy it and put it in my freezer. But what do you actually do with it? Because I can promise you I am not just popping it in the microwave and putting it on a plate. No Ma’am, too plain and blah for me. These 10 keto recipes using cauliflower rice will show you how to easily doctor that lonely bag of frozen cauliflower into something amazing!

(Affiliate links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Why Eat Cauliflower Rice?

Want to know a secret? When I first started eating low carb, I didn’t like cauliflower rice. Not just didn’t like it, I despised it. The smell of cooked cauliflower does not please me but I wanted to eat it. Remember that 2018/2019 cauliflower bandwagon that I wanted to hop on?

But why should we eat cauliflower? There are lots of reasons and here are a few of my favorites.

High Nutritional Value

Cauliflower is rich in vitamins and high in fiber. It is also very low in calories so it allows you to bulk up your meal without adding lots of excess calories. The cool thing about keto is that you don’t need to count calories but you also don’t want to go crazy with your calories either.

Budget Friendly

Cauliflower is also relatively inexpensive, even when buying it as a convenience item (like riced in the frozen food section). Since it is economical, you can use it to add volume to your meal and have plenty of money in your grocery budget left for more expensive items like meats and cheese.

Great Substitute for High Carb Items

Lets be honest. Many of us want to eat the same way that we did before making the choice to move to a healthier and lower carb lifestyle. Rice and potatoes and bread are all comfort foods that we grew up with. Being able to find a substitute to give you the feeling of a comfort food dish without all the unnecessary carbs and calories is a win.

10 Keto Recipes Using Cauliflower Rice

As I said up top, I didn’t always love cauli rice. You know why? Because it is not good plain. I am sure someone out there will disagree with me but to me it needs to be doctored up a bit (or a lot).

These 10 keto recipes using cauliflower rice will give your dinner rotation a fresh new feel while incorporating a vegetable packed with vitamins and nutrients. I love that each of these recipes gives a completely different flavor profile and cuisine to the cauliflower rice that you haven’t known what to do with.

Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken with Cauliflower Rice – This is my top recipe on my blog and was pinned more than 100,000 times in 2018. It features a simple 2 ingredient queso to drench your cauli rice and chicken in. And it is ready in 30 minutes!
Low Carb Cajun Shrimp Casserole – An old family favorite, this recipe of my grandmother’s was adapted to be low carb by subbing the white rice for cauliflower rice. It is rich and delicious.
Keto Hawaiian Haystacks – Keen for Keto shows you how to make a completely customizable Hawaiian Haystacks meal using cauliflower rice. She shares that it is great for her large family because everyone can choose exactly what they like. I am definitely adding this to my meal plan the next time we have all the kids over. Trying to please 5 kids (3 teens and 2 toddlers) is next to impossible.
Chicken Divan – Broccoli, chicken, cheese and rice just go together. They are keys to a great casserole and buy simply subbing cauli rice for the white stuff, you can eat it on your low carb / keto diet. Yum!
Cajun Cauliflower Rice – Valerie at Thyme and Joy has created a delicious take on New Orleans dirty rice with this recipe. My husband is from Louisiana so Cajun food hits our table often. And as a busy mama, I love simple one skillet meals like this one.
Bacon Burger Casserole – Burgers are always a family pleaser and a casserole is great for an easy week night meal.
Keto Chicken Korma – One of my step-daughters loves Indian food. This dish has all of the classic Indian flavors and comes together in 30 minutes. It is going on my meal plan for this week!
Tumeric Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Soup – A quick soup that is loaded with vegetables and turmeric is a great week night remedy to keep you feeling your best.
Cauliflower Fried Rice – One of the first cauli rice recipes that I ever made was a low carb fried rice. Even my cauli rice hating husband ate it and like it. It is a great way to get your Chinese take out fix without cheating.
Louisiana Seafood Gumbo with Cauliflower Rice – This recipe from A Sprinkling of Cayenne is a little more time consuming than the others in this list but I just couldn’t leave it out. I had written off gumbo while eating low carb and boy was I wrong! Check out this yummy recipe when you have a little extra time on your hands and want a big bowl of Cajun love.

Other Keto / Low Carb / THM Recipes

And if this list of 10 Keto Recipes using cauliflower Rice leaves you wanting more, I have many more Keto/low carb/Trim Healthy Mama recipes that you may want to try! Feel free to stay a while and look around! Some of my favorites are Leftover Cheeseburger Soup, Cucumber and Smoked Salmon Faux Sushi, and Parmesan and Pork Rind Crusted Pork Chops.

If you love low carb / keto but you feel like you could use a healthy carb every now and then, read about how I have lost 60 lbs postpartum using the Trim Healthy Mama plan.