Stacy Craft

Halloween Spider Fudge Rounds (Individually Wrapped)

October 31, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

You can take a Little Debbie cakes and make them into cute Halloween spider fudge rounds. Perfect for a school party since they are individually wrapped.

This year I am room mom for my daughter’s class and since it is the year of COVID everything is different. No one other than teachers and students are allowed into the school and all treats have to be pre-packaged from a store (nothing homemade).

But of course cute treats are still a must for a Halloween Harvest Party. So you can create these little Halloween spider fudge rounds with just a few supplies and still be compliant with your school requirements.

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Halloween Spider Fudge Rounds (Individually Wrapped)

I made 18 of these Halloween store bought treats and they are pretty easy!

Here are the supplies you will need to make these Halloween spider fudge rounds:

Glue Gun / Glue Sticks
Little Debbie Fudge Rounds
Googly Eyes
Brown Pipe Cleaners
Scissors

Making Halloween Spider Snack Cakes

Since we wanted these to be COVID approved for school, we wanted to keep the cake completely in the packaging to keep the food safe.

So the spider decorations are all applied to the plastic poly bag that holds the fudge rounds.

To make the spider, start by applying two eyeballs to the snack cake package.

*Helpful Hint*

My glue gun gets really hot and the first time that I applied the eyeballs, the glue burned through the thin polybag. So after that, I would apply the glue to the eyeball and then blow on it for a bit before applying it.

Now it is time to make the spider legs.

Cut one brown piped cleaner into four equal parts. Take all four pipe cleaners grouped together and apply glue to the front and back side of one end (about half to a quarter inch down the pipe cleaner).

When the glue is cool enough, apply the set of 4 legs to one side of the fudge round about mid-way down from the eyes. Repeat on the other side.

Once the glue is dry & cooled, bend each pipe cleaner in the middle.

Now you have a set of not too spooky Halloween spider fudge rounds to take to your child’s class party.

More Halloween Fun for Kids

Paint a Pumpkin DIY Craft Favor Kits

No Bake Frankenstein Brownies

Spooky Ghost Halloween Breakfast

Halloween Granola Bar Mummy

Party Foods for Trim Healthy Mama

October 29, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Whether you need something to take to a potluck or a football tailgate, these party foods for Trim Healthy Mama will be enjoyed by your THM & non-THM friends and family.

We just had my son’s birthday party this past week and I wanted to have some on plan appetizers to go with the pizza and cake that he requested.

I have some goals that I am trying to hit & didn’t want to go off plan, even for a birthday. But that doesn’t mean that I wanted to fell deprived during the event and because of THM I didn’t have to!

This post on party food for Trim Healthy Mama is letter “P” of our Trim Healthy Mama A to Z series. You can find everything you need to know about THM from A to Z by clicking here.

(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.)

Party Foods for Trim Healthy Mama

I know we have all been in this boat. We need to go to a party and take an appetizer but what can you bring to stay on plan and that will please all guests? A lot!

All of these are things that I have served to non-THM followers and they are eaten up and enjoyed! So you can feel confident that pretty much anyone can enjoy these snack ideas and you can stay on plan and meet your goals.

Most of these starters can be eaten on other low carb and Keto diets as well.

THM Appetizers to Serve At Your Gathering

Deviled Eggs – I don’t really use a recipe. Just enough mayo to get the egg yolks creamy and a dash of paprika.
Charcuterie Trays – Meats, cheeses, nuts and fruits are always a hit. The link has E & S board ideas
Chicken Salad – For this one I added some diced jicama, sliced almonds and Dukes mayo. Serve with celery, make Joseph’s Lavash crackers or you can throw in an off plan roll of some sort if you want for the Non-THMers.
Everything But the Bagel Goat Cheese Log – a 2 minute recipe
Pimento Cheese – This is one of my faves. So easy and tastes so rich. All I do is shredded cheddar, enough Dukes mayo to make it creamy and some drained pimento, salt & pepper.
Rotel Dip Stuffed Mushrooms – You won’t need the chips when you stuff your mushrooms with the dip.
Cocktail Sausages – To make these you need just three ingredients: 2 packages cocktail sausages, Simply Fruit Grape and Dijon mustard. Add the sausages and jar of Simply Fruit to a small crockpot. Then fill the empty jelly jar 1/2 way with Dijon mustard and add that to the crockpot. Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Sandwich Rollups – Using a low carb wrap, add deli meat, cheese, romaine, mayo and mustard. Roll up and slice using a sharp knife.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Stuffed Mushrooms – these are one of our favorites!

Chili Dip – Spread one block of cream cheese in an 8×8 dish, add a layer of on plan “S” chili (great if you have some made up in the freezer) and top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes until warm and starting to bubble up. Serve with Pork Rinds.
Buffalo Chicken Dip – 2 cans of chicken (drained), 2 packs of softened cream cheese, 1 cup ranch, 1 cup wing sauce, 2 cups shredded cheese. Bake it at 350 for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve with pork rinds.

Need more easy apps? Check out this huge list of low carb / THM S dips that you can eat with pork rinds.

The On Plan THM Food I Quit (And Started Losing Weight Again)

October 25, 2020 by Stacy Craft 4 Comments

Eating on plan is what you are supposed to do but sometimes you need a little jump start to your weight loss. Find out the on plan THM food I quit in order to start losing again.

Remember the Freshman 15 that everyone warns you about? Well no one warned me about the pandemic pounds that would make their way onto my body during COVID.

And let’s be honest, for every on plan meal that I was eating, the next two or three would be off plan. So the pounds just kept coming and sticking.

At the end of the summer, my husband and I got serious about sticking to Trim Healthy Mama. He lost a ton of weight and I lost 10 of the 15 lbs that I gained over quarantine.

But then the weight stopped falling off even though I wasn’t doing anything different. Why? That was the issue that I had to solve.

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The On Plan THM Food I Quit (And Started Losing Weight Again)

After reviewing the 9 reasons your weight loss might be stalled on Trim Healthy Mama, I felt pretty confident that I was doing everything right.

The only thing that I thought I could add would be to count calories. If you’ve read the book, you know we don’t traditionally count calories on THM. However, if you are not losing weight it can be good to make sure you are not abusing calories.

But here’s a secret – I hate counting calories. I usually do it for a meal or two and then it gets annoying and I quit.

And since my momentum was good with being on plan, I didn’t want to risk ruining that by adding on a task that I know to be difficult for me.

Food Evaluation

So instead of entering into the world of counting every cheese slice and celery stick that goes into my mouth, I went a different route that produced similar results.

I started really looking at everything I ate. But I ate normally (didn’t restrict anything more than I already was by following the THM Plan).

After a few days, I realized that I was really overdoing it with one specific food.

So What Was the On Plan Food That Was Stalling My Weight Loss?

Nuts. Cashews to be specific.

I love them. They are delicious buttery snack that is great to grab in a hurry. So filling and a pretty good sub for when you want to grab a handful of chips or crackers.

But here is the problem. I was eating way too many.

A handful in between breakfast and lunch. A little bowl with cashews and Bake Believe chocolate chips for an afternoon snack (my favorite). Another handful while cooking dinner.

It was just too many. Nuts are calorie dense and while we don’t count calories if you are overindulging in something (even if it is on plan) it can stop progress.

OK, Cool But I Don’t Overeat Nuts, So Why Am I Stalled?

Take a look into your habits. Look for anything that might be excessive, especially if it is a highly caloric or fatty food (or very high in carbs/natural sugars if you are doing an E meal – like too many bananas).

My scale had not moved in a few weeks and when I cut out the nuts that I was overeating, I lost 4 lbs in one week!

Think about it, is there anything that you are eating too much of? Avocados? Dairy? High carb fruits? Heavy S’s? Can you cut it out for one week?

I’m not forever quitting nuts. In fact, I’ve eaten some since I did this little experiment but I’m much more aware of the quantity that I’m consuming on any given day.

THM On Plan Peanut Butter

October 23, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Just starting Trim Healthy Mama and looking for the type of nut butters that you can eat? Check out this extensive list of THM on plan peanut butter options on Amazon or at your local grocery.

Peanut Butter is my absolute favorite. I like it with chocolate, on a sandwich or even straight out of the jar on a spoon. But what kind of peanut butter does a Trim Healthy Mama indulge in?

All your questions are about to be answered! No more standing in the peanut butter aisle at the grocery store reading 100 labels!

(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.)

THM On Plan Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is an “S” food because it is packed with healthy fats (more ideas on how to use it in recipes below!). When looking for a peanut butter that works on Trim Healthy Mama, you want it to be sugar free and free of off plan oils.

So basically you want it to be just peanuts or just peanuts + salt. It is easy to find a THM approved peanut butter when you know what to look for.

Here are some different THM on plan peanut butter choices that you can find online or at your local grocery store.

Smucker’s Creamy Natural Peanut Butter or try the Chunky Variety– Available at Amazon, Walmart

Crazy Richard’s Creamy Peanut Butter – Available at Amazon, Walmart

Great Value Organic Creamy Stir Peanut Butter – Available At Walmart

Kroger Natural Creamy Peanut Butter – Available at Kroger

Trader Joe’s Organic Creamy Peanut Butter – Available at Amazon or Trader Joe’s

Kirkland Creamy Peanut Butter – Costco

Spread the Love Peanut Butter Individual Packs – Great for on the go. Available at Amazon.

Simply Nature Creamy Peanut Butter – Available at Aldi

Trim Healthy Mama Approved Nut Butters

Don’t like peanut butter (I’ll forgive you) or allergic to it? There are a variety of nut butters that you can also use on plan. Here are some options for your grocery list:

Nuttzo Power Fuel Nut Butter – Packed with Seeds and Nuts

Keto Nut Butter with MCT Oil – Made from Macadamia Nuts

Kirkland Signature Mixed Nut Butter – Almond & Cashew based

Purely Pecans – A pecan nut butter!

Trader Joe’s Mixed Nut Butter

Good & Gather Crunchy Almond Butter – At Target

THM “E” Meal Peanut Butter

Do you want to eat your peanut butter with on plan sprouted bread but don’t want a XO? Well mama, you can!

All you need is peanut flour, some water & an on plan sweetener if desired.

If you have the THM cookbook, there is a recipe for Peanut Junkie Butter that you might also like & it is a FP. It is on page 481.

What do you do after you buy your THM on plan peanut butter? Grab some on plan jelly and on plan bread of course!

THM Oatmeal Hack (Explode The Health Benefits)

October 22, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

If you like to eat oats for breakfast, you need this THM oatmeal hack in your life.

So if you have followed Trim Healthy Mama for very long, you know that Pearl and Serene are always coming up with cool hacks to make foods more nutritious.

They put okra in brownies and cottage cheese in ice cream. You will find perfectly sunned mushrooms in their ground beef. And you can bet any smoothie that crosses their table has something green in it.

If you have read a few of my posts, you might think I’m a rogue Trim Healthy Mama because I am typically a little resistant to veggies on my breakfast table or okra in my brownies.

The sisters put veggies in everything! And while I am usually intrigued by the newest trend, I don’t often jump on the train for a while.

So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered a hack for oatmeal that I don’t *think* they have ever posted about. I know Pearl has made sweatpants oatmeal and PPP oatmeal but has she ever done this hack to her oatmeal? I don’t know but maybe she will tell us!

(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.)

THM Oatmeal Hack (Boost the Nutritional Value)

As I was scrolling through Instagram the other day, I saw an oatmeal phenomenon. It rocked my world. People put what in their oatmeal?!

Cauliflower.

My first thought (because I’m not a good THM rule follower) was nope, no way, not happening. I’m not Pearl. I can’t put some weird vegetable in my oatmeal. That sounds like a miserable way to enjoy your morning breakfast.

Sounds dramatic but those were really my thoughts. But for some reason this week, I lost my mind and said what the heck and dumped some cauliflower rice in my oatmeal.

And I didn’t die – even kinda liked it.

I kind of liked cauliflower in my morning oatmeal. Who am I? The further I get on my THM journey, the less I know. I’m certainly not the breakfast veggie hater that I was just a few months ago.

Then today, I did it again. Cauliflower in my breakfast bowl. I tweaked the amount of oats and cauliflower and this time I loved it. And the THM oatmeal hack was born.

Can You Taste The Cauliflower in the Oatmeal?

No! It takes on the flavors of your oatmeal. And really unless you are picking through each spoonful, you can’t even really see it.

The cauliflower does a great job of blending in with the bowl of oats making it virtually undetectable.

Why Add Cauli Rice to Oatmeal?

Adding cauli rice to your oatmeal is a great way to add in a vegetable to your morning meal. It seems to be easier to saute some mushrooms in an omelette or throw some spinach into scrambled eggs when you are eating an S meal.

But getting veggies in with your E oatmeal has always been tougher. Not many people want to eat a bite of kale with their oats. So using this THM oatmeal hack is a great way to get a few bites of veggies in with your E breakfast.

How Do I Make Cauliflower Oatmeal – THM Veggie Hack

The great thing about this THM oatmeal hack is that you can adapt it to work for any of your favorite stove top oatmeal recipes.

Here is the recipe that I used:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup frozen cauliflower rice
1 cup almond milk
1.5 tbsp Swerve Brown Sugar

Heat the oats, cauliflower rice, almond milk and sweetener until boiling. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat and dump in 1/3 cup of frozen wild blueberries and serve. This makes one serving.

And if you have never tried wild blueberries do it. I learned about them from the sisters and they are so tasty plus they have enhanced nutritional value when compared to cultivated blueberries.

Since oatmeal is a healthy carb, this is an E recipe.