Outsmart Holiday Stress

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week's meeting give you some new ideas for foods to try? Getting in a rut can make us go off track from boredom, and discovering some new healthy foods can help you resist holiday temptations!

THE GINGERBREAD MAN

Here's a small reminder gift
When your resistance needs a lift.

Although I'm just a cookie-man
I have the strength to wreck your plan.

I taste so good when we first meet,
I offer comfort and I'm sweet,

But we both know that just one bite
Can lead to eating through the night.

Look at me and take control.
Don't take a bite, just take a stroll.

Hang me right upon your fridge.
And bring that waistline in a smidge.

The season’s long, but we’ll get through it,
I’m just the one to help you do it.

NEW 2010 PRODUCTS

It's that time of year! Coming soon, a new Basic Member Kit ($25 - Complete Food Companion, Dining Out Companion, Three-Month Journal, recipe booklet, coupon booklet, clear carry case) and Deluxe Member Kit ($40 - Basic Kit plus Restaurant Smarts booklet, Start Getting Healthy DVD, handled carry case) will be available in your meeting room! Also new is the Healthy Cooking Basics cookbook $15, which includes 180 recipes and gives detailed instructions for ten essential healthy cooking techniques. Look for these products in a meeting room near you!

WEIGHT WATCHERS WEEKLY

Look out for Weight Watchers' newest publication, Weight Watchers Weekly, in your meeting room! A new issue is available to each member at the scale at each and every meeting! Each issue features informative articles, success stories, and valuable coupons!

HEALTHY FOR CHEAP TIP OF THE WEEK

You don't have to cook two dinners every day or shop as if you were buying groceries for two different families. It is highly likely that junk food is not healthy for your significant other or children, as well as yourself! Junk food does not enter my house unless my husband buys it himself. A good 90% of the time, it's not worth the bother to him.

♫ ♪♫♪ ARTICLES OF NOTE ♫ ♪♫♪

• De-Stress Your Holidays
• Five Ways to Have a Silent Night
• Too Much of a Good Thing

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we have long to-do lists: gift-buying, worrying about money, attending social events, cooking, decorating, and dealing with challenging relatives. It's no surprise that we may be tempted to grab that candy at work or have an extra cup of eggnog. This week, we will learn how to manage stress without overeating. We can choose a different path this year - one that is not littered with cookie crumbs!

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

Stress: The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it.

--Timothy Brigham, PhD

Taco Soup
~2.5 points per cup

2 cans diced tomatoes (may use tomatoes with chilis or Ro-Tel)
1 small can tomato sauce
1 pound ground protein of choice (browned, drained, and rinsed) or soy crumbles
1 can corn
1 can hominy
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg dry ranch dressing mix
chili powder to taste
1 can black beans (may substitute soaked and rinsed dry beans)
1 can pinto beans (may substitute soaked and rinsed dry beans)

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low until flavors are combined. (I usually let it cook 6-8 hours.)