Sheperd's Pie during the summer...oh heck yes.

Kevin asked me to make him a Shepherd's Pie. Didn't really expect it especially during summer. Of course, I went on the hunt for a recipe that still has the flavor but not as much fat. I decided to go with a REALLY LEAN ground sirloin and we splurged on the mashed potatoes. I went for a sirloin that was 4% and locally produced in PA. It was all natural and VERY tender. The cheese I bought was from Trader Joe's and had NO hormones. I added some steak sauce and a little bit of sweet bbq sauce for flavor.

Ingredients

2 cups prepared mashed potatoes (such as Simply Potatoes)
3/4 pound ground sirloin
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat extrasharp cheddar cheese

About 356 cals a serving as long as you keep it lean. Remember DON'T SKIP TASTE. Otherwise, you won't want to eat it.

Happy School Year!

Well it's every teacher's worst nightmare...starting the school after making positive eating changes. A couple of enemies in the school: the teacher's lounge, the front office, and Fat Fridays. I believe goal setting is the only way you can see what's in front of you so here are my goals for the school year (health wise and fashion...yes fashion):

1. I will only bring snacks to school that are protein packed and/or easily proportioned. This includes: raw almonds, raw peanuts, trail mix, fat free popcorn, veggies, and hummus. If anyone wants to by me a frig for my room, I will give your kid an A. Yep I'm not above it.

2. Even when I am tired and drained from both work and grad school, I WILL GO FOR A WORKOUT. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook and I post something that is along the lines of "I'm so tired" or "I'm so stressed" or "Reward day" PLEASE COMMENT AND TELL ME I'M STILL FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not mean, it's reality.

3. Budget, budget, budget my groceries every week. You can eat skinny but still be on a budget if you keep simple things in mind. Foods that can last or recipes that can be eaten all week are you best friends. If you plan ahead and budget for it, it's not hard to eat healthy on a budget.

4. I need to dress for my body. Even though I'm trying to lose and have lost a little over 6 pounds, that does not mean I can fit into a smaller size. I'm still around the same size. I've trimmed down in terms of inches but I'm still on my journey. DO NOT FOOL YOURSELF INTO THINKING YOU CAN WEAR SMALLER CLOTHES BECAUSE YOU ARE LOSING WEIGHT. Wait and be surprised by your smaller size. There is literally no better feeling than putting on a size smaller but if you wear clothes that are too small or cover up your body, you will lose sight of your body image. You will slip right back into FAT GIRL SYNDROME and start buying clothes that are too small. Stacey and Clinton on "What Not to Wear" always say, "DRESS YOUR BODY NOT YOUR FUTURE BODY". This is so true. Dress your body now, and you will want to take care of it.

Go enjoy the end of summer and welcome back to all my teacher friends!!