A tasty and filling Weight Watchers recipe that’s only an unbelievable 5 PointsPlus per serving!
I go to Weight Watchers meetings on Saturday mornings. I’ve been going since November, at first consistently, then, you know… I left town for a bit and had way too many Pina Coladas…and was nervous to step on that scale when I returned. Turns out, I only gained 1 pound, and am now down 10 pounds total since I first joined (without whole heartedly trying). It’s funny how we take a look at things and only pick out the negative. “Oh, I’ve eaten too much over the past month so surely the scale is going to show me the worst”. Instead of… “I went to the gym 4 times a week this month and exercised almost every day on my vacation, so the scale is going to be really nice to me!” Turns out, it’s silly to expect the worst, isn’t it?
I haven’t been a very good Weight Watcher since the new year. I haven’t done a very good job of counting points and staying on plan, but what has clicked with me is that I’m more aware of what I put into my mouth. In fact, yesterday, I mindlessly put a bite of a dessert I was making for a client in my mouth, and ended up spitting it out because I didn’t want it. It’s such a habit for me to just eat whatever is in front of me! I’m trying to change that.
After a great conversation with a dear friend this past week who has lost 40 pounds, then having a gym partner who has lost almost 100, and having my half marathon buddy/friend/cousin 20+ pounds down, I’ve hit a new level of motivation. For the past two weeks I’ve been actually tracking my points, I’ve given up Starbucks and alcohol (eeeks, I know), and I’m working on changing some of those bad habits that I seem to pick up so easily. Plus, I’ve started training for another half marathon, and am refusing to let my head games beat me out of running what I know I can run. I mean, really…if this girl can run a half marathon without excuses, I can too, right?
One of my favorite things about Weight Watchers meetings (besides our leader, Carol, who is so good at her job) is being inspired by the people there. Losing weight is a hard thing to do, and it certainly helps to have other people who like doughnuts as much as I do there cheering me on and sharing their own relatable struggles.
The other thing I really love is picking up the Weight Watchers weekly. This is a simple pamphlet with some motivational stories and challenges for the week, as well as 1 recipe. The recipes they share in these weekly’s are always so good! In fact, I typically get so inspired (and hungry) looking at them that I have to come home and make the recipes that very day. That was the case with this Chicken Sauté with Peppers and Goat Cheese. I barely got home from my Weight Watchers meeting and had the chicken sautéing on the stovetop.
This chicken sauté recipe lived up to my expectations and more. I made a couple of changes in the ingredients and preparation, but for the most part, kept the recipe as is. Friends, it was sooooo good (good enough to eat the whole bowl full…but I stayed with my one measured out portion and was totally satisfied).
I love it when good for you recipes don’t make you feel like you are sacrificing anything. If you are looking for a fantastic recipe, whether you are trying to lose weight or not, I can’t recommend this Chicken Sauté with Peppers and Goat Cheese enough! Click here for the original recipe, and the one below is with my adaptations. Enjoy!
Weight Watchers Chicken Sauté with Peppers and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 12 ounces uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 teaspoons olive oil divided
- 1 medium orange bell pepper
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1 medium onion sliced into thin rings
- 8 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 Tablespoons soft goat cheese
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper; add chicken pieces and toss to coat.
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Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes; remove to a plate.
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Heat remaining teaspoon oil in same skillet over medium high heat. Add peppers, mushrooms and onions, and cook for approximately 5 minutes, until tender.
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Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce and water; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, scrapping up browned bits from bottom of the pan.
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Return the chicken to the skillet and heat through. Remove from heat and crumble goat cheese over the top.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Weightwatchers.com
These bloggers have some great recipes that fit a healthy lifestyle:
- Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps from Skinnytaste
- Slow Cooker Pasta Primavera from Simply Nourished Living
- Skinny Pizza Logs from Emily Bites
- Lemon and Herb Marinated Chicken Breasts from Weight Watchers
- Parmesan Turkey Meatloaf from My Recipes
This looks so delicious! Can’t believe its so healthy!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
That’s what I thought too! It’s definitely one of those recipes that makes you feel like you aren’t missing out on anything!
I really do think the people we surround ourselves with play such a huge part of our motivation. Good job on being down 10lbs!! I would totally eat this for dinner – I actually have all the ingredients 🙂
So so true! And time of year helps too – I love when the weather turns nice and we can be active outside again! Makes me happy!
You hit the nail on the head with this: ” Turns out, it’s silly to expect the worst, isn’t it?” Which reminds me, have you ever read the book “Stumbling on Happiness” by Daniel Gilbert? Essentially the book proves, scientifically, why worrying/expecting the worse is, in fact, fruitless. 🙂 I read it when I was just starting my weight loss journey 8 years ago and the book changed my life. Seriously! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400077427/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400077427&linkCode=as2&tag=thlebo-20&linkId=35LVST7SDMTTJWN6
Oh I haven’t read that but will totally grab it right now! Thanks for sharing that!
Hi Kristen, I agree that it’s silly to focus on what we are doing wrong or not doing instead of all the great things we are doing right! I too am a big fan of there recipes featured in Weight Watchers Weekly. I’m a lifetime member at goal so I only check in at WW these days when I begin trending in the wrong direction, so I missed this great recipe. It’s definitely going on my must try list. Thanks for including a link to my slow cooker pasta primavera. I really appreciate the mention. Warmly – Martha
Congratulations on your success with Weight Watchers, Martha! That’s very inspiring! I bookmarked several of your recipes to try yesterday!
Was there any nutritional info on this recipe for those of us counting calories instead of points?
Hi Margaret –
I’m sorry there wasn’t, but My Fitness Pal has a great free tool you can plug a recipe into to calculate nutritional information. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
I just started weight watchers on Monday!!! I also just signed up for a marathon later this year. It’s going to be intense, but I am so excited to kick my butt into gear. This dish looks amazing, I will definitely be putting this on the menu for this week! Thanks Kristen! 🙂
I saw that you signed up for a full! Wow! I’m so excited for you! You can do it!!
It looks not only healthy but delicious too- I don’t know why but I’m always afraid “lite” or “healthy” recipes are going to taste bad- I need to get over it! And, btw, high five for 10 down. That’s amazing!!! xoxo
That is amazing that you only gained 1lb. This looks so delicious!
I love the Weight Watchers program. Like you I’m not great at tallying the points day in and day out. But I am obsessed with the WW App. It makes it really easy to keep track of my eating and be more aware of what I’m stuffing in my face. Speaking of stuffing my face … I want this chicken saute!
This is so delicious! And it’s even better because it is incredibly healthy! There’s nothing to be afraid of ‘lite’ recipes if it will always turn out to be this delicious!
Your points plus value is 5. But when I use the weight watchers tracker it gives me a points plus value of 8. Sorry gotta go with the calculator…can you explain?
Hmmmm – good question! I just went off what was in the weekly that was handed out at the weight watchers meeting – it’s online too. I wonder why there is such a discrepancy? (Here’s the link to the recipe on their site https://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=%20485621)
Hi Lauren. I’m not sure if you are currently a WW member but if you have an account and access to their app, there is something called ‘recipe builder’. Here you can put in all ingredients (and their amount) and then the serving size and it will calculate how many smart points there are for each serving. To do this from the app: click on the + at the bottom (tracking button), then ‘my food’, then ‘create’ in the upper right corner. This has been such an awesome and helpful tool, especially with all the recipes we find on blogs these days.