National Pi Day

No beating around the bush this week, we have two celebrations that could throw us off:
National Pi Day  on 3.14 (pi = 3.14159265),  and
St Paddy's Day on 3.17 
and that doesn't include the birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, wedding anniversaries, baby showers, cruises...

Eeeeeeek - okay - no panicing yet!          Strategy, Strategy, Strategy

Pi Day - now, that's easy: 
Key Lime Pie or Lemon Mousse Pie from Weight Watchers:
1 reduced fat graham cracker crust
1 (1/16oz) package sugar-free lime gelatin (substitute lemon or some other flavor)
1/4 cup boiling water
8oz fat-free whipped topping
12 oz (2x6oz tubs) key lime flavor WW (fat-free, sugar-free) yogurt (substitute lemon or the flavor to match your gelatin)

Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water in a large bowl, then stir in the yogurt and mix thoroughly with a wire whisk.  Fold in the whipped topping with a wooden spoon and spread all the mix into the crust.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, decorate and serve.

The JH in the star designates a Jennifer Hudson Favorite!

Lets look at St Paddy's Day:
hmmm, funnily enough, I believe we were just talking PORTION SAVVY last week.  

BEER:
The Good News:
Beer contains some B Vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. It also has:
* NO Cholesterol
* NO Fat
* Very little sugar

The Bad News:
Alcohol is a calorie-dense nectar, packing seven calories per gram.  That's almost as much as fat, which has nine calories per gram.  Don't blame the malt (carbs), the most significant source of calories in beer is the alcohol itself.

Most 12-ounce beer with 5 percent alcohol by volume contains a PPV of 5
The typical 16-ounce draft pint contains a PPV of 7  (Think Guinness)!
Most 12-ounce "light" beers have a PPV of 4
Most 16-ounce draft of light beer has a PPV 5
A 12-ounce non-alcoholic beer has a PPV 2

FOOD:

Irish soda bread 1x4-ounce piece has a PPV of 8
Irish stew 1-cup has a PPV of 8
Boiled beef (7 or 8 ounces) and cabbage; reckon on an average serving having a PPV of 12 - 14
Corned beef hash and poached egg about 12PPV per cup
Boiled potatoes with butter have a PPV of 4 for the potatoes and PPV of 3 for 1-Tbsp Butter
1 slice Chocolate Irish Creme Cheesecake approx. PPV 12 from a 9" Cake
Irish Coffee 8-ounce cup PPV of 7

It's all about the budget:
Decide ahead of time how many of your daily, weekly and activity PPV you want to spend on your celebration and then begin to fit the puzzle pieces together.

Perhaps 4 Guinness, 8-ounces of boiled beef and cabbage, 3 boiled potatoes and butter, soda bread and chocolate cheesecake at a grand total of 78 or 80 PPV are a tad over what you want to spend for the evening, perhaps not; you decide!

However, perhaps 2 Guinness, 3/4-cup of Irish Stew with 4 or 5-ounces of boiled potatoes (no butter), and a few bites of the cheesecake for 3 or 4 PPV would be easier to "stomach" at 27 or 28 PPV?

This can apply to every day - it doesn't just apply to those trophy meal occasions.

NO Deprivation allowed tho - you hear me?  Please please make sure you allow yourself some flexibility to have some fun.  Remember Weight Watchers teaches us how to live WITH food, not WITHOUT it!

And, as one anonymous Irishman says "as you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction!"

Mini Bars    

12 per box 2PPV each  

usually $7.50 per box

ON SALE for $4.95

 - Toasted Coconut Dream

 - Chocolate Caramel

 - Mint Cookie Crisp

 - Praline Nutty Bars

 - Chocolate Pretzel Blast

 - Lemon Mousse Pie

 - Dark Chocolate Pretzel

Smoothies    

7 per box 2PPV each  

usually $7.50 per box

ON SALE for $4.95

 - Creamy Chocolate

 - Creme Brulee (where available, retired flavor)

 - French Vanilla

 AND DEBUTING our Newest Flavor 

*** Creamy Coconut  *** - yumm!

Oatmeal  

4 per box 3PPV each  

usually $5.95 per box

ON SALE for $4.95

- Maple Brown Sugar

- Baked Apple Cinnamon (where available, retired flavor)

AND DEBUTING our Newest Flavor 

*** Berries and Cream  *** - delish!

AT WORK MEETING MEMBERS (WORKSITE MEETINGS)  -  if you have a favorite that you'd like me to bring to your meeting, send me a specific order, I'll pack it separately for you and bring it with me to your meeting.

Sale runs through 3/24 - sorry no rainchecks. 

This week's meeting is 
"Nix Negative Thoughts" - come for a "Nix Fix!"


See you in your meeting :)