The New Year is here, and I am ready. Yes, I am ready to get back on track after the holidays and go back to making healthier choices. I will share some tips for making better choices and eating better without starving yourself or eating only things you don’t like.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy or book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I don’t believe in diets, but I do believe in leading a balanced lifestyle. To accomplish that, you just have to make small changes and get into the habit so that after a while, you will get used to them. It won’t be a choice; rather, it will come naturally.
1. Don’t Skip Breakfast
I am always running around, late for something, and getting the kids ready for school, and many times I feel like I just don’t have time to sit and have breakfast. Later in the morning, when I start getting hungry, I might drive by a fast-food place and get a late breakfast on the run. The solution is making breakfast simple. The Lean Cuisine Turkey Sausage English Muffin is an ideal option to get breakfast on the table quickly. It’s ready in just 3 minutes, which is less than it takes to go through the drive-in.
Made with turkey sausage, egg whites, and reduced-fat cheese, this sausage and egg sandwich has only 220 calories and is a much smarter choice than its fast-food counterparts. You can easily add fruits and vegetables to your morning meal by washing this yummy muffin down with a healthy smoothie.
I made a delicious Rosa de Jamaica (hibiscus) smoothie with strawberries, blueberries, banana, and yogurt. Hibiscus, which is a natural diuretic, helps me get rid of that puffy eye look that I sometimes wake up with due to allergies, and hibiscus is also packed with vitamin C and iron.
Rosa de Jamaica and Strawberry Smoothie
A tangy, bright red smoothie made with a rosa de jamaica concentrate, strawberries, blueberries, banana, and Greek yogurt.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup rosa de jamaica, dried hibiscus flowers, you can find this in Latino markets
- 2 cups water
- 1 banana
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 cups almond milk or fat free milk
- low calorie sweetener to taste
Instructions
Earlier in the day, put water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add rosa de jamaica and reduce the heat.
Simmer until the water is a deep red color and has reduced to about 1 cup.
Remove from heat and pour through a colander to remove the rosa de jamaica, leaving only the water.
Chill for at least one hour. You will use only 1/4 cup of rosa de Jamaica liquid in the smoothie. You can add water and sweetener to the rest to make a rosa de Jamaica drink, which you can have hot or cold (just like tea).
In a blender, combine all fruits, sweetener, yogurt, and milk.
Blend until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of the concentrated rosa de Jamaica water. Blend until well combined.
Drink chilled.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 258Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 97mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 8gSugar: 37gProtein: 14g
Nutritional values are estimates calculated using standard databases. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
2. Keep Things Simple
There is no need to spend all day in the kitchen. You can have a warm meal on your plate in no time if you plan ahead, including having a backup in case you don’t have time to prepare a meal from scratch. I always keep a few Lean Cuisine meals in the freezer. Tonight was one of those nights when I didn’t feel like making anything, so instead of grabbing something packed with calories. I heated up some Lean Cuisine macaroni & cheese.
Flor de Calabaza & Mushroom Mac and Cheese
A quick mac and cheese upgraded with sautéed oyster mushrooms, zucchini blossoms and creamed spinach.
Ingredients
- 2 boxes of lean cuisine macaroni and cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh oyster mushrooms
- 1/4 cup chopped zucchini blossoms / flor de calabaza, you can find these at Latino makets canned or in a jar
- 1/4 cup creamed spinach, I used frozen
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion or 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
Instructions
In a medium sauce pan heat up the olive oil. Add the onion and saute until translucent.
Add the garlic, the mushrooms and the salt and pepper to the pan and saute one or two minutes.
Add the flor de calabaza and basil to the pan and saute until the mushrooms are tender.
Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the package instructions.
If using frozen creamed spinach prepare according to package instructions.
Mix spinach and macaroni and cheese.
Fold in mushrooms and flor the calabaza.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 341Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 388mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates calculated using standard databases. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
I added some spinach, fresh homegrown mushrooms, and flor de calabaza. Now that it’s so cold out, there is nothing like curling up with hubby on the couch while we eat a warm bowl of mac and cheese. With only 4 grams of fat and 250 calories, the Lean Cuisine mac & cheese is the perfect comfort food. And it’s so easy to add veggies and pack more nutrition in there!
My daughter loved this mushroom-and-flor de calabaza version, and I was thrilled to use our first crop of homegrown oyster mushrooms for this recipe.
3. Don’t Forget Fruits and Vegetables
Find creative ways to add vegetables to your meals. I add vegetables to pastas, rice, and sauces, bake them into breads and muffins, or combine them with fruits to make a smoothie. You can add some fruit to your cereal, make a quick smoothie, or sprinkle it on salads or pancakes.
4. Have Good Snack Choices on Hand
One of the hardest things to do is keep your hands off those chips or other high-calorie, low-nutrition snacks when you are hungry in the middle of the afternoon or late at night. The best thing to do is to keep plenty of tasty, better-for-you snack options around the house and avoid buying chips and other unhealthy snacks.
The Lean Cuisine three cheese & spinach pretzels come in individual servings, they have only 220 calories, and they really fill you up.
5. Make Better Choices When It Comes to What You Drink
If you cannot function without that morning latte, skip the coffee shop and make it at home. Not only will you save money, but you will also have more control over what you put in your cup.
Adding some better-for-you sugar-free French vanilla Coffee Mate to your morning cup of joe will not only make it taste great. You will also be drinking a lot fewer calories than you would if you used a creamer packed with sugar.
6. Reward Yourself With a Treat That Won’t Make You Feel Guilty
We all get those cravings, and I just can’t live without chocolate. There is no reason to deprive yourself; simply find something you love, but that doesn’t pack tons of calories and fat. My favorite treat is the Skinny Cow divine chocolates filled with caramel.
They melt in your mouth, they have only 130 calories, and they come in separate packs, so I don’t get tempted to eat the whole box!
7. Stock Up on Smart Options When Grocery Shopping
If you have junk food at home, you will eat junk food. That is why on my last trip to Walmart, I sought new options, foods that would help me maintain a balanced lifestyle and at the same time make my life a lot easier.
I stocked up and got the Lean Cuisine Macaroni & Cheese, Lean Cuisine Sesame Chicken, Lean Cuisine Morning Collection Turkey Sausage English Muffin, Lean Cuisine Wrap Additions Creamy Balsamic Chicken ant the Lean Cuisine Three Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Pretzels along with the sugar free French Vanilla Coffee Mate and the Skinny Cow Divine chocolates.
So if you haven’t checked out all the amazing options that Lean Cuisine has, this is the chance. What do you have to lose? I am ready to get back on track and make the best choices for maintaining a balanced lifestyle. What are you doing to get back on track?
Through her writing, Paula helps travelers discover Guatemala beyond the typical tourist route with practical advice, local recommendations, and authentic experiences that connect visitors with the country’s people, culture, and traditions.
Planning a trip to Guatemala? Paula offers personalized Guatemala itinerary planning and trip consultation services tailored to your interests, travel style, and budget. Contact her at [email protected] to learn more.
- San Lucas Tolimán Guatemala: Lake Atitlán’s Best-Kept Secret - September 24, 2026
- Hotel Tolimán Lake Atitlán: A Special Stay in San Lucas Tolimán - September 24, 2026
- Guatemala Dreams in San Lucas Tolimán: A Boutique Stay on Lake Atitlán - September 23, 2026
My son got a smoothie maker for Christmas, yes it was on his list at age 12 !! Definitely pinning the recipe to try thanks x
You always prepare the most visually tasty meals!
These are some healthy good eats. You are right, if you stock up on junk food, you definitely are eating junk food. We like a lot of veggies and fruits when we shop. I love that Mac N Cheese. It looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
this looks really good, you can still eat and be in your right weight with this tasty meals.
Wow, it all looks so good!! I haven’t had Agua Fresca de Jamaica in years (I don’t even know if I can find it here in WA). And the squash flower mac and cheese, I am seriously drooling over my keyboard.
i love lean cuisine dinners and omg skinny cow is so good i love your pictures they look like they were taken by a professional then again maybe you are and i didn’t know that
What awesome recipes! Thank you so much!!!
Great tips! And that smoothie recipe looks AWESOME! I am going to have to try it! #client
This looks really good, you can still eat and be in your right weight with this tasty meals.