9-point tuna and crackers lunch

triscuits have always been my go-to cracker, so i'm very happy they don't cost too many points. i also love love love tuna salad sandwiches. but now that i'm trying not to eat too much bread, i'm dressing up my tuna salad in different ways.

the canned fruit is packed with juice and light syrup, which i drained off, but i still added a point for the syrup, just in case.

•  2.5 oz. pouch of light tuna in water (2 pts) mixed with 1.5 tspn mayo (1 pt), sweet pickle relish and chopped pepperoncini
•  4 triscuit crackers (2 pts) topped with sweet-hot mustard and chopped sweet orange pepper
•  sliced cherry tomatoes and cucumber
•  1/4 sliced avocado (2 pts) with sweet paprika
•  6 black olives (1 pt)
•  4 oz. canned tropical fruit (1 pt)

8-point chocolate peanut butter banana milkshake

words can't even describe how happy this makes me. i had to add little sparkly stars to express just how fabulous this chocolate peanut butter banana milkshake is! it's so easy and quick to whip up, too.

the key to this kind of happiness any time you want it is to keep a couple small bananas in the freezer. defrost them on the counter for about 20 minutes before slicing in half long-ways to remove the peel.

i added peanut butter to give my shake more flavor and make it a bit creamier. but you can leave it out to save a few points and it will still taste great! you can also add crushed ice to make it frostier. just toss everything into the blender for a minute and done!

•  2 small frozen bananas
•  2 tbsp chocolate syrup (3 pts)
•  1 tbsp smooth peanut butter (3 pts)
•  1 cup fat-free milk (2 pts)

6-point sweet and savory breakfast

i enjoy fixing a nice big breakfast on sunday mornings. but today, instead of loading up on sausage and waffles with maple syrup, i went the fruit and veggie route to get that sweet and savory flavor combination i like so much.

i sautéd the asparagus for a few minutes first, before add the eggs. you don't want the stalks to get too soft - i think they're much nicer al dente.

a little sweet paprika and a teensy sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles tastes great with the asparagus, too.

•  1 egg (2 pts) and 1-2 egg whites (1 pt) scrambled with chopped baby asparagus stalks

•  2/3 cup (3 pts) baked, peeled and chopped yam or sweet potato

•  fruit salad - banana, kiwi, blueberries

5-point ham, spinach and polenta casserole

This casserole is assembled in layers like a lasagna with half a roll of ready-made polenta and my favorite - Mia's Kitchen vodka pasta sauce. It's all natural and I can only afford to buy it when it's on sale, but it's delicious! Mia's must have less heavy cream compared to other vodka sauces, because it scanned with fewer points. You could use a regular spaghetti or marinara sauce if you prefer.

I used natural, uncured honey ham lunchmeat, which is sliced super thin. Between the ham, feta cheese and sauce, you don't need any other seasonings. Serve it with a side salad and it's a delicious meal.

The whole casserole came to 18 points, which I rounded up to 20, just in case I was a little heavy-handed with sauce or polenta. Plus 20 is easier to divide into four 5-point servings. Measure out your ingredients first, so you don't accidentally go overboard - that way you know for sure that you can go back for seconds!

10-point sweet veggie curry with brown rice

oh my gourd, you guys - i whipped up this sweet veggie curry tonight and it was off-the-hook amazing! it's so healthy and it was the perfect blend of a little heat and a little sweet. this recipe makes one lovely bowl that will totally fill you up for dinner!

i buy the shelf-stable 7.5oz bowls of ready-made organic brown rice that you can just heat in the microwave for a minute to eat. brown rice is so good for you, but i always seem to burn the bottom when i try to make rice from scratch.

most of the fruits and veggies are free, and i listed the points next to the other yummies.

i like to use seasonings to taste, so you can adjust my measurements however you like, except for the sugar which will add a point or two if you increase that.

5-point tuna salad

i love organic fruits and veggies - i'm just convinced they taste better, plus the distinct lack of pesticides is a good thing. someday i hope the powers-that-be can make it cheaper for farmers to be certified organic so the prices will come down.

i like to buy the single serving pouches of tuna (instead of cans) whenever they're on sale. so much easier than having to drain the cans, no need for a can opener, and just the perfect amount of tuna for one salad.

•  tuna - mix with 1 tbsp mayo, 1 tspn sweet pickle relish, chopped red onion and pepperoncini

•  spring greens, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, steamed asparagus, sweet red pepper, shredded tri-color carrots

•  pomegranate vinaigrette dressing

3-point egg & spinach scramble

my idea of a perfect scramble - quick and easy! a quick spritz of cooking spray is free, and the teensy sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles adds a lot of flavor without costing you any points.

i like to lightly wilt the spinach in the pan first, then add the eggs. i buy both regular eggs and the egg whites in the little carton, so i don't have to separate and waste extra yolks.

•  one egg (2 pts) and two egg whites (1 pt) scrambled with baby spinach

•  1 tspn blue cheese crumbles

•  cherry tomatoes with light sprinkle of sea salt

•  blackberries