Last week I bought a Fitbit to help get me motivated to move more, and it has been a fun week…well, when it wasn’t raining. Truffles (my Yorkie) and I went for walks nearly every day last week, including one day when we got caught in a thunderstorm, and he refused to walk any farther so I had to carry him home.
I’ve been looking for inventive ways to lengthen our walks around the neighbourhood as I try to increase my daily step count. On the days that it was pouring rain, I didn’t get quite as many steps in because we didn’t go out, but I did do laps of my apartment to get my count up. I think Truffles thought I was just a little crazy as he sat there and watched me walk back and forth, back and forth, with a puzzled look on his face.
According to my Fitbit I walked 27.69 km last week, and that helped me to lose 3 more pounds, making my grand total 38.6! I’m not sure I mentioned it, but when I started this journey I weighed 286 pounds, and I am now down to 247.4 pounds, so I now officially have less than 100 pounds to go to the goal I have set for myself.
Along my journey I’ve been trying to experience some new delicious foods that will also keep me on track once I reach my goal, I don’t want to put in all of this hard work, only to fall back into bad eating habits. This past week, I made these Taco Zucchini Boats…thanks to Skinny Taste for the recipe!
Since I’m cooking for one, and I didn’t want to be eating these for a week, I halved the recipe. I started with preparing all of the spices in a small dish, using smoked paprika in place of the regular paprika because I love the smoky flavour of it. After that, I cut my zucchinis in half, used a small spoon to hollow them out, and boiled them for one minute as called for in the recipe. I placed 1/8 cup of salsa into an 8-inch by 8-inch glass baking dish, then placed the boiled zucchini halves into the dish.
Next, I pulled out my mini food processor and chopped my red onion and green pepper in it. I also used the mini food processor to chop some shallots ( in place of scallions) and cilantro to use for garnishing my taco boats.
I couldn’t find any ground turkey at my local grocery store when I was shopping, so I used extra lean ground chicken. I browned it in my skillet then added the spices, and in place of tomato sauce I added some tomato paste and a little extra water than the recipe called for. I covered the pan, and allowed it all to simmer for 20 minutes.
After the mixture had cooked, I filled the zucchinis halves, and sprinkled 1/4 cup of Mexican style shredded cheese over the zucchini boats. I covered the dish with foil and placed the dish in the oven for 35 minutes at 400°F. Fresh from the oven, they look delicious!
I topped the zucchini boats with my shallot and cilantro mixture, and served with extra salsa, and brown rice. I generally have not liked dishes made with ground chicken or ground turkey in the past, but these were delicious, and I was impressed with how flavourful the taco seasoning was. I will definitely be making this dish again!
Don’t forget to follow the link above to get the recipe if you would like to try these. Do you have any favourite recipes using ground chicken or ground turkey? I would love to check them out, so please share!
Life, Tea, and Everything 
Oh my gosh! So yummy looking! I am going to partake in this virtual meal. I hope Tami isn’t jealous. 🙂 I’m usually virtually eating her food. I want to cook more healthfully but trying to find things my son will eat too can be tough. These will do for me though. I love zucchini and cilantro. Yum!
LikeLiked by 3 people
This made me giggle. I’m sure Tami won’t mind. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
These are the recipes that I need to make up for my Wednesday indulgence!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL!! You’re funny Yolanda!! 😀
LikeLiked by 3 people
There’s a free paleo recipe on my blog post that says “Is fruit making you fat?” Good luck.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mmm these look delicious! Who needs a diet when you can eat these?!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, but they are only 6 Smart Points per serving, which is 2 “boats”, so you can eat them and not feel guilty!
LikeLike
These look really yum! It seams like a great way to eat more veggies too
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re a trooper. Usually when I start a dieting program I’m lucky if it lasts a week. Zucchini boats, huh? You’ve given me an idea.
Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I did Weight Watchers years ago, so I know it works. Unfortunately health issues had me falling back into bad eating habits, but I know it works, I think that’s what keeps me motivated. I am trying to think of it as a lifestyle change, rather than a diet, that mindset helps to.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Heck yeah it does! Keep up the good work! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
First of all CONGRATULATIONS on your progress!!! That is so fantastic and I know how hard it is to stay focused and motivated! I had a semi-goal to lose 40 or 50 pounds but haven’t really made much progress after I lost 25 pounds. I’m not done yet but am satisfied with just not gaining any back. Now my recipes – I actually prefer recipes like this yummy looking zucchini recipe!! My Wednesday recipes are more for my hubby and son who both have that very annoying metabolism that allows them to eat as much of anything that they want. Plus they both work out a lot – I don’t “work out” at all. I also make sure that my son takes most of the leftovers home with him so that I won’t eat them – because I WILL eat them!! For me there’s just something about “comfort food” – not the eating of it, but the preparing it. I love watching them enjoy it, but for me it’s really more “comfort cooking” that I love. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m like you, I don’t work out but I am trying to get more active. And on the food front, this is why I don’t make those yummy desserts that you post, because I don’t have someone to send them home with, and yes, I would eat it all, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this post – and congrats on your progress! Also loved the zucchini boat idea, definitely going to make this soon. Have a lovely Saturday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike