Happy 2013! An entire New Year…so much promise! Let’s all see how far we can go!
I’m not moving too far from my routine because, in spite of the New Year, I can’t miss out on being part of What I Ate Wednesday! That of course is the wonderful foodie party started and still hostessed by Jenn at Peas & Crayons (even though she turned 100 last week!!) ;-) So before we use up too much of this brand New Year, let’s get started!
Friday, Ralph and I were treated to lunch by his sister, Maddie and her husband, George. We headed to Olive Garden.
Love the salad at Olive Garden. I had two plates of it, but I resisted the bread sticks…I’m proud of myself for that!
Cappelini Pomodoro…with Lots of parmesan cheese. Tasty and just the right size serving.
We decided not to have dessert at the restaurant and instead went back to Maddie and George’s house for coffee and dessert.
Homemade cherry cheese cake. This was delicious. I need to get the recipe and see what I can do to lighten it up. Yum!
Sunday found us at one of our favorite places, Subway.
My usual favorite, the veggie with pepper jack cheese. So tasty. Now here’s a deal for you. You’ll notice the little card. Each time we go I hand in the card and I get points. This day, when I gave the card, the man serving us asked if I wanted to use my points. Two 6 inch subs, two drinks and a bag of chips for Ralph came out to $13.87. After the man calculated the points on the card…it cost us 80 cents!!! I was pretty excited! Good reason to hand in that card every time we go! 
On New Year’s Eve we were heading to a friend’s house, but decided we’d do better with snacking if we ate first. We headed for the diner. I felt I was making a good choice. I ordered the eggplant parmesan mini meal. The operative word here Should be Mini. This is what I got…
Can you say Huge?! I had to take half of it home with me! It did come with a salad.
Might have been part of the reason I got so full and had to bring home the leftovers.
Now the interesting thing is that when we got to our friends house, where we thought we’d just be having snacks…Dinner was served! I didn’t take any photos there because other than the couple who invited us, I didn’t know the people very well. I didn’t fee right taking photos. Besides, I had the feeling they were the kind of group who would have asked me a hundred questions about what I was doing and I just didn’t feel like answering questions. Suffice it to say that I had asparagus (tasty!) and the very best baked sweet potato EVER! It would have qualified for Bigger Than My Head, if I had taken a picture.
My decision was that I would just write ALL of my 49 Weekly Weight Watchers points at the bottom of the page for Monday and be done with it! I now have 4 days to get back on track before my next weigh in. I think I can handle it. Tracking and exercising every day will get me back to where I want to be!
Don’t forget to visit Peas & Crayons to see what everyone else has been eating and be sure to leave some comments!
Happy first WIAW for 2013! On to a great New Year!
You are what you eat
I certainly am!!
So many delicious meals! I’m not sure how you resisted Olive Gardens breadsticks, but that deserves an award by itself =)
Thanks, Jessie!! Glad you stopped by. I was really trying to be on track especially since I knew I had to weigh in the next day. Keeping my eye on that prize!
olive garden!! i have not been there in years!! (there is no location close to us). it IS a great place! and i love that your subway cost you $0.80 – fantastic! i saw here that subway is having $3 six inch sandwiches for january for customer appreciation – great deal!
sounds like you had a fun new year’s, fran – all the best going forward!
Thanks, Cathy! We love Subway because we can both get what we want and it’s not too hard for me to count on WW. Here they’re having some of the subs for $2!! Olive Garden is fun. The pasta I had was pretty good, I like a chunky sauce like that. Here we go, charging into 2013, Cath!!
It is funny how sometimes we just don’t want to do the full explanation of what is blogging
It’s so true! So many people are nice about it, I just knew this crowd would be picky and annoying with their questions. Thanks for stopping by, Amanda, Please visit again. Happy New Year!
That’s one huge mini meal!
Happy New Year, Fran!
Exactly what I said, Dana!! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Fran. Lots of good eats as usual. I rarely go out to eat but whenever my Grandmother visits she always takes us out to eat at The Olive Garden as that is her favorite restaurant. I always eat tons of their delicious salad.
Happy New Year Marie!! I want to eat out less in 2013. That’s a goal that I forgot! I do love Olive Garden salad, I agree!
I hear you on food overloading during holidays! Though you’ve dealt with that pretty awesome!
Gosh, I’ve had five days of banquets and parties in a row. Now I guess i need a detox or something.
Wish you all the best on getting yourself on track!
Hi Greta, thanks for stopping by! Yes, I’m happy to be back and eating for “real” instead of all the crazy holiday eating. Please visit again! Good luck getting back on track to you also!
I am sure you can lighten up the cheesecake – depending on what you try to eliminate. I make a very tasty low carb sugar free cheese cake – but it is not low fat or low cal. I also purchased a sugar free low carb cheese cake from a bakery in NJ called Sweet Eats and it was amazingly delicious. I wonder if they have nutrition information available.
Hi Ginny! I think I’ve heard of sweet eats. I was thinking of trying egg beaters in place of the regular eggs and maybe reduced fat cream cheese Of course I’d make it for myself first before serving it to anyone else. Have a great day!
Only 80 cents? That’s fantastic! I’ll have to tell my dad about that card and see if our local Subway store uses them. He goes there a lot and that sounds like it could save some money!
Happy 2013! Good luck with your goals and next weigh-in!
Hi Madison! I was pretty excited about our Subway deal! Some don’t do it. When we were in NM they wouldn’t accept it so it may be a regional thing. Happy 2013…let’s keep those goals in sight!
All subway stores have a free card and each purchase earns points, when you get enough points they can be redeemed for free sub or salad or whatever- definately get one! Just ask at the store
Hi! Unfortunately they don’t all honor them. I go to one in New Mexico that doesn’t. Very disappointing but when you want your Subway, you want your Subway! Thanks for stopping by!
Happy New year, Fran!!! Wow, that is a huge “mini” meal. The cheesecake looks so good.
Happy New Year, Jennifer! Thought the mini meal was a safe choice…however…
Happy New Year Fran!
Great score on the subway card, and I love their veggie packed subs.
I also get the staying mum on blogging; I actually have friends who have no idea I have a blog. They’re not foodies at all, so I’m not sure if they would get it/understand/care, etc. so I just stay quiet, so I can understand not wanting to share with strangers. Hope you have a great day.
Sometimes, you have to make the choice, Meghan. I think some people get it others think we’re really strange. I like being “us!” Happy New year!
Wow! I can’t believe that is the mni order! At least you got 2 meals out of it:) And that pasta looks delicious, too. Have a great day!
Thanks, Sunnie! It was a mini, or so they told me!!
Oh my goodness, I love Olive Garden. You are better than I am with the self control. We don’t eat there very often because I can’t say no to those breadsticks!
You’re too funny, Katy! It’s taken me quite a while to come to turns with what I should have and what I should pass on. Still doesn’t happen sometimes, but I try my best!!
You were so good to eat dinner before the NYE party, what are the chances they would also serve dinner?!
Happy New Year!
Hi Heather! I thought I was being SO smart…It all tasted good which I guess it’s what counts! Happy New Year!
Wonderful deal at Subway, you’re my kinda gal! If I can get points, etc. from anyplace, I’m getting them. Love Olive Garden and their salad is delish. Happy 2013!
Carli, it was a wonderful surprise deal! Love Olive Garden, too. Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year! Wishing you a great one!
As always, your eats look really yummy! Mhmm, homemade cheesecake is the best!
Thanks, Shannon! Wishing you a wonderful New Year! I always look forward to your posts and comments!
Wow, well done resisting the breadsticks! That is nearly impossible for me!
Hi Liv! I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately, but I have a great deal of control. I need to hold on to it for the rest of the year! Happy New Year!