Skinny Scallops!

Simple, delicious and skinny!

 

My gameplan to stay skinny while I'm recovering from my back injury is to keep everything low fat, to avoid carbs and make preparation quick and easy.   And by avoiding fat, I even mean to limit the "good" fats like olive oil. 

I dust the scallops in flour to help them brown on the grill

 

Extra virgin olive oil is good for you, but I have a few tablespoons on my salad at lunch (along with balsamic vinegar) so I'm already getting a good daily dosage.  The George Foreman Grill has a non-stick surface so I don't need oil on the grill when cooking scallops.  If you don't have a George Foreman Grill you can use a cooking spray like Pam.  The instructions on my grill says not to use Pam on this surface - but if you're using a regular frying pan Pam, spray away!  There's no calories or fat.

 

Food Network star Anne Burrell says when you flour food before grilling you should only do it for a few seconds before cooking.  Don't leave your scallops in the flour for longer than that.  It will cake up.  Grill the scallops until golden brown  - about 80 seconds on each side. When they're just about done, drizzle champagne vinegar over them.  I was out of champagne vinegar last night and substituted balsamic - it worked like a charm.

 

Served with grilled asparagus, grape tomatoes,

lemon and garlic - recipe to follow!

 

Scallops are low in fat and calories.  They make for a delicious star of your main course and are quick and easy to cook.  The asparagus, tomato and garlic side dish takes longer to cook.  Here are the nutritional facts on scallops:

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1unit 2 large or 5 small (30 g)

Per Serving % Daily Value*

Calories26

Calories from Fat 2

Total Fat 0.2g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 10mg 3%

Sodium 48mg 2%

Carbohydrates 0.7g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0.0g 0%
Sugars 0.0g

Protein 5.0g

Vitamin A 0% · Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 1% · Iron 0%

A delicious, easy to prepare and skinny dinner!

Ingredients

 

5 - 6 sea scallops per person

1/4 - 1/2 cup flour

2 tbspns champagne vinegar (or your favorite kind)

Lemons to taste

Herbs de Provence or parsley to garnish

 

Method

 

Pre-heat grill to medium/high heat

Dredge scallops through flour when about to cook, shake off excess

Cook until golden brown - about 80 seconds per side - but eyeball it

After you've flipped scallops drizzle with vinegar for the final 20 - 30 seconds

Close lid of grill

I cut a lemon in half and put on grill after transferring scallops to plate

Sprinkle with Herbs de Provence or chopped parsley

 

Serve and enjoy!

 

 

 

Skinny Nightmare: Sidelined by a Back Injury

I've lost 12 lbs since this picture was taken last summer

 

 

At the beginning of June, I started having intense pain going from my right lower back all the way down the leg to my foot.  I've had some bumps and bruises but nothing compares to this.  I went to a pain management doctor, had an MRI and found I have a herniated disc (L-5 S-1) that's impinging on my sciatic nerve.  Yes, boys and girls, I have sciatica.

 

Taking 11 classes a week on a regular basis for the past 8 years, I thought I was indestructible.  From "indestructible" I went to being unable to walk.  I was in intense, radiating pain 24/7.  I went several days without sleep because I literally could not find a position where the pain was relieved.  I couldn't even force food down and lost 12 pounds in a matter of weeks.  I've gone from my usual 150 lbs to 138 lbs (very light on a 5'10" frame).  Now, six weeks later and after a series of painful steriod injections, acupuncture and physical therapy, I am on the road to recovery.  But I am far from out of the woods and I am unable to do any rigorous exercise for the foreseeable future.

 

Healthy Choices

 

 

So, I will be posting how I maintain my weight without my usual punishing workout schedule.  I am ahead of the curveball having lost weight and become the "too skinny chef."  But as I get better my appetite will return.  My challenge will be to maintain my 150 lb weight while enjoying delicious food that won't pack on the pounds until I'm able to exercise again.  For now, walking is about it so keep checking back as I get creative with skinny recipes.  And please share your experiences with healthy choices while recovering from injuries.

 

Stay skinny!