Getting Started on Trim Healthy Mama

I am cooking my way through "Trim Mama."

Think like the movie, "Julie & Julia" without the Julie and without the Julia part.  With much smaller amounts of butter, also. I do love butter.  The setting doesn't take place in New York or France, either.  And, all the "chefs" involved are still living. This isn't even close to French cooking.  Ok, so maybe not so much Julie and Julia.

You may or may not be familiar with Trim Healthy Mamas. I am becoming more familiar with these gals myself.  I am using their second book, Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook, Eat Up and Slim Down.

If you have heard about their book and are curious about the recipes, I will be sharing my experience with you.  I have been perusing the pages from the book for about a month after a friend piqued my curiosity and I feel ready to begin cooking up the recipes.  And, eating them!  And, sharing them!

I think getting started was the most time consuming part for me. I have chosen mostly "S" recipes which are rated as so for being "satisfying" so I hope that will translate into feeling full. My family and I like to eat and feel full afterwards.

I am not necessarily following the recipes for weight loss (although, admittedly, that would be a wonderful side effect).  I am just looking for ways to eat healthier and not miss out on good-tasting food. We will see if Trim Healthy Mamas meet my very simple criteria.  It's my experiment for myself with the hopes of sharing my results and opinions with you.

I have included the name of the meals, the shopping list for those meals, and any special purchases I made at the Trim Healthy Mama website.

I will share photos and opinions of the meals or any revisions I've made to recipes, so if you would like a review of a particular meal from the book please let me know and I'll give it a whirl!

Look for a new posting 2-3 times a week. :)


Stay healthy & strong!
Chris :)

Trim MaMa(TMM), Getting Started – The First Few Months

The Recipes I chose from “Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook, Eat Up & Slim Down:

   1. Wicked White Chili, pg. 37

2. Rich & Tender Stew, pg. 38

3. Wipe Your Mouth BBQ, pg. 43

4. Buttah Chicken, pg. 49

5. Slow Fajitas, pg. 53

6. Swedish Meatballs in Cream Sauce, pg. 61

7. Slim Sloppy Joes, pg. 63

8. Orange Chicken, pg. 72

9. Trim Zuppa Tuscanna, pg. 86

10. Tomato Chicken Bisque, pg. 93

11. Popeye's Power Soup, pg. 104

12. Curry in a Hurry Soup, pg. 112

13. Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup, pg.112

14. Wise Shepherd's Pie, pg 134

15. Chicken Pot Pie, pg. 137

16. Lazy Lasagna, pg. 140

17. Enchilada Wonder Casserole, pg. 145

18. Mama's Famous Meatloaf, pg. 157

19. Super Prepared Roasted chicken, pg. 168

20. Super Salmon Patties, pg. 177

GROCERY LIST FOR “TRIM MAMA” -- THE FIRST FEW MONTHS:

Seasonings(most of these should already be in your pantry):

onion powder                                                  prepared mustard

mineral salt                                                     pepper

soy sauce                                                         cloves

cayenne pepper                                                rice vinegar

chili powder                                                    red pepper flakes

garlic powder                                                  toasted sesame oil

ground cumin                                                  MSG-free seasoning salt

dried oregano                                                   orange extract

apple cider vinegar                                           Worcestershire sauce

paprika                                                               curry powder

liquid smoke                                                      hot sauce

dried parsley                                                      turmeric

dried rosemary                                                   dried sage

dried thyme                                                        coriander

tahini                                                                  nutmeg

cardamom                                                         Italian Seasonings

agar powder(not flakes)??                                garam masala for Buttah chicken (recipe at end of list)

 

Canned Food

1 28oz. Crushed tomatoes petite-diced tomatoes (stock pantry with a mix of 14 1/2oz & 24 1/2oz.)

4 15oz. Great northern beans                         tomato paste (2 6oz. Cans)

3 ½ qts. Chicken broth                                   2 10oz cans Rotel-style tomatoes & chilies(heat you like)

2 cups beef broth                                            1 18oz tomato sauce

pineapple chunks                                            1 8oz. Tomato sauce

3 15oz. Cans wild pink salmon

Misc.

extra-virgin coconut oil spray (& bottle)**      salsa

Real Bacon crumbs (optional)                           2 12oz. Jars no-sugar-added pizza or spaghetti sauce*

Lemon Juice                                                      Ketchup

2 TBL. Minced pickled jalapeno (optional)     aluminum-free baking powder

nutritional yeast **                                           Stevia& stevia extract**

full-fat coconut milk                                         unsweetened cashew milk

blackstrap molasses**                                       golden flaxseed meal

coconut flour                                                     almond flour

oat flour                                                             sunflower lecithin**

unflavored gelatin

Beef & Chicken

2 lbs. Ground sausage meat (ex. Chorizo)

12 lbs. Ground beef (can change a couple lbs. to turkey if you like)

5 lbs. Boneless chicken thighs

5 lbs. Skinless chicken breasts

3 whole and thawed chickens

drained boneless beef or boneless chicken cut into strips

3 lbs. Beef for stew

2 ½ lbs. Ground Italian-style sausage

Fridge

butter (2-3 pkgs.)                                       1 14oz. Container 1% cottage cheese

Lrg.. Plain Greek 0% yogurt                      8 oz. Part-skim mozzarella cheese

eggs (2 dz.)                                                 8 oz. Sharp cheddar cheese

egg whites (I am using from eggs)             grated pecorino Romano or finely grated parmesan cheese(dairy-free mamas)

grated parmesan cheese                              8 oz. button mushrooms(replace with another vegi if you would like)
8oz. Pack ½ less fat cream cheese

Freezer

peas                                                                3 cups frozen corn

16oz. Or more cauliflower                             6 cups or more frozen okra

1 52oz.. Package frozen chopped spinach     Seasoning Blend (onion, celery, green pepper at Walmart)

Deli

onions (bag)                                                     2 lrg. Bell peppers (any color you like)

minced garlic                                                   lrg. Bag of celery (at least 15 stalks)\

1 16oz. Radishes                                              3 lrg. green bell peppers

fresh grated ginger                                           green onions

green cabbage or packaged coleslaw mix        lrg carrot

6 cups fresh kale or spinach                             bag of lemons

Special recipes that need additional attention are included already in the shopping list:

1 batch Fotatoes, pg. 219(shepherd's pie) 1 Tbl. Trim bouillon mix, pg. 49 (chicken pot-pie)

8oz. Hello Cheese, pg. 487(enchilada wonder) Wonder Wraps, pg. 204 (enchilada wonder)

Trim healthy Ketchup, pg. 482(mama's famous meatloaf)

Special Order from Trim Mama website if you want added health benefits (I bolded all the ones I purchased for this list):

Gluccie, $18.99(recipe #2, 6, 8, 15, 17, 18)

Super Sweet Blend, $9.99 16oz.(recipe #7, 8, 12, 13, 15, and trim bouillon mix, pg. 491, for chicken pot pie #10)

Integral Collagen, 16.99 16oz.(recipe #12)

Trim Healthy Baking Blend (making my own version using flaxseed meal, coconut flour, almond flour, oat flour)

(recipe #6,8,15,18)

Just Gelatin(recipe #10)

MCT oil(recipe #11,12,17)**

2 tsp. Whole-husk psyllium (recipe #17 – the Wonder Wraps for enchiladas)**

Trim Mama products from their website.

 

Garam Masala (for Buttah Chicken recipe) from Allrecipes.com:

1 TBL. ground cumin                             ½ tsp. ground cloves

1 ½ tsp. ground coriander                     ½ tsp. ground nutmeg

1 ½ tsp. ground cardamom                   1 ½ tsp. ground pepper

1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together and store in airtight container.

This is so aromatic! Something that smells this good will make anything taste delicious!
 

 

 

* Walmart's Great Value Pizza Sauce as recommended by TMM.

** Can purchase at health food store (Vitamin Shoppe).

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR SIDES – add them to grocery list if you want to include them with your meals:

Swiss Bread Recipe, pg. 476 x3 (recipe #1 as blendtons, and #3, #7)

1 cup TMM baking blend (or your own version)

Super Sweet Blend

Coconut Oil Spray

Light& Lovely Coleslaw, pg. 231 x2 (recipe #3 and #7)

4-5 cups shredded cabbage

2 med. Carrots

Dijon mustard

white wine vinegar

EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)

Cauli Rice, pg. 225 (recipe #4)

1 lrg. head cauliflower

2 16oz. Bags frozen cauliflower florets

Misc.:

Wasa crackers(#11)

brown rice(#5)

refried beans(#5)

spaghetti squash(#6)

angel hair cabbage (#8)

frozen bread sticks (#9), we are C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G!

Frozen peas (#18)

sweet potatoes (#18)

broccoli (#20)

applesauce (#20)