Why I Made Butternut Squash Breakfast Pancakes

I’m on a mission to get more vegetables into my life—and not just the usual suspects. Lately, I’ve been challenging myself to pick up veggies I don’t eat often and try them in new ways. Enter the small butternut squash that sat on my counter for two solid weeks before I finally did something with it. The good news? It led to these delicious Butternut Squash Breakfast Pancakes, and now I’m wondering why I waited so long.

How to Roast a Butternut Squash for Pancakes

My twin sister Biz recently made a cozy butternut squash soup—check out her YouTube video if you need soup inspo! She shared a great tip: microwave the squash for 3–4 minutes before cutting. Total game changer. I sliced mine in half, scooped out the seeds, placed it cut-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and roasted it at 400°F for 45–50 minutes. The result? Perfectly soft, caramelized squash ready for breakfast magic.

Originally, I used half of the roasted butternut squash in a savory bowl with my husband’s homemade chili and melted cheese. It was good, but wow—butternut squash is naturally sweet. After a few bites I knew I didn’t want to use the remaining half in another savory dish, so I started thinking about how it could shine in a healthy breakfast recipe. That’s when butternut squash pancakes popped into my head.

Eating from My Freezer & Pantry to Cut Food Waste

Another thing I’m working on right now is eating from my freezer and pantry, being more mindful of food waste, and resisting those quick (and expensive) grocery store runs. When I checked my fridge and realized I didn’t have any eggs, my first instinct was to grab my keys—but let’s be honest, I was not walking out of that store with only eggs. So I challenged myself to make Butternut Squash Breakfast Pancakes without them.

And guess what? This recipe didn’t need eggs at all!

I had two very ripe bananas that were begging to be used, so into the bowl they went along with the roasted butternut squash. The bananas helped bind the batter, added natural sweetness, and kept the texture fluffy and soft—perfect for a cozy fall-inspired breakfast.

These easy butternut squash pancakes feel indulgent, but they’re packed with nutrients, fiber, and real ingredients. Plus, they’re freezer-friendly, so future-me is thrilled.

Delicious Ways to Serve These Breakfast Pancakes

Whether you’re trying to add more vegetables to your morning routine, looking for a creative way to use leftover roasted squash, or just want a delicious twist on traditional pancakes, these Butternut Squash Breakfast Pancakes are worth making.

They’re warm, hearty, lightly sweet, and perfect with a drizzle of maple syrup, a dollop of yogurt, or even a sprinkle of pecans.

Next time you’ve got a butternut squash staring at you from the counter—don’t wait two weeks like I did. Roast it, get inspired, and make breakfast a little brighter.

Stay tuned—the full recipe is coming next!

One tip if you are roasting the butternut squash and then making these pancakes, the squash needs to be completely cooled before assembling the batter.

Do you love squashes??   I want to be a squash girl!  Please share you favorite squash and what you love to make!

Like pancakes?  Check out some of my other favorite recipes:

Pancake for One

Chocolate Cupcake Giant Pancakes

Quick and Easy Pancake Bake 

Banana Stuffed Pancakes

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Why I Tried Something New

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’ve been a longtime Weight Watchers (WW) member—and overall, it’s been a program that’s worked for me. But like many of us on a health journey, I hit a plateau that no amount of logging or point shuffling could fix. So, I decided to try something new: working one-on-one with a registered dietitian through Nourish.com.

Discovering Nourish.com

I was scrolling social media when I saw the ad—and I was intrigued that it said it was covered by insurance. A free dietician? Sign me up! I do suggest calling your insurance company first—I did and found out in fact it was covered 100%.

When you set up the account on nourish.com, you can view different dieticians, what their specialties are, their schooling, and choose one that sounds good to you. My dietician is Natalie and she is amazing. I filled out some questions before our first ZOOM meeting so she knew a little about me, and our meeting was an hour long—it went by so fast!

Meeting My Dietitian, Natalie

Natalie specializes in general health, weight stablization, losing weight, heart health, high cholesterol, bariatric surgery and emotional eating. She has a Masters Degree in Nutrition and Dietics.

Nourish has an app that I’m able to log in my foods (I have a 46 day streak going!) and I can also share photos of my meals with her and ask questions.  I’ve met with her 3 times so far- every 2 weeks for an hour.   We meet over Zoom – which is nice to get the face to face connection.

Small Changes, Big Results

She immediately pinpointed a few minor things to change—a 10 minute walk after dinner to help with my glucose levels (I am diabetic), adding a 6 pound weighted vest for my daily walks, adding more color to my plate with fruits and veggies, listening to my hunger cues, asking myself halfway or 3/4 of the way through my meal if I am still hungry. I can choose to eat more later if I get hungry—but I don’t have to finish my plate.

I also rely on pre-packed foods—even though I love to cook, there are nights I take the easy route with frozen chicken nuggets, frozen fish fillets or leftover pizza. For the last 2 weeks I’ve been fixated on Tyson’s Teriyaki Chicken—it’s chicken thighs with this amazing sauce. Today was my last piece from a large Costco bag! It does have more sodium than I need and some preservatives that aren’t that great—so I’ll be looking for boneless chicken thighs and seasoning them myself now.

Protein Goals & New Foods I’ve Tried

Another suggestion was to pay attention to my protein count—aiming for 90 grams a day. To be honest, I never really paid that much attention to how much protein I was eating—so that has been eye opening. Natalie recommended cottage cheese (which I don’t like)—but I ended up buying a container and made copycat Starbucks egg bites by blending the cottage cheese with eggs and veggies—so good!

I also tried a Japanese sweet potato and cucumbers too and I  loved them!   And each week we make goals of things I also want to try – salmon, grilling cod, eating a salad or fruit with pizza (which I enjoy every Friday night!)

The Scale Is Moving Again + What are my macro goals?

And guess what? The scale is finally moving again.

Sometimes it’s not about overhauling your lifestyle—it’s about making a few small, strategic tweaks. With Nourish, I was able to talk through my habits, get customized support from Natalie, and see my meals through a fresh (and professional) lens. It didn’t feel restrictive. It felt supportive.

I literally was gaining and losing the same few pounds all year.  In the 6 weeks since I started Nourish – here are my results:

Week 1 – Down .6

Week 2 – Down 0

Week 3 – Down 1.4

Week 4 – Down .6

Week 5 – Down 1.0

Week 6 – Down 1.2

I do have target macros –

CALORIES PER DAY 1,800

PROTEIN – 90 grams

CARBS – 225 grams or less

FAT – 60 grams

FIBER – 25 grams

Switching to Non-Alcoholic Beer

Another shift I’ve made recently? Switching to non-alcoholic beer. And let me tell you: they’ve come a long way. These days, there are some really flavorful options that give you that “weekend wind-down” feel—without the calories.

My favorite non-alcoholic beer is Athletic Brewing Company.

Athletic Brewing is the only non-alcoholic brewery in the US! They also have non-alcoholic cocktails as well. They taste just like beer and are between 25 and 70 calories a can! My husband and I have also tried non-alcoholic Heineken, Stella Artois, and Guinness—and they are all great!

What Weight Loss Food Looks Like to Me

If you’ve been on the fence about switching things up or have hit a frustrating stall, I can’t recommend talking to a dietitian enough. Even if you’ve followed WW (or any program) for years, a new perspective might be just what you need.

Below are a few of the meals I’ve been loving lately—flavorful, satisfying, and completely sustainable. This doesn’t feel like a temporary plan.

• Apple “nachos” – sliced apple with almond butter, sugar free chocolate chips, and 1/2 a crushed graham cracker.

• Tyson Foods Teriyaki chicken (I buy it at Sam’s Club) – air fry for 10 minutes a side at 400°, served with roasted potatoes, bell peppers and ranch dressing—so good!

• Gorton’s Fish Fillet Sandwich – with Stax chips, peppers, pickles, and ranch dressing.

• Chicken burger (bought in the butcher section of the grocery store—this flavor is feta and spinach) – I decided on sliced avocado instead of the bun, side salad with fruit and potato salad.

• Chicken enchiladas – using Frontera Foods enchilada sauce, low carb tortillas filled with shredded chicken and black beans.

Why I’m Sticking With This

The reason I’m sticking with Nourish is the 1:1 support I get from Natalie. I still love being a Weight Watchers member—it’s been such a big part of my journey—but I also like knowing more about my macros and being more consistent with my calories each day. For me, it’s not about replacing WW, it’s about adding another layer of guidance and accountability that’s tailored specifically to me.

Have questions about Nourish or curious about what I’ve been eating? Drop a comment or message me—I’d love to share more.  This is not a sponsored post – just something I’m excited about and wanted to share with my friends!

Follow me on Instagram @jenncooks 

The post Small Changes, Big Results: How Working with a Nourish Dietitian Jumpstarted My Weight Loss appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

Why I Love Meal Prepping Lunches

Lunch Meal Prep Idea – Taco Bowls! There’s something so satisfying about opening the fridge and knowing lunch is already taken care of. This one-skillet meal prep is super easy and packed with flavor—plus it gives me a head start on the week. Whether you work from home or head to the office, having something healthy and homemade ready to go can be a total game changer. No scrambling, no takeout guilt, and no hangry 3pm decisions. Just warm it up and enjoy.

This week’s prep is one of my favorites because it checks all the boxes: fast, flexible, and filling. I used vegetarian crumbles, but you could easily sub in ground turkey, chicken, or beef if that’s your thing.

A Great Way to Sneak in Veggies (And Clean Out the Fridge)

I love a meal where you can load in whatever veggies you’ve got on hand. This skillet is the perfect base for that. Here’s what I used this week:

• 8 baby bell peppers, chopped

• ½ red onion, diced

• 1 can black beans, rinsed

• ½ package frozen fire-roasted corn

• 2 heaping tbsp black bean dip

• Fresh cilantro

• Frontera taco sauce

• 1 package vegetarian crumbles

To make it:
1️⃣ Sauté the peppers and onions on low heat for about 5 minutes.
2️⃣ Add in the veggie crumbles (or ground beef, chicken or turkey) and cook through.
3️⃣ Stir in the black beans, black bean dip, and taco sauce.
4️⃣ Let it all simmer for 15 minutes so the flavors really come together.

This dish is hearty and satisfying, but still light and veggie-forward. And it’s super versatile—if you’ve got zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, or leftover roasted veggies, toss them in!

How Meal Prepping Supports Weight Loss Goals

Meal prep doesn’t just make life easier—it also helps me stay on track with my health goals. When I already have a nutritious, tasty lunch portioned out, I’m way less tempted to grab fast food or snack all afternoon. One serving of this mix (about 1 cup) is just 1 Weight Watchers point, which blows my mind because it tastes so rich and satisfying.

Plus, switching it up during the week keeps it fun. Here are a few ways I’ll be enjoying it:

• With tortilla chips as a dip

• Wrapped in a low-carb tortilla

• Piled onto a baked potato

• Served over rice or cauliflower rice

Meal prepping takes the guesswork out of lunch—and honestly, anything that makes healthy eating easier and more affordable is a win in my book.

Check out the vide0 – and follow me for more great meal ideas on Instagram @jenncooks

Check out more recipes on my page here – MY RECIPE INDEX – search by category or food item

The post Lunch Meal Prep Idea – Taco Bowls! appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Today, my twin sister Biz (www.mybizzykitchen.com) and I celebrate turning 57. It’s a day that always feels extra special because, from the moment we were born, we’ve never truly been alone. Biz was born 30 minutes before me, a fact I never let her forget—mostly because it meant she had to go first in everything. From asking for directions to introducing us to new people, she was my built-in spokesperson, a role she graciously accepted (or at least tolerated) for our whole lives!

Growing up as a twin is something only other twins can truly understand. There is a deep, unspoken connection, a built-in best friend, a partner in crime. We always had a playmate, someone to share clothes with (even when we didn’t want to), and someone who just understood us without needing to explain.

Some of my favorite birthdays were the ones we spent when we were little, wether is was having both our classrooms over for a birthday party at our house, roller skating at the local park district, celebrating together with matching cakes, our favorite dinner our Mom made us, (fried tacos!!!)

As adults, we started our food blogs together in 2008. Cooking has always been a shared passion, a love we inherited from our dad, who was a professional chef, and who filled our childhood with the smells and flavors of homemade meals. Even today, food is a constant theme in our relationship—it’s what we talk about, write about, and connect over.

Through all of life’s twists and turns, Biz has been my steady presence, my sounding board, and my greatest cheerleader. Whether we’re reminiscing about childhood, swapping recipe ideas, or just catching up on the day, our connection remains unbreakable. There’s a comfort in knowing that no matter what, she’s always there—someone who just gets me without explanation.

So today, we celebrate not just another year but a lifetime of shared moments, laughter, and unwavering support. Happy birthday, Biz—here’s to 57 years of twin adventures and many more to come!

Some pics of us!  If you want to see some old Instagram Stories – check out this link – from when we worked in downtown Chicago for 4 years before the pandemic.  We would walk Macy’s on State Street, walk the lakefront and riverwalk, go to the farmers Market at Daley Plaza and just have fun during our lunch breaks.

The post Happy Birthday to Us! 57 Years of Adventure appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

What’s New?

For a lot of us who have been on Weight Watchers for many years (for me since 1999!), we’ve seen MANY changes to the program every few years.  I, for one am always excited to see what the next program brings.  And usually it’s right before the Holidays, so its great to kind of get back to basics if you need to before the new year.

I’m getting up to speed on all the changes, I’ve attended a few workshops to learn more about what is new and I think this version is the best one Weight Watchers has unveiled.  There are WAY more zero point foods (see my blog post about if you can eat too many zero point foods here).

New Zero Point Foods

Here is the updated list- corn, popcorn, hominy, eggs, fish and shellfish, fruits, lean meats, beans, peas and lentils,  oats (instant, old fashioned, quick cooking, steel cut), chicken and turkey, tofu and tempeh, vegetables, plain, fat free yogurt and cottage cheese.

My Recipes featuring zero point foods

What’s notable on this new zero point food list is the POTATOES and starchy veggies (parsnips, plaintain, yuca) are zero points.  For those who know me, I eat potatoes every single week, so this will be amazing for me!

Beef

Lean beef is also has an upgrade to include lean center cut steak, lean pot roast, trimmed cube steak, also ground beef that’s 91% lean and up).  Lean pork loin is also zero points too!  I like being able to use ground meat that isn’t the most fat free, because that has more flavor.  I usually buy 96% lean, but now I can buy 93% lean and it’s still zero points.

Try my favorite childhood meal here – Slumgulion – it’s pasta with a meat sauce.

Chicken & Turkey

Chicken and turkey!  I eat a lot of chicken and for those who do, you will be happy to know that now you can include skinless dark meat, 90% lean ground chicken (which is so much easier to find at the store), dark turkey meat, skinless turkey thighs and 90% lean ground turkey.  Canned chicken is also zero points!

Check out my recipe here for air fried southwest egg rolls using canned chicken.

I am definitely making a batch of my terrific turkey taco meatballs!   Click here for the recipe.

Oats

Oats are another zero point ingredient that I will definitely be having more of!  I love making things with oats.  My banana chocolate chip muffins are delicious and on the new plan are only 2 points each!

I am so excited one of my favorite pancake recipes are now only ONE point each on the new plan!

These pancakes are GLUTEN FREE too!  The recipe comes from my friend Lindsay at Cotter Crunch!  So many people I know are gluten free or are celiac – her sight is amazing!  So many great recipes.  Click here for the recipe for pancakes!

More Updates!

Now back to more updates.  Now we are able to add a recipe link from a blog or website into the app and it will calculate the points for you.  I will advise, this is a new feature and to double check that it entered all the ingredients in the right amount.  I have tested several recipes and it was about 90% correct.  However, its way faster to update a few things then enter the recipe on the phone.  That’s one feature I wish they would bring back, is to be able to use your desktop computer to enter recipes!

You can also take a photo of a meal.  Next to where the scan button is located to scan a food label is now an icon with a camera.  Take a photo of the food you are eating, or your plate and it will estimate the points.  This is also going to get better over time, now it’s a little hit or miss – but I have been having fun using that feature.

Macros

Macros is another feature of the site.  On the My day tab on the lower left hand side of the app, where you log your meals, scroll down to the bottom and it will give you the macros for the day.  Some people don’t care about macros, which is fine, but if you want to know something like how much sodium you’ve had, or how much protein (so many people are focusing on protein!) this is an easy way to have all that data.

If you don’t enter the zero point foods into the app, the macros won’t be included.  For example, if you used 4 oz. of lean ground beef for zero points and you don’t track it, it won’t show up in your protein stats.  I plan to add everything into my app to get more of a complete picture and see if there are any macros I need to focus on. Below is what it looks like in your app:

My review of the new Weight Watcher Plan:

As someone who’s seen the value of Weight Watchers firsthand, I’m thrilled about this update. The emphasis on mindfulness and balance resonates deeply with me, and I’m excited to see how these changes will support not only weight loss but overall well-being.

It’s clear that Weight Watchers is listening to its members and adapting to create a program that works for everyone.

Ready to Join the journey with me?

If you’re already a member, let me know what you think of these updates? If you’re considering joining, now is the time! This new plan could be the fresh start you’ve been waiting for.

Use my Invite a Friend Code of 3 months free!

Here is my link if you would like to join Weight Watchers – you can join with 3 months free (and as a bonus I get a month free) – so win/win!

Let’s make December 2024 the month we take our health and happiness to the next level. Together, we’ve got this!

If you have any questions – please leave a comment down below!

*This is not a sponsored post – my opinions are my own – just a big fan of the program!

Follow me on Instagram @jenncooks – I post new recipes all the time and share behind the scenes in my stories every day!

The post New Weight Watcher Update December 2024 – What’s New? appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

My history with Weight Watchers

I’ve been a part of Weight Watchers for 25 years!  My twin sister and I joined back in 1999 and in 8 months lost 70 pounds each. When we first joined, I was working part time, my kids were 3 and 1 years old and I was lucky that a meeting was Wednesday mornings at a local park district a few blocks from my house – so it was easy to attend.

I packed up the double stroller every Wednesday and walked over – left the double stroller upstairs (the meeting was in the lower level) and brought a blanket and toys to entertain my kids during the meeting.

Sometimes that worked, other times, if they were too disruptive I would leave the meeting early (but most times it worked out!).  There were 2 people who were at the weigh in table and one person in particular, her name was Carolyn, was my favorite and I would wait in line for her if I had to.

She became my biggest cheerleader and was always happy to see me.  I think that kept me motivated during the week because she was so invested in my journey!  If there was no one else in line, we could chat for a few minutes before the meeting and she always was so nice to me!

Joining with my twin sister Biz was probably the best idea for us.  We actually owned a 2-flat – she and her daughter Hannah lived upstairs and my family lived downstairs.  Sometimes if there was a particular food we liked that wasn’t available in stores, we would order a case of it, have it shipped to our house and divide it (Kashi Cereal, Erin Bakers Breakfast Cookies, Krusteaz pancake mix to name a few!)

We also were able to workout together – sometimes before work – sometimes after work – which was always fun having 3 little kids running around while we were trying to do Tae-bo!

We also loved the concept of counting points for food – and how to use them wisely.  When we lost weight in 1999 – the focus was on high fiber foods, the higher the fiber, the lower the points.  Over the years WW has changed many times – keeping up with new science and ways to lose weight.

But how do you stick to it????

I wish I could say, I kept off that 70 pounds – but after my 3rd baby was born, I gained a lot back during pregnancy BUT – I did keep off some and never got back up to my highest weight of 217 (I am 184 now) so I’ve got that going for me!

I wanted to offer some tips that have helped me over the years and how to make this a lifelong journey that is sustainable!

Tip One:  Eat food you love!

Eat foods you love!!  One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting out, is cold turkey cutting out everything they like and treat it as a diet (hard boiled egg for breakfast, salad for lunch, chicken, broccoli and rice for dinner) – if I see one more what I eat in a day for weight loss with boring foods – I am going to lose it!  LOL

If you eat cereal every day for breakfast, maybe switch to a cereal that’s healthier and add things like chia seeds, hemp hearts and fresh fruit on top.  Or if you eat McDonald’s McMuffin with egg – make your own version at home, with Thomas Brand English Muffins, a fried egg cooked with cooking spray instead of butter, turkey sausage instead of pork sausage).  It not only is better for you but you control the ingredients!

Spending your whole weight loss eating too little food, eating foods that you don’t enjoy, then what happens when you get to goal?  You can’t sustain it, because you used short cuts that didn’t work.  Eating foods you love while losing weight makes it a lifelong probability of staying at goal.

Tip Two:  Try new foods!

Try new fruits and vegetables.  Before I started my original food blog (www.slim-shoppin.com) back in 2008, I was the PICKIEST eater!  I hated most vegetables.  I liked carrots, celery, and green beans and that was about it!  I challenged myself to buy a new vegetable at the store, look up how to make it and go from there.

Guess what?  It turned out I liked WAY more than I thought I would.  Asparagus, onions, peppers, spaghetti squash, peas, edamame, broccoli, and so many more! It opened up a whole new world of what I could make for me (and my family) and I loved getting creative with these new foods.

Tip Three:  Keep trigger foods out of your house!

Keep foods out of your house that are trigger foods.  Most of us got overweight due to emotional eating, being stressed out, or just being tired and not wanting to put effort into what we are putting in our mouth!  If I had cookies, candy, donuts, icecream, cheetos, etc. then I could easily eat a bunch of cookies instead of pausing, asking myself what is the problem is and redirecting my thoughts.

That was a WW technique a few weeks ago and we talked about what to do when you want to eat everything in sight.  Call a friend instead, having something healthy on hand to eat, go outside for a walk, garden, do your nails, etc. until that feeling goes away (which is sometimes only temporary).

Tip Four: Share your journey outloud!

Include people around you what YOUR health goals are.  You aren’t asking anyone else to change what they are doing, but you want to make changes and need support.  Many times I would start a weight loss journey on my own, without telling anyone in case I failed, then I wouldn’t have to feel like I let people down (which wouldn’t be the case anyways – since my family has always been supportive!)

If you are in a situation where you aren’t the person who cooks for yourself – try to get involved in the meal planning or ask if things can be prepared a different way.  Over time, people will recognize that this is what you want your lifestyle to be and it will become normal to them.

Tip Five: Eat more at home

Try to limit meals outside of the house.  My family always orders pizza every Friday night and I look forward to it all week!  If we were to then order takeout, or get fast food on top of that several times every week, it’s hard to make your healthy habits sustainable and weight loss much harder.

If you are new to cooking or meal prepping, keep it simple!  I love Lisa from Downshiftology – I’ve used her meal prepping techniques for the last several years – she meal preps ingredients that she can use in different ways during the week.  Check out her fall meal prep here!  

Some other ideas is make quinoa or rice to make a quick stir fry, cooking potatoes, or chopping up vegetables in advance so it’s easy to add to a salad, or soup.  My friend Nikki who has lost 70 pounds on WW has a great video on what she does to meal prep – check out that video here.

My sister Biz and my niece Hannah also have great menu plans if you are looking for inspiration too! Check out those here!

Tip 6: You have to care!

The biggest change for me, is that I genuinely care about my body, what I am eating and getting movement in.  We’ve all been there when things are going great in the beginning and the next thing you know, you’ve eaten a bag of cheetos and you tell yourself “I don’t care” which gives you permission to go off plan.

When I feel like I’m going to go off plan, I take a look at my journal I’ve been writing in, all the inspirational quotes I’ve added and I quickly take a step back and remind myself, I DO CARE and I’m WORTH THE EFFORT!

I have the most amazing journal!  You can get it on Amazon Here. (for $17.28)

Tip 7:  Think of your future!

Starting a health journey at any age is important, but the earlier you start your future self will thank you!!!  I want to go into my later years, being active, and independent, and being able to do what I want.  Not spending my time in doctor offices, medications, and limited to what I can do, or relying on other people to help me.

I am 55 years old, and I want the next 40 years (yes I can live until 95 ) to be the best yet.  Thinking of a health journey in that way, makes me excited to keep going.  Do you know Joan McDonald?  Her daughter is a body builder and encouraged her mom at age 70 to start eating better and lifing weights.  She is now 75 and in the best shape of her life! Check out her website HERE.

Joan McDonald

Tip 8:  Take progress photos and measurements!

The scale can be deceptive through this journey and you may think you aren’t making progress, but you are!  We lose inches along the way and taking photos throughout so you can actually see the difference can be inspiring and also keep you going when you want to give up.

Here’s a side by side of when I was probably at my heaviest vs. now.  I’m always learning, always making new goals for myself and I’m having a great time along the way!

What are some of your reasons for sticking to your healthy eating/or weight loss plan?

Let’s get the comments started!  I would love to hear what your goals are and what keeps you going

Just a reminder to check out my RECIPE INDEX – and search for recipes by category or food item.

The post How I keep going on a Health Journey without giving up! appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

What about your job search?

If you aren’t aware, I was laid off the end of March from a firm I was at for almost 9 years.  It was definitely a shock, but in all my years of working, I know that in corporate America, it doesn’t matter how much you are liked, what your work ethic is, how hard you worked, if you worked longer hours than your co-worker, if I budget needs to be slashed, they will pick anyone. I am VERY lucky this is the first time in my career that it’s happend!

I’ve applied to so many jobs – and gotten a lot of rejections.  In the last month, it’s kind of picked up. I had a recruiter reach out to me a few weeks ago with an opportunity which would be great – 20 minute commute from my house, hybrid – 3 days in the office – 2 days home.  I had 2 interviews and should hear back this week if I got it!  (fingers crossed) -but if I don’t get it – then it wasn’t meant for me!

What have you been doing with your time off?

This is the longest I haven’t had a job in 32 years!  My first job I worked at Chase Bank for 14 years, then a midsized architecture firm for 10 years, then a large architecture firm for 8.5 years – and I went from one job to the next with no break in between!  So I’m definitely taking some time to find the right fit.

In the meantime, I have been doing consulting for a food blogger (not my sister ) about 10-12 hours a week, uploading videos to YouTube, Pinterest, and TikTok, sending out a weekly newsletter, putting together a recipe e-book every week using Canva, uploading the ebooks to her website, managing/answering comments, managing email inbox and direct messages on Instagram (which has been amazing!).  I’ve also been working on this blog and I am making a recipe/journal e-book which I will be selling documenting my 100 day journey.

Where’s the recipe for the CopyCat Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken?

Recently I posted my recipe for a copycat version of Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken and it went viral!  Currently it has over 190,000 views, thousands of saves and shares!  It’s a really great weeknight meal too, because it doesn’t take long to make.  Here is the link to that recipe.

What mini stepper do you have?

Over the last 5 years, I’ve slowly been adding workout equipment for my home gym.  It’s been great because I usually ask for something to help with my weight loss journey for Christmas, my birthday and Mother’s Day!   The mini stepper I’ve had for about 5 years.  I love it, it’s compact (easy to store) and sturdy.  I actually got that from Staples of all places! But you can get it online to.

The brand is Sunny – it’s currently $52.00 on Amazon – Here is the LINK.  I like it because I can step while I watch TV – it does take a little to adjust to no handles – but you quickly get steady and can balance ok!    Here is another link to ALL my home workout equipment I have.

Looking for a new air fryer – which one do I have?

My 2 air fryers, I BIG one (XL) – that was from Gina at Skinny Taste brand (which I don’t use that often and they no longer make it) The one I pretty much use every day is from a brand Cosmo Official 2.3 quart – it’s perfect for 1-2 servings which is great for me, since I use it to make things for myself for breakfast or lunch, or I can put frozen french fries in it for dinner   I’ve had it for 2 years now, never had an issue with it, the insert and basket is dishwasher safe – so it cleans up really well too! It’s currently on Amazon for $48.00 – HERE IS A LINK.

What happens after the 100 day challenge?

Today I am on day 72 of my 100 Day Summer Challenge – focusing on healthy habits and focusing on EACH DAY – not thinking how long this will take of how much weight I can lose in 100 days.  Healthy weight loss and LONG LASTING weight loss is slow -and you want it to be so you can maintain that forever.

I wrote a blog post in May explaining it – you can check that post out HERE.  I am definitely not done after this first 100 days!  I’m going to keep it going with another 100 day challenge!   I started a private Facebook Group which now has over 250 people in it, where we can share the ups and downs of the journey!

What journal do you use?

This journal is AMAZING!  Kudos to my twin sister – she bought it for me last year – I barely used it, would journal for a few days, then set it aside, then journal for a day.  It wasn’t until this challenge that I wanted to document the whole thing and share it with you guys!  On my Instagram page I have 2 highlights – sharing my journals from the first day until now!  Writing and getting stickers and fun markers has become a highlight of my week!   The journal is currently $20 on Amazon – you can also find it at some CVS stores – I haven’t seen one by me – but others have and purchased them there. Many of you have also joined journaling and that’s so great to see!

What’s your favorite part about being a twin?

How can I sum up how awesome it is to be a twin? It would take me to infinity to explain how much I love being a twin with Biz! Born with a best friend for life, someone who you can confide in, someone who is aging, experiencing the same thing at the same time. We laugh, we talk about food all the time (LOL), we learn from each other, we teach each other things we learn in life, we never run out of things to talk about.

When we were growing up, we shared a room and of course talk to each other before bed.  Then one of us would say “Ok, that’s it – let’s go to sleep!” and we would be quiet for a minute and then one of us would think of something else to say!

At one point in our lives, my husband, sister and I bought a 2 flat – she and my niece Hannah lived upstairs and we lived downstairs.  When we were viewing the house, in the basement was a door.  We said – where does that door lead to?  We opened it up, and the previous owners had made that a giant closet!  It was lined with cedar, had carpeting – so my sister and I brought all our clothes down there and could get ready for work in the morning and share clothes.  We got to do that for 4 years before she moved to her current home with her late husband and my niece.  We had the best time!

We also started our Weight Watchers journey almost at the same time. I joined first, and Biz was right there with me.  In 1999-2000 we each lost 70 pounds following the program which was awesome because we could figure out meals, talk about strategy and we even worked out together in her apartment doing Taebo!

Do you have any other siblings?

YES!  Biz and I have an amazing brother Charlie – he’s 2 years older than us – he lives with his wife in Texas and has 2 adult daughters and 2 grandkids!!  When he went to Iowa State for college, he pretty much never moved back to the Chicago area.  He stayed in DesMoines for a long time before moving to Texas.  When I met my husband and we were getting to know each other – we mentioned that most of our families still lived in the Chicago are except for my brother who lives in DesMoines, and my husband said “I have a brother in DesMoines!”  Small world!

Charlie has helped Biz and I immensely with our blogging careers.  Helping with wordpress questions, plug ins, frantic texts when our sites were down.  Charlie also helped Biz with her last cookbook, formatting it, doing the layouts, so many hours of help! We have a family group text with our Mom and we text the group almost every day!  My mom mostly just reads the thread

He is THE BEST BROTHER!

Happy Halloween!   #throwback

My brother LOVES having twins for sisters!

Have any other questions?

Leave a comment below

Thanks for reading – you can follow me daily on Instagram @jenncooks 

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You can customize it with whatever you have on hand.  I microwaved the baked potato, so no need to heat up an oven in the summer for an hour to make this!

What vegetables did I use?

Since today is Friday – I looked in my vegetable drawer to see what I had:

• a few baby bell peppers
• small yellow onion
• kale
• broccolini
• green onions

How do you cook a potato?

Since it’s summer time – I didn’t want to take the time or heat my kitchen up by baking a potato – so my easy method is just to cook it in the microwave for 5 minutes.  I wash the skin well, pat dry, wrap in a paper towel and cook.  While the potato is cooking, you can start assembling the toppings!

What other toppings could you use?

Some other favorite combos:

• Leftover taco meat, black beans, scrambled eggs, peppers and onions, salsa and avocado!
• Ham, broccoli, cheese and scrambed eggs
• Bacon, cheese, peppers and onions and scrambled eggs

I would love to hear your ideas too!  Leave a comment below.

Need more breakfast inspiration?  Check out a few of my favorites!

Mini chocolate waffles

Premier Protein French Toast

Overnight breakfast casserole

Need more recipe ideas?

Check out my Instagram @jenncooks – I post recipes every week – and definitely check out my stories to see behind the scenes what’s happening in my life

The post Loaded Breakfast Potato! appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

Over the weekend, I visited a farm by my house and bought fresh eggs for the first time in my life!  I’ve always bought eggs from the grocery store – and they did not dissapoint!  Definitely going to be adding these to my weekly trip there.

What’s in my skillet?

• fresh eggs
• shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• chicken andouille sausage
• vegetables from the farmers market (peppers, green onions)

Adding vegetables to my meals

One thing I’m concentrating now is adding vegetables to every meal – the more the better!  In this skillet I added a small green pepper and 3 green onions, plus 3 baby bell peppers.  My fovorite is adding the vegetables first to the skillet to really get a good color on them before adding the rest of the ingredients.

What kind of chicken sausage do I use?

The next time you are at the store – check for the brand AmyLu Foods.  AmyLu Foods is a chicago based company – however they are sold all over the United States.  Lots of different flavors too!  Not only do they sell Chicken sausages, but also chicken meatballs, burgers and bacon too! (most of AmyLu products are only 2-4 points on Weight Watchers).

The other brand I love is Gilberts Craft Sausages.  They are also sold at most grocery stores in the US.  I buy the andouille sausage flavor often – other favorites are the Tuscan – with parmesan cheese and oregano or the ancho queso – with ancho and poblano chiles and chihuahua style cheese! (All sausages are only 3 points on Weight Watchers).

If you like savory breakfasts – here are a few of my favorites that you can try:

Easy Quiche Recipe 

Savory Breakfast with Polenta and Chicken Sausage

Breakfast Nachos

I invite you to follow me on Instagram @jenncooks 

I would also like to invite you to join me on a 100 day challenge!  It’s never too late to start – I’m on day 57!!  Read about what the challenge is and why I started it in this blog post.  Today is my weigh in and I was down another 3.7 pounds!  The most since I started.  My focus is on healthy habits – creating a lifestyle that I can live with for life .

The post Savory Cheesy Egg and Chicken Sausage Skillet Breakfast appeared first on Jenn Cooks.

My first post, talking about zero point foods is linked here.

I’ve been a member on and off of Weight Watchers since 1999!  So I consider myself an expert.  I’ve watched as WW has morphed and changed over the years, and adapted with all the changes as we learn more about what a healthy life should be.  However, up until a few years ago, I would hear people say they got a blue dot every day in a month, and was perplexed.

What is a Blue Dot?

Weight Watchers assigns everyone a certain amount of points each day.  That number is determined by many things.  Your age, your current weight, your height and if you are a woman and are breastfeeding,etc.  People who are heavier will get more points and as you lose weight, those daily numbers go down.

For example – I get 23 points a day.  In order for me to get a BLUE DOT – I have to be in the “Healthy Eating Zone” according to my ww app.

Below is an example of the calendar from my WW app.

What is a Healthy Eating Zone?

As you can see from my WW app, my Healthy Eating Zone is 15 points – up to 33 points!  I can eat 10 points over every day from the 23 I am given and still be on track.

So many people don’t know this and they beat themselves up for going over their points.  But WW has a safety net built in!  There is leeway every day.  Some days I do eat 23 points and others 33 points depending on what I’m eating and I’m still following the program!

How do I find this calendar on my WW app?

When you open your app, at the bottom is a TARGET symbol.  Click on that.  There are two tabs at the top – challenges (where you can sign up for a challenge) and the other tab is achievements.  Opening the achievements tab you will see your healthy eating zone.  HUGE TIP:  You have to enter your food into the app for the tracker to be accurate.  If you don’t log any food, you may not see this calendar.

Why is a healthy eating zone so important?

Having the extra points every day is making this new lifestyle easier to manage, but also to let people know – you do not have to be perfect and eat the exact same points every single day.  That’s a diet – and WW is a program that teaches you how to eat when food is everywhere.  I belong to several Facebook WW Groups and every time a new member asks “What’s the best zero point meals?” I want to shout – “It’s not just about the zero point foods!!”  Yes, the zero point foods are what we can help fill out plate with, but it also leaves room for dessert, pizza, beer, wine, vacations, parties, etc.

What are Weekly Points?

Since we are talking about getting a blue dot and the healthy eating zone, lets chat about Weekly points. Everyone is given extra points that they can use however they wish.  Most people get 30-35 weekly points.  I highly reccommend eating these points, since that’s why it’s built into the program.

My friend Kim would say “the scale will tell you” – meaning if you are eating your points, staying in your healthy eating zone, and using your weeklies consistently and not losing weight, then it’s time to reevaluate…  Are your portions correct?  Are you tracking accurately?  Are you getting enough water and sleep?  These are all indicators of why the scale may not be moving.

If you are a Weight Watcher member – I’m curious if you knew about this too?  Thanks to my friend Carla (you can follow her on Instagram here – she’s lost 100 pounds on WW!) She’s the one that mentioned it one day in her stories and it’s been a game changer for me.  I used to stress about how I was going to fit my day of food in 23 points, but knowing that there are extra points every day if I need them is a big safety net.

Looking for more recipe ideas? – check out my recipe INDEX – you can search for a particular food or different categories to get some ideas.

I also have a code you can use if you are interested in getting a free month on WW.  Use this CODE HERE.  It’s anonymous – I won’t know if you used it.

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