Zucchini…Friend or Foe?

      21 Comments on Zucchini…Friend or Foe?

Before I even begin to talk about zucchini, I have to confess that I can’t spell it.  Thank goodness for spell check, which corrects me every time I get it wrong!  (Two c’s…really??)

Meanwhile, my zucchini quandary started last week, when my father-in-law came over on his motorcycle and brought us some vegetables from his garden.

Clearly, he needs to be harvesting his veggies a little sooner.  😛 Dear God, that’s a lot of squash and zucchini!  I really had no idea what to do with the squash, but, thanks to my friend Andrea at Running, Training, Teaching, Oh My!, I at least had an idea for the zucchini:  zucchini bread!

She has two recipes on her blog, one that is healthier than the other, but since I didn’t have wheat flour or flax on hand ( I’m not sure I’ve ever actually had flax in my life!!), I went with the less healthy version.  I followed her recipe except that I didn’t put a cinnamon/sugar mixture on the inside of the pan or on top of the batter.  I figured that was at least one thing I could do to make it a teensy bit healthier.  Oh, and I omitted the nuts, because although I enjoy some nuts (pecans and peanuts, mostly), I do not like my bread or cake to crunch.  (I once nearly lost a tooth on a surprise nut in a cupcake…)

I had a lot of fun making the bread. I hate cooking, but I love to bake, and using my food processor always makes me feel powerful. (“Take that, you mutant zucchini! I will make you puny and have you begging for mercy!”)

 

 

They took longer to cook than the recipe called for (it was supposed to be 60-70 minutes, and I think I ended up with 80 or 85), but that could be my oven.  In the end, they actually turned out quite well.

The kids loved the bread, and I also found it to be tasty. The downside? When you cut a loaf into eight slices, one slice was NINE Weight Watchers points!  Yeesh!  That’s a lot of points for a piece of bread.  I had saved up for them, though, so I went ahead and had a full slice while was it warm.  Definitely yummy!  Unfortunately, it was a little too yummy, and I found myself wanting another slice, but I did my best to control myself by having only half a slice.  And then I took that extra half that was leftover and cut it in half again for another quarter slice.  For those keeping track at home, that adds up to a whopping 16 points…for less than two pieces of bread!!!

I was pretty mad at myself for having so stinkin’ much bread, even though in reality, it wasn’t that much.  I mean, there was a time in my life when I could’ve probably had ¾ of an entire loaf in one sitting.  But still, I lamented it for the rest of the night, feeling alternately angry at myself for eating more than I had planned, and angry at my lot in life that I had to be so damned concerned about eating less than two freakin’ slices of zucchini bread! Why can’t I be a girl who can eat a whole loaf of bread without caring?! </wah>

I woke up this morning originally intending not to run.  But all I could think about was the zucchini bread from the night before.  I eventually ended up running, despite the heat…

…and despite the soreness above my ankle…

(Not sure what that spot actually is, but my husband says it’s probably a bruised or pulled ligament.)

It wasn’t an easy run, but I did it.  The pain got a little better after about 2 miles, but before that it was bad enough that I felt I needed one walk break.  It actually turned out to be an okay run, for all that I was up against.

After all that, I almost didn’t weigh myself this morning (Mondays are my weigh-in days).  I’ve been staying very steady at 121 or so (which is great!), and I was afraid that I had messed it up with all the zucchini bread last night.  Still, I figured I needed to keep myself accountable, so I did.

That is the first time I can ever remember being in the 110s in my life.  So, yeah.  I think I may go eat all of the remaining zucchini bread now. 😉

No, seriously, I think my weigh-in today just proves that I sometimes stress too much about what I’m eating.  I have to remember that this is a process, not an event, and one 16-point overindulgence does not a downward spiral make—unless I CHOOSE to make it that way.  If I had told myself last night or this morning, “Well, I already blew it, I might as well have the rest of the bread…”, that would have been a reason to be upset and stressed.  But now that I look back on it, I’m proud of myself for indulging without overdoing it.  It’s okay to treat yourself when you do it within the limits of whatever program you’re using. (For me, it’s the Weight Watchers program.)  And now that I’ve had the bread, I can put it aside and know that I’ve had it, it was good, time to move on.  Of course, since zucchini bread only uses 2 cups shredded zucchini, I still have plenty more to deal with…

But I’m hoping to do some healthy things with it this week.  Suggestions for that (and the squash) are welcomed!   And, in case you’re wondering,  I gave away the second loaf to my neighbor.  Just to be safe. 😉

Thanks for reading!!

21 thoughts on “Zucchini…Friend or Foe?

  1. Gina, book dragon

    muffins, chocolate added to your bread, stir-fry and BBQ

    I guess you could add it to lasagne and soup but my family wouldn’t eat it so we’re all about the chocolate zucchini bread.

    I’ve got one right now that makes your Dad’s look small and dainty 😉 and we haven’t picked it yet

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Barbeque zucchini? I need to look that up! It sounds YUMMY! Speaking of lasagna, I actually found a WW recipe that uses zucchini instead of noodles. I’m going to freeze some of this stuff and try it in another month or so. I think I might have to look up the chocolate zucchini bread, too–I have SO much zucchini, lol!!

      I can’t imagine the size of your zucchini! Good thing you’re not a man, or else that would sound all wrong! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!!

      Reply
  2. andrea

    Roasted squash is yummy atlrast to me. I know there are a few squash casseroles out there that are very yummy but not health at all. Sorry I know that doesn’t help.
    I am amazed at how much self control you had with bread. If 2 slices is 16 points, oh my, my serving was atleast 40 points in one day! I was a bit out of control with my bread eating.
    I love how you talked about your weight and slipping up every now and then, I think a persons body needs a slip up at times. Just my opinion though. I have way too many slip ups that is why my scale will never go below 120.
    P.S I can’t spell zucchini either!!

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Thanks, Andrea! I’m going to chop and freeze this zucchini and squash for later use. Hopefully it freezes well! I just hate to see it go to waste!! Thank you SO much for the recipe, by the way–it is DELICIOUS!! I wouldn’t have thought so, but I loved it!

      I laugh when you talk about going below 120–you’re taller than me for one thing, and for another, you’re a lean, mean, training machine!! You have nothing to worry about. 😉 xoxo Hope to see you soon!

      Reply
  3. Bailey @ Onederland or Bust!

    Do you ever check out skinnytaste.com? It’s the best site ever and she has a few zucchini recipes, including a zucchini stick recipe that’s super easy, healthy and yummy!

    I stress too much about my weight as well. Last night something came over me and I had a mini binge that included some ice cream and toffee and a granola bar – holy sugar! I thought for sure that I gained back some of the weight I lost last week, but this morning I was showing the exact same as yesterday.

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      I haven’t checked it out, Bailey, but I will now!! I have SO MUCH zucchini to use! I’m currently chopping it up for freezing. Ugh! And believe me, mini-binges are WAY better than REAL binges!! xoxo Keep up the great work!

      Reply
  4. Crystal

    Mmm. I love me some zucchini bread. 🙂 I definitely wouldn’t have been able to stop at one slice either… Good for you for not eating the whole loaf! Haha. 🙂

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      I have to say, it was DELIGHTFUL! I’d never had it before, but I will definitely make it again. I froze the rest of the shredded zucchini to use it again for more bread! Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Reply
  5. Joy

    I loved reading this post! The bread looked really yummy.. Good for you for going for a run the next day and that’s an amazing time too!

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Thanks! It didn’t really feel amazing, but I appreciate knowing that it looks good to others! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Christie @ Pathtothehalf

    Yumm Zucchini bread! I will have to try that, because we usually end up with so much in our garden that our entire neighborhood is sick of it. 🙂 I bet you have a little tendonitis in your ankle…anti-imflammatory (advil) and rest, maybe a little heat/ice alternating q 15 min will probably do the trick. Maybe ride your bike for a week instead of running 🙂 (can you tell I was an ortho nurse LOL)

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      I highly recommend the zucchini bread–it’s VERY yummy!! And thank you very much for the nursing expertise–I’ve been taking advil but only doing ice, so I’ll try the heat/ice thing this week. I appreciate it very much!!

      Reply
  7. Marcia

    I have a weakness for breads like that – zucchini, pumpkin and banana are sure to be snarfed down if I get near them. 😉 Also, I agree about the nut thing – I’m not a fan of nuts anyway, but I definitely do not like them in my bread. Bread is supposed to be soft and savory…I don’t need that added little surprise biting into it, simply for the same reason you mentioned – I’m afraid of losing a tooth (or bits of a tooth) to a nut. 🙂

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Yep, I love me any kind of bread, and if it’s made with a veggie, I somehow can overlook all the sugar and refined flower that goes into it. 😉 I’m SO glad to know I’m not the only anti-nut person for breads! 🙂

      Reply
  8. MountainHawk

    A Thanksgiving side dish around here is an Italian squash casserole. It involves sliced vegetables (zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes) layered with seasoned breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese.

    Of course, I have no idea how healthy it is.

    Reply
  9. Jenn

    Zucchini… ah, I have a similar relationship. Check your in box. I am sending you several recipes. They are all tried and true. I missed my weigh in this week, because I was at the Hershey Spa yesterday with a freind. It was a dream. I am trying to manage my points this week and stay on track. I have 5 more pounds to go and then it will be the challenge of maintaining which I fear will be harder than losing. It is a whole other mindset and just like the program took some getting used to, I am sure maintanence will as well. Take care of that ankle, Steph.

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Great recipes, thank you!! And wow, that spa treatment sounds DIVINE, and you totally deserved it!! Great job!! xoxo

      Reply
  10. Kelly@Sublurban Mama

    If you played it right, you could take a bunch of facts completely out of context and market the first “Zucchini Bread Diet” book. Because technically, zucchini bread put you in the 110’s. Just a thought … 😉

    I can totally relate to the thought process after eating the bread. The “why me?” mentality, as well as the obsession over food choices, and even trying to make it up with exercise … but you are totally right, before you would’ve eaten 3/4 of the bread, so two little slivers is a huge improvement! WTG, Steph!

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Ha ha ha, that’s awesome! I could totally market that! You are so funny. 😉 If I market it, though, doesn’t that mean it’s okay to eat the whole loaf by myself?? 😛

      Reply

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