Share your best menu hack!

What is your best menu hack so you can have a version of a favorite food from back in the day, but with a new high protein option whose macros fit your plan?

I used to LOVE Chipotle burrito bowls. I love all Mexican food. Pre-surgery, I would get a Chipotle burrito bowl that was literally the size of my head, PLUS a side of chips and guacamole, and eat the entire thing for dinner. And still have room for dessert. Ugh, just thinking about how heavy I felt after a 2,000 calories meal...just ugh.

Fast forward to now, when I am 5 years post-op. I rarely go to Chipotle, and if I do, I get a bowl, no rice, and it lasts 3 meals. But mostly, I make my own bowls at home. Either ground turkey or grilled chicken, with taco or fajita seasoning, with Mexican cheese, sour cream, salsa and avocado if I have it. It's significantly smaller, it's super high protein, and the flavors are the bomb.

So what's your favorite "new" food that replicates or reminds you of something unhealthy you used to love? I'm all ears!

Well it's not a hack and not high in protein but this is one of my faves- it's been awhile since I have made it though.

https://lowcarbyum.com/german-chocolate-zucchini-cake-gluten-free/

I am a pizza addict. At home I use low-carb tortillas for the crust. I toast the tortilla and then add sauce and cheese and cook it for 7 minutes. Yum!!

I knew I liked you, my fellow pizza addict!

My only one so far is pizza related and it's a cheese crust pizza. It's still a treat and not something I can have often but so good.

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

1/4 cup shredded parmesan

2 eggs

Italian seasonings plus crushed red pepper

whirl it up all up in the food processor, spread in a 9 inch pie pan for 20 min at 350 (line with parchment and have handles so you can lift the dough out)

take the dough out, put on pizza pan, top with your desired sauce, toppings and cheese; cook at 450 for 10-15 minutes

The dough becomes like a medium thin crust (kind of a cross between thin and pizza hut hand tossed if you know that one) and then you have pizza; it makes 4 meals for me. MFP puts it at 392 calories, 26 protein and 4 carb based on my toppings but you'll need to do your own depending on your toppings. It's a bit high calories to protein ratio so not an every day thing.

Tacos. I love those darn crunchy shells, but alas the corn shells are not my friend after surgery. This past Summer my husband and I went to High Roller Lobster in Maine and I experienced my first all CHEESE taco shell. What is better than cheese? A taco shell made out of all cheese.

I use a combination of Mexican cheese blend and a little mozzarella shredded cheese. Heat up the skillet and put a pile of the cheese on it. Let it melt down and kind of keep it in a circle. Carefully flip once that side is browned. Once the other side is browned and a bit firm I place it over an aluminum foil covered glass so it hardens in the shape of a taco shell. Then I fill it with the taco fixing. OMG I could eat just the shells all day.

One other thing I do is use mashed sweet potatoes and ground chicken in place of mashed white potatoes and hamburg when I make shepherds pie. The taste is so good.

Those are great ideas!! Also, could be used for my cheese crust pizza and then it's even easier!

I have a little plug in skillet - sprya with non stick, then put the cheese and let it crisp up to a shell or chip.

Trying your taco shell...Yum!

I have also added precooked bacon pieces to it and made an egg taco for breakfast. Some scrambled eggs, pieces of fresh tomatoes and avocado all stuffed in the delicious cheese shell.