"Reducing" - The BH&G Way!

I'll admit it: I do whatever my Better Homes & Gardens magazine tells me to do.

That's why I was so thrilled to find out that BH&G has its own "Reducing Plan". Published in 1968, the BH&G Eat and Stay Slim system was based on food exchanges to make calorie counting simple and fun.


Here is the basic plan in a nutshell:


Hmmmm. Can it really be that easy???

And the meal plans don't look too bad either!

I suddenly wish I had the last 6 months of my life back!

OK--I will admit there are a few gag-inducing recipes like this one from the Salad and Vegetables chapter. It's an Iceberg Ring. With Tuna Salad in the middle. Look closely and you'll notice that the lettuce has been suspended in a gelatinized mold. Come on. That's just wrong.


How did I come across this fantastic diet plan, you ask? One of the sweetest ladies in all of blogland was nice enough to send it to me! Just imagine my delight when I went to the mailbox today and found a package from my dear friend from the North--- Miss Vonlipi!

Please be sure to check out Vonlipi's Favorites - it's one my favorite blogs and she's a gem! Her posts are sure to make you smile!

Thank you Vonlipi! You have just made my Retro Dieting World a little more interesting...

Thanks But No Thanks Thursday - Return of the Mold!

Wait. What's that you say?

Oh -- You thought you were going to be forever spared the weekly gross-out that is known as TBNT Thursday? Just because I took a little break from the Retro WW Experiment? Well think again my friends!

You don't get off that easy around here. And boy, do we have a moldy treat in store for you this week!



This one is self-explanatory: Cooked Beets. Canned Pineapple. Brown Sugar. Diet Soda. Knox Gelatin. Put it in a mold and when it is solid, stick it on some lettuce.

Sounds good in theory, but I just wonder why anyone would want to eat this thing with so many other salad options out there? I can't help picturing this scary mold sitting out for hours on the buffet at a smoky 1974 dinner party - congealing with each passing minute and gathering a thin layer of condensation and slime. GAG. Yep--I went there.

On the other hand, looking at this dish almost makes me want to get back in the kitchen and whip up a mold of my own. So stay tuned! This weekend, I'll be back to my old tricks and cooking up a very special Retro WW Feast!

In the meantime - Beet and Pineapple Salad Mold? Thanks, but No Thanks!

Pyrex Makes Everything Better

I would have made a terrible mid-century housewife.

Folks--I'm not gonna lie to you. After 6 months of Retro Weight Watchers, it feels really good to be back to modern day WW eating. This week, I hit the grocery store, and filled my cart with Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines, Boca Burgers, and Microwave Popcorn. I even bought some of those microwavable pouches of pre-cooked brown rice.

That's right. The secret is out: I'm all about convenience food.

Cut me a break! After months of labor-intensive Retro WW recipes that can take hours to prepare, it is absolutely FABULOUS to have my food cooked and in my belly in 5 minutes or less!

I'll admit the truth: I'm busy, I'm hungry and I'm lazy.

Today's lunch?


A Roasted Potato and Cheddar Cheese Smart Ones Meal mixed with some extra frozen broccoli. Not retro at all, but I am eating it from my favorite Pyrex bowl. That makes it all better, right?

Speaking of Pyrex--I am thrilled to be a new member of the Pyrex Collective. Stop by and check out this fantastic blog!

Tea for Two!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet and adorable husband. Here's a very special Retro WW treat just for me and you...

TEA FOR TWO
2 Teaspoons Instant Tea
4 Tablespoons Water
1 Pint Dietetic Ginger Ale

Into each glass, put a tsp of instant tea, add 2 tsps of water and stir to dissolve. Fill with ice cubes. Pour in 1 cup of ginger ale and stir. Makes 2 servings.

This refreshing drink is the perfect combination of cozy and sweet, with just a touch of the unexpected. Just like us!

Cheers!

I am a WW "Junkie"

Do you want to know the biggest difference between modern day Weight Watchers and Retro Weight Watchers?

It's the quotation marks.

As seen on these recipe cards from 1974, most of the dishes are not what they seem. They may be called "Brownies" or "Pie", but they are really made from Knox gelatine molded with chocolate extract or whipped evaporated milk served over toasted white bread crumbs. All combined with a few drops of food coloring of course.


The quotation marks make it "legal".

The freedom of modern day Weight Watchers is, of course, that no food is forbidden. No quotation marks are necessary!

So I had some pie the other night (not "pie"). I counted my Weight Watchers Points. It hurt, but I took my lumps and wrote it in my tracker.

This leaves me wondering...How my Weight Watchers Points do you think there are in "Pie"?

Don't even get me started...

I'm Still Here

I know what you're thinking.

She couldn't hack it. The Retro WW Experiment did her in! The liver, Knox gelatine, and tuna were just too much for her too handle, so she threw in the towel.

Well, you're only half right.

About 6 months into my Retro WW Experiment, I realized something. A modern day girl with a full-time job and a full-time social life cannot keep this retro dieting thing going forever. She also really cannot expect to have the time to blog about it daily either.

But--because I still have an undying love of all things retro and all things Weight Watchers--I have decided to return to my blogging experiment. With part-time posting of retro WW recipes, TBNT Thursdays or just random retro dieting thoughts. Whenever the hell I have some free time.

As far as my "official" weight loss plan? I'll be returning to modern day Weight Watchers and the POINTs system. Starting today.

I'm quite certain Jean Nidetch would give me her blessing.

The Retro WW Top Ten!

Let us pause for a moment and reflect.

It has been almost 6 months since I began The 1972 Retro Weight Watchers Experiment. In that time, I have gone through 5 boxes of Knox Gelatine, 4 batches of home-made "catsup" and countless cans of tuna. My house is often filled with the aroma of boiled celery and bean sprouts. My friends and family are afraid to visit. And I think my dear husband may have been emotionally scarred for life during a botched aspic incident. So far, it has been quite an adventure.

On that note--Please allow me to share my top ten favorite and most gag-tastic Retro WW Recipes that I have prepared and consumed thus far. Won't you please join me for a walk down memory lane?

#10 The Pink Lady Salad
#9 The "Not So Danish" Pastry
#8 A Mystery Salad
#7 Iced "Cream"

#6 Chicken Buttermilk Loaf

#5 Chilled Celery Log

#4 Crown Roast of Frankfurter
#3 Friendly Aspic
#2 Mousse of Salmon (Guest Post at Kitschen Feast)
#1 Catsup!

Looking back on the food I've consumed over the past 6 months, I can't believe I'm still alive. That is one nasty collection of funky recipes, right? It's hard to believe there are still many, many more I haven't even tried yet. Do you have a favorite of your own or a special request? Let me know!

There's no turning back now.

PS: I recently received a few blogging awards from some really cool fellow bloggers, and I would like to extend a very big thank you to all of them. What a kick! I was awarded the prestigious Versatile Blogger Award from Barb at Everyday Life's Issues and also from Pam at Go Retro! - And I was also very thrilled to receive the Divas & Champions Award from Ellen at Weighting Around - How groovy is that? Now go check out these fabulous ladies and their super cool blogs!