Every week I’ll be posting a meal hack I’m using to encourage my family to eat a little healthier and help me lose some weight. 

With the potatoes, this 9-10 point dinner should follow a lighter point breakfast and lunch. Call it a congratulatory celebration to the end of your very disciplined day, and hey, there are still green beans covering half the plate :).

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Honey Lemon Garlic Chicken

This chicken recipe comes from Ruth at Living Well Spending Less. It tastes the best grilled (after a long day hanging out in the sun!) but can also bake very nicely in a 400 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes. It prepares well as a freezer meal and is the only type of chicken I’ve made since coming across the recipe. Seriously.

Weight Watchers lists 3 ounces of boneless skinless chicken as 3 points. At this point in the game, I’m not in the habit of counting the calories of a marinade. Most of it ends up left in the bag, and besides, is there anyone who eats dry chicken, ever?

3 pts per 3 oz. serving

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Savory potatoes

This is one from my own kitchen, and uses so little oil and seasoning I’ve lumped it into the category of a baked potato (with a little extra).

What you need:

• 10 medium sized golden potatoes cubed and rinsed
• 2 envelopes of dry Italian dressing mix
• 1 tbsp olive oil

How to make it:

Mix ingredients well and bake until crispy in the same 400 degree oven (about 35-45 minutes). Make sure you eye-ball your portion at about a medium-ish potato.

5/6 pts per (medium sized potato) serving

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Lemony-Garlic Green Beans

This green bean hack (also from my own kitchen) is an absolute god-send. I’ve come to learn after eight years of marriage my husband loves green beans. I on the other hand love other things more, but I can handle these – even like these – because of the garlic and lemon (two of my favorites). These are the green beans my youngest please-mommy-please asked for at Trader Joe’s (seriously), and three out of four loving a vegetable makes it a staple in this house.

What you need:

• 12 ounce package fresh green beans
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp chopped onion
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to make it:

Combine ingredients in a non-stick pan and sauté on stovetop until green beans are softened.

1 pt per 6 oz. serving