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Halfway point with My Fit Foods!

So I reached the halfway point of the My Fit Foods 21-Day Challenge several days ago, and I wanted to share my progress.

YES, I’ve noticed a slight difference in how my shorts fit, especially in my waist, so yay for that!! And the foods continue to tantalize, with fabulous eats from morning to night. My favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner thus far have been the B Tacos, two corn tortillas filled with fluffy eggs (5-to-1 white-to-yolk ratio), seasoned ground turkey and cheese; the Hawaiian Chicken, several planks of juicy breast atop brown rice tossed with pineapple and orange chunks and a hint of soy sauce; and the Better Beef & Broccoli, a super-low-carb portion of the meat and veg with an Asian-inspired sauce to dip the steak in (a close second is the Buffalo Chicken Salad (above) that I wolfed down in minutes). Yummmmm.

At the midpoint, I found I didn’t crave most of the eats that I normally would — they just weren’t nagging at me at meal times, and I actually quite looked forward to MFF’s delectable eats. So I’m really glad that they ARE really delicious!

Sooo, enjoying the MFF meals has NOT been an issue, but, chickadees — this foodie has been grateful for the three cheat meals the Challenge allows! How else could I have covered Iron Fork? Or enjoyed a sensible off-plan celebratory meal after my sister’s law school graduation? Thank heaven for cheats or else this dining Diva would be in a bind!

My only challenge amid the Challenge, in fact, has been in having to time and plan my outings. For example, if I want to hunker down for hours of blogging at a coffeehouse, I bring along my MFF snack and stick to ordering green tea with agave. And for a girl’s night sleepover, I packed a set of meals in the cooler bag MFF sends you home with and stocked my friend’s fridge once I arrived. So it’s infinitely doable, it just requires some forethought — not a bad thing to master whilst one is changing one’s diet, I should add. So thanks for the discipline, MFF — onward and upward!

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Weekend highlights in Dallas

The White Out Party

Tonight, local beer and liquor retailer Sigel’s is throwing a huge mass tasting of the finest clear spirits you can lay your taste buds on. The White Out Party will fill the Dallas Contemporary with more than 20 of the best brands of liquor: Hendrick’s Gin, Ty Ku Sake, Milagro Tequila, and Barsol Pisco are among the labels that will be represented. Snag your tickets here or at the door, and don’t forget to bust out the white attire!

Taste Addison!

As previously previewed, this weekend is the annual food coma-inducing Taste Addison, where dozens of restaurants of all stripes line Addison Circle Park with booths and serve up tasty eats and drinks while live and national music acts play. I went last night and had a blast — the weather, especially once the sun goes down, is gorgeous and forecast to stay that way all weekend, so get out there!

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Taste Addison fanfare and free tickets!

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to serve as a judge for Taste: The Competition, an event affiliated with Taste Addison, where local restaurants were tasked with creating tasty, portable treats that’d make ideal street food. Of course I’ll judge that!

Fifteen restos were represented, and judges sampled delights ranging from Asian fare to Tex-Mex-inspired specialties. Among my faves were Thai Star’s Mi Kati (below).

And Buffalo Wild Wings’ Deep Fried Bread Pudding Bites made my day as my favorite dish of them all … happily it placed third, with the grand prize winner being Blue Mesa for its Chimayo Market Corn (top), coated in herbs, spices and cheese. Yurrrmm. Edited to add: Sadly, none of the sweet and savories made at Taste: The Competition will be available at Taste Addison OR at the restaurant that created it. Nuts!

But Taste: The Competition was but a precursor to this year’s big Addison food event: Taste Addison. The annual toast to good eats features dozens of area restaurants serving up samples of the best dishes they have to offer. There’s also carnival food for those who’re in a classic fair-food mood.

This year, the event has snagged some considerable talent as musical headliners: Reckless Kelly, The O’s, Blue October and Sister Hazel are among the acts that’ll hit the giant Dos Equis Main Stage smack in the middle of the festival grounds.

Wanna get out there this year? Your Diva’s here to make that happen … I have two tickets to give away to the first person who leaves a delicous comment here or under this story on my Facebook page — simply tell me what culinary specialties you’re most hoping to encounter and savor at Taste Addison. Good luck, chicadees!

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Haystack Burgers coming to Richardson

So that burger above is coming soon to a new burger joint in Richardson. Haystack Burgers & Barley is sweeping into the north burbs with a menu of specialty burgers, sides and salads and craft beers.

Located right off Central Expressway and dangerously close to your Diva, Haystack is throwing a grand opening party this Tuesday night from 5 to 6:30 p.m.! Not only can visitors get a sneak preview of some apps, but they can also meet with brand reps from Revolver Brewing, Four Corners Brewery and Lakewood Brewery. Plus, one lucky guest will win a VIP card good for one free burger per week for a year. Solid! Sounds like a good time will be had by all — especially taste buds and tummies.

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Weekend highlights in Dallas

Saturday’s Best Derby Day bets

Polo on the Lawn is back for champagne-raising, divot-stomping, Derby-watching good times. Although a polo match will kick off at 4 p.m., the Kentucky Derby will also be available for viewing at the Prestonwood Polo Club. Wear your Derby finery and dust off your best wide-brimmed hat — oh, and bring your picnic or tailgate, if you’re angling for a General Admission ticket ($45); otherwise, enjoy a catered meal in VIP ($150), including wine, AND the signature cocktail by Central 214′s Amber West, the Equestrian!

Meantime, enjoy or participate in a best-dressed, best hat and best picnic/tailgate contests judged by WFAA’s Ron Corning and Dallas style guru Steve Kemble, among others.

Other Derby day fetes:

Asador, inside the Renaissance Hotel, will be mint julep-ing until 8 p.m. The resto will also debut a new cheese and charcuterie board, yum.

Lone Star Park: Watch and wager on the Derby as well as live races happening in Grand Prairie. Their best hat contest has two $500 prizes! What better way to watch the Derby than at a track …

Sissy’s second annual Jockeys & Juleps runs from 3-6 p.m. at the Southern cooking haven on Henderson. Specialty cocktails will include Sissy’s Mint Julep, Kentucky Punch, Presbyterian Bourbon Press and Alabama Sunset for just $7. Special prize for the best-dressed guest!

Best Cinco de Mayo bet

This weekend ALSO marks Cinco de Mayo — talk about a two-day holiday for lushes cocktail enthusiasts! Deep Ellum Brewing Co. is celebrating on Saturday with their Cinco de Quatro event. Yah!

Other Cinco de Mayo fetes:

Och8 Kitchen and Cocktails has dollar margs all weekend. Need I say more?!

Both La Calle Doce and El Ranchito are launching skinny margs for Cinco de Mayo, for 8 bucks. Yay and yum!

Pokey O’s Cookies and Ice Cream launches its Ice Cream Tacos this weekend (above) — what delicious timing. You can even customize and shell, toppings and filling flavors. Viva el taco!

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I’m taking the My Fit Foods challenge!

In light of the one-month countdown to the divas-only 5k Pretty Muddy Run on June 1, I decided it was time to get my diet and fitness under control. You know how it is, though, chickadees — we drone on and on about how we should eat better, but in the end, we just never budge. Because chicken nuggets, fried skrimps and mashed potatoes with rivers of gravy be tasty! But I digress …

About a week ago, I snagged a voucher for a free meal at My Fit Foods, a chain of stores that stocks a wide variety of super-healthy balanced meals and snacks. I’d always thought the stores were only for members or those on meal plans to use, so I was happy to get the chance to stop in. The gamut of different kinds of entrees was amazing, and everything looked really great — how was I supposed to choose just one for lunch?! Finally, I happened upon the Turkey Loaf …

… accompanied by mashed sweet potatoes with nuts and steamed broccoli, this meal seemed hearty and filling. I was gobsmacked by how delicious it was — the turkey was spicy and perfectly seasoned so that I didn’t need to reach for the salt shaker. And I *usually* reach for the salt shaker! The sweet mash was a nice counterpoint to the spicy and had the textural interest of walnuts thrown in. Yum! And, of course, the broccoli provided serious nutrients … plus, I just freakin’ love broccoli! I just had to have more of these My Fit Foods meals — I wanted to conquer their 21-Day Challenge, in fact. So I reached out to the company, and VOILA! Your Diva is presently partaking of the Challenge, living scrumptiously and dining well.

The Challenge consists of five meals a day — breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks. The idea is to eat every three hours to keep your metabolism nimble, awake and burning calories — yes! Plus, My Fit Foods sticks to low glycemic-index carbs that have less of a fat-padding effect on your body. And in addition to sticking to the diet, My Fit Foods recommends twice-daily supplements and a morning cranberry liver-detox drink. Oh, and giving up liquor the entire time …

I won’t lie — that’s a tough one, y’all. You know your Diva is all about the dranks … but so far I’ve stayed away beautifully. Nice thing is, you get 3 cheat meals … is it awful that I’ve already sunk one of them on the second day of the Challenge? Don’t judge! And stay tuned for updates on my meals and how I tackle the Challenge. ALSO stay tuned for — wait for it — a My Fit Foods giveaway, so you may try the healthful goodness for yourself!