Since joining the Jenny Craig program back in 2010, I’ve had a lot of fun with the whole volumizing concept. I feel like I talk about it here on NTTC, but I don’t know that I’ve ever defined it.
What is Volumizing?
To me, volumizing is loading up a dish with extra vegetables to add flavor, volume, and to transform an average dish into a fabulous dish without adding a significant amount of calories!
This philosophy is a cornerstone in my cooking efforts, after being introduced to it four years ago through my weight loss program. When I’m cooking a dish, I always double (sometimes triple) the veggie count, just to make it a little more filling and colorful.
What types of Vegetables Can You Use to Volumize?
To me, it’s all about choosing the veggies I love most: broccoli, onions, cauliflower, spinach, and tomatoes are some of my go-to’s, but the list certainly doesn’t end there. If you can imagine it, you can volumize with it.
What Dishes have I Volumized?
I have a full page of volumized recipes I’ve shared over the years here; however, here are a few of my favorites. Click on any image to see the full recipes.
A Few New Ideas
As part of today’s post about volumizing, I also want to share a few fun subtle tips that I’ve been exploring for volumizing as of late. Not full recipes, but just some ideas to jazz your Jenny cuisine. 🙂
Make a Dish Into Lettuce Wraps
I got the idea to do this after trying the Jenny Craig Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps dish. How fun is it to cook the Jenny meal and then transfer them into bib lettuce cups? Next time I make them, I want to add a little broccoli slaw or cole slaw mix to make it an even more filling meal!
I used the same concept with the Jenny Craig Southwest Style Chicken Fajita Bowl. Saute some extra bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes and mix them into the dish. Add to lettuce cups, and wowsers…
NTTC Tip: I fill each cups with only a little filling, which always makes me feel like I’m eating a little bit more. Extra lettuce “tacos” for me!!
Add Broccoli. Add Lots of Broccoli
I found these little single-serving steamed broccoli bags at Target a few weeks ago, and I’m in LOVE!
I’ve been adding 1-2 bags to meals ever since. They add about 1 cup of extra volume per bag – – WOW!
Example: I added two bags to the JC Homestyle Chicken Casserole (left) and the JC Three-Cheese Ziti Marinara (right.)
NTTC Tip: Before adding steamed broccoli to a dish, be sure to use a strainer to shake out any excess water. You don’t want to water down your dish…
PB2. Don’t forget the PB2
If you haven’t played with PB2 yet, it’s time. This peanut butter lover couldn’t survive without it.
It’s a powdered peanut butter that you can purchase online or at Target, Kroger/King Soopers, and even Costco. You simply add water and have a peanut butter-like substance that satisfies your peanut butter craving, while keeping your healthy eating plan on track.
I’ve used this ingredient in a ton of recipes over time (i.e. Banana Doughnuts with PB2 Glaze, Asian Summer Rolls with PB2 Peanut Sauce, and Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Overnight Oats)… and it is a total staple in my house. A little schmear is wonderful on the JC French Toast and even the Cinnamon Rolls (decadently delish!), but I’ve recently had fun making it into a “frosting”, by adding just a smidgen of water to give it a frosting consistency.
Above, I used the Chocolate PB2 “frosting” to top the JC Chocolate Walnut Brownie. It’s amazing… and if it’s a special occasion (like a Tuesday), a few sprinkles make it really festive.
So… that’s how I volumize. How about you? What do you add to your meals to make them more satisfying?