We can “deal with” just about any diet for a little while, can’t we? We’re losing, we’re feeling better, the diet’s not so bad. Then we realize that it’s not so great either. We run into problems like “not enough time,” “not enough energy” and “bored with the same old thing.” All of a sudden we’re doing the backstroke just to lose a half a pound and finding it harder and harder to stick with. Maybe it’s weekend socializing or the dreaded night-time noshing. For me it was dinner. My problem — no time to make something healthy. Sound familiar?

I used to have such a great routine, but as my life got crazier and crazier I found myself grabbing a bag of salad and a pizza “for the kids” more than once a week. My prepared meals in the freezer were gone and I had no time to replenish them. I knew it had gone too long when my zipper was snug and my kids were complaining about too much fast food! Imagine! It was a wake up call to me that I had to do something.
And just when I was pondering my plight, the answer came to me from my boys’ elementary school.

The buzz was going around about this great new concept “store” that you may have already heard of. But in case you haven’t, you can thank me later. It’s called Entrees Made Easy. It’s fun. It’s fabulous. And despite the fact that I dumped an entire bottle of homemade sauce all over their immaculate floors (and one of their employees) they still invited me back. (Very gracious people.) Most importantly — it solved my “no time to cook healthy” problem.

At Entrees Made Easy, THEY buy all the freshest produce and THEY prep the ingredients for an large selection of fabulous recipes. THEY line everything up and THEY walk you through the process of assembling your entrees to take home and pop in the oven or freezer. Then, when you walk out with your lovely prepped dinners, THEY stay behind and clean up after you. Just anticipate the look of pleasure (and disbelief) on your family’s faces! THEY’RE my new secret weapon, and I’m thrilled.

The nutritional information for the current menu (it changes each month) is online, so that’s where I start. The best part for the weight conscious person is … you can alter the dishes as you go to fit your diet. Don’t want to put oil in the San Antonio salsa chicken? Leave it out! Want extra vegetables instead of rice with that herb-crusted pork roast? No problem!

I have to tell you, I made pork tenderloin in ginger apple sauce and I used FRESH GINGER! Have you ever smelled fresh ginger?! The whole dinner is only 203 calories AND IT HAD FRESH GINGER! Wow!

I could go on and on here about how much fun and how easy it is, but it’s really something you have to experience for yourself. For newcomers you may want to start with a free taste-testing on the first Saturday of each month where they make and lay out all the new recipes for that month. You can have parties there, earn free meals; you may even want to start a franchise location of your own!

One word of caution: this is NOT billed as “diet” fare. Their menus can also include items like four cheese macaroni and cinnamon roll french toast. Yowza! But the majority of the entrees are low calorie and low fat and can easily be lightened up further to meet your own dietary needs.

So if dinner prep too tempting for you right now. Or if, like me, you don’t have the time to cook healthy, this may be just the solution for you. While there are no Entrees Made Easy in Colorado, a similiar company called Dream Dinners is located in Carbondale, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Wheat Ridge and Parker.

And no, I didn’t get any free meals, money or kudos for writing this column. It’s just another little tip from me to you.

<i>Kim Bensen was a lifetime yo-yo dieter who joined Weight Watchers in 2001 and lost 212 pounds. She lives with her husband and four children in southern Connecticut. Last year’s Grand Celebration speaker, Kim continues to partner with LiveWell in encouraging Mesa County residents to live well! Send correspondence to skinny@kimbensen.com. For more tips, recipes, information on her new 110 calorie Kim’s Light Bagels, or to sign up for Kim’s monthly e-News, go to www.kimbensen.com.<;/i>