Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Lean and Green meals have been one of the toughest parts of Medifast for me. I’m definitely not a cook and my schedule is pretty crazy. But I’ve been working hard at it and I’m always looking for new Medifast Lean and Green recipes and testing them out – to varying results. I’ve decided to do a weekly Lean and Green feature here where I test out various recipes and post step-by-step photos. The first recipe I’ll be demonstrating is the Lean and Green Taco Salad. This is straight out of the Medifast Book and has quickly become one of my favorite meals. I thought it would be bland and boring, but it’s actually delicious. I would eat this even if I wasn’t doing Medifast.

Ingredients:
5 oz. Ground Turkey
1 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning
2 Tbsp. Salsa
1 cup romaine lettuce
1 cup iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1 tbsp. Water

STEP 1: Brown the Turkey

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Actually… whiten the turkey. Unlike with ground beef, ground turkey doesn’t really get brown, it turns white. I buy prepackaged ground turkey. 20 oz. packages are pretty easy to find and you can just cut it in fourths, and throw the rest in a Ziploc until tomorrow. Throw 5 oz. in a skillet and chop it up as you brown it. After a few minutes, it will look something like this…

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Step 2: Drain the fat and Add Water

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

To be honest, sometimes I don’t drain the fast. I do make a point of buying only super-lean turkey, so this part is up to you. I like to walk on the wild side. Either way, add 1 tbsp of water.

STEP 3: Add Taco Seasoning

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

The meal has been pretty bland to this point. You may be getting nervous. Don’t worry, just throw on 1 Tbsp of Taco Seasoning. I don’t use anything special, but have tried out all the cheap-o packets of taco seasoning you can find at your grocery store. Right now McCormick is my favorite.

STEP 4: Mix it all up and let it Simmer

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Turn the heat on the stove to low and mix the seasoning and water with the meat until it is all evenly distributed. I like chopping the meat into tiny pieces while I cook it because it makes it a little more fun. Now, let the meat simmer for about 5 minutes. While it’s simmering…

STEP 5: Salad!

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Get a big bowl and add your leafy greens. The recipe calls for iceberg and romaine, but I use whatever I have on hand. In this picture, it’s a cup of romaine and a cup of baby spinach. It’s hard to exactly measure a cup of greens, so I just throw in a large handful of each.

STEP 6: Tomatoes!

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Dice 1/2 cup of tomatoes and throw those on your greens. I usually add a little black pepper to the tomatoes first.  This is starting to look like a meal!

STEP 7: Add meat and Salsa!

Medifast Lean and Green Taco Salad Recipe

Your meat should now be spicy and delicious. Add that to the salad. Then on top of that, add 2 tablespoons of salsa. I’m a salsa freak so I try all kinds of different brands. I stay away from the big brands like Taco Bell or Old El Paso. Since I am not in Austin at the moment, I couldn’t get my hands on my favorite salsa ever (Rose’s Salsa), so I gave Clint’s Texas Salsa a try and it was pretty freaking great.

Now you’re all set. Make a big glass of ice water and dig in! I really love this recipe and don’t miss the ground beef at all.

Calories: 358, Fat Grams: 18, Cholesterol: 139, Carbohydrates: 9, Protein: 39

{ 104 comments… read them below or add one }

Dacia Wuthrich July 20, 2009 at 7:10 pm

Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe! I just started medifast, and I’m a wreck. I needed a great idea like this.

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Christopher July 21, 2009 at 9:41 am

This recipe is straight out of the Medifast handbook and my favorite Lean and Green recipe so far. I like to keep things simple because I am not very good at cooking or at shopping for ingredients. This one is easy on both levels. I eat it more than I care to admit and still love it.

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Shirley May 25, 2011 at 12:48 pm

Any broiled Medifast lobster recipes. My husband is on Day 5 and I sent him to the store for prawns and romaine lettuce. He got prawns and a “great deal on lobster.” We are grilling the romaine tonight and probably broiling lobster.

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Sheila December 13, 2010 at 9:14 pm

I just started also and tried this one tonight and it really good and I will be making it often.

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Ronda August 10, 2009 at 5:46 pm

This is my first day on Medifast and I got to say this is sooooo goood! I can now actually look forward to a meal with flavor and substance and not feel gulity. Thanks!

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Mattie Sapp August 13, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I did medifast for two months and I am very dissapointed, no weight loss as promised and defenetely the food is worst I have ever eaten, for that kind of money a month I could loose over thirty pounds on something else. I would not recommed it to anyone I really care for. Good Luck!

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Christopher August 13, 2009 at 3:31 pm

Thanks for your comment. However, I find it almost impossible to believe that you actually followed the program for 2 months and lost no weight. It seems scientifically impossible, given the drastically reduced caloric intake.

I would love to hear more about your experience. If you don’t want to write about it in the comments, hit me up at getskinnybehappy@gmail.com.

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terri September 13, 2010 at 5:56 pm

You cheated then…..CAUSE IT WORKS!

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jan January 10, 2011 at 3:29 pm

you didn’t follow the plan i’ve been on for only 1 week and lost 8 pounds

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Rosetylerr March 16, 2011 at 7:06 am

I am not it now..I am starving…lol. Yes, medifast does work. Takes a few days for the starvation to go away. Thanks for that awesome taco recipe!!

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Jenny March 30, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Mattie,

First of all, wow at not liking the food. There is so much to choose from, I find it weird that you didn’t like ANYTHING?? I like a lot of it (smores…mmmm yummy, pretzels, chocolate shakes…all good.)

If you really followed the diet and didn’t lose, you should consider seeing your doctor, possibly something going on that you should know about.

I’m 40 and weight loss is supposed to be hard at my age, but it is dropping off, 2-3 pounds every week.

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Brad September 27, 2011 at 4:42 pm

I have been on the med plan for 5 weeks lost 27 pnds im 50 yrs old. My blood presure was 200/114 5 wks ago. Today it is 128/79. For those who expect the food to taste as good as the crap we have all been eating it dosent. But Im hardly ever hungry and the bars and shakes arent to bad. I love some of these recipes and will be trying the out.

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Elaine October 4, 2011 at 10:20 pm

Congrats Brad! Medifast works, no doubt. I started 6/6/11 and lost 30 by July 30. This was one of my first favorite recipies also.

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Marilyn May 10, 2011 at 7:50 pm

Wow I am so sorry you are disappointed with this diet plan. I love it. My boys and I have been on it for just 2 weeks and we’ve lost a total of 33lbs. The first few days were really rough but once your body stabilizes it not that difficult and the food is not that bad if you find healthy ways to tweek it. We love this taco salad and we have done it with both turkey and lean beef. Delicious!

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lorie June 14, 2011 at 10:41 am

My husband has been on this for only 2 weeks and has lost 20 pounds ! IT WORKS!

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April August 20, 2009 at 3:16 am

I’m on 5th mo & down 52. 23 to go.

Despite increase in exercise, my loss is slowing a lot. It feels harder to manage hunger the closer I get. I’m hungry often. But I don’t want to stop trying.

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Christopher August 22, 2009 at 9:12 am

Congratulations on your progress! These are awesome results! Right now I have 22 pounds to go, so we are at about the same stage. I think it gets harder the closer you get, so don’t give up!

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Marilyn May 10, 2011 at 7:55 pm

Don’t give it up April you have come so far. And you know it works.

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Cheryl July 15, 2011 at 4:46 pm

Congrats on the 52 down, but what do you mean despite increase in exercise? You shouldn’t be doing exercise until you have met your goal weight. Doing exercise will make you go into starvation mode and lose muscle unless you have a coach that is helping you adjust your meals and your intake to make up for some exercise. Stick to the plan and wait on the exercise, the weight will continue to drop off and then when you reach your goal you can exercise to your hearts content. The Take Shape For Life program is set up to help you succeed as long as you follow the steps, Good Luck in your future with Optimal Health!

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Trish August 23, 2009 at 11:34 am

Thanks for the meal idea. I’m on my first week on Medifast and needed a little inspiration. I have twenty-five pounds to lose. I lost some weight last year basically quit dieting then gain little back so here I go again determined to make my goal weight this time. I thought the structure of this program would help me break some bad eating habits.

I like your blog and have added it to my favorites.

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Christopher August 23, 2009 at 1:44 pm

Trish – Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment! I think the structure of Medifast is great for helping you to rewire your brain when it comes to eating and health. Lately, I’ve come to the belief that the mental component is just as important as the physical. I am working on a post about this and will publish it soon.

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REIKO September 7, 2010 at 4:54 pm

I too, just started Medifast as my last resort to weight loss. I have been on it for 2 weeks today minus a 3 day hectic moment(daughter’s 15th bday and best food in the world, sushi) and realized I need to get a grip on my eating. I have lost about 10 lbs, gained 2 lbs to a total of about 8 lbs lost. I have regained control of my eating again and back on track. I enjoy the crunch bars the most…chocolate, caramel, s’mores and mint chocolate. Good luck to all peoples who struggle with weight and weight loss. Keep on trying,,.

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tisha August 30, 2009 at 1:16 pm

I need more recipes…getting bored but wnt gve up.y did u choose turkey instead of ground beef? New 2 this program…on my 2nd week. I’m going 2 make this but with ex-lean ground beef.

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Christopher August 30, 2009 at 11:32 pm

I’m working on a big new batch of recipes, so stay tuned. If you substitute ground beef for the turkey, you will need to reduce the amount of meat. Check the Medifast book, but I know that even lean ground beef isn’t as lean as ground turkey. The turkey tastes great, you should give it a shot!

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Cathy October 2, 2009 at 11:53 am

Thanks for the recipe. I am into week 2 and looking for lean and green recipes. Good Luck!

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Dawn October 4, 2009 at 2:14 pm

I made this for me and my husband and it was such a nice change from grilled chicken and salad! Thanks! We are both going on week 2 and I am down 5 pounds, my husband is close to 9. Thanks for the recipes!!!

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SueA October 25, 2009 at 8:02 pm

I have been on Medifast for 8 weeks and have lost 28 lbs. At this point I am always looking for ways to change up my lean and green. I tried this recipe and enjoyed it. I used lettuce leaves as “taco shells” – all good. Thanks!

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Susan November 5, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Can’t imagine doing Medifast for 2 months and not losing any weight … good golly. 5 days – 5.5 lbs. dang am I happy. Can’t wait to report my loss after 7 weeks. Glad for recipe though – really struggling with the shakes – help there would be appreciated!

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Christopher November 6, 2009 at 10:40 am

I was getting really bored with the shakes. When I started using the Rocket Blender, I was surprised how much better they were. Have you tried that? I’ve been on a Medifast break while moving and starting a new job, but am looking forward to getting back in action. I’m even looking forward to the shakes, now that I’ve had a break.

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Sarah February 14, 2011 at 7:52 pm

I didn’t like the shakes at first, but then I added just a tad of sugar free syrup to them and WOW! I can now actually drink the french vanilla shake and enjoy it when I add some caramel flavoring to it.

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Mike November 19, 2009 at 10:56 pm

Just made this meal for my sister in-law who is on medifast diet and three other people who are not, including me, and all of us loved it. I did make some sautéed onions on the side with a tbls of olive oil, fresh jalapeños and garlic that added some more spice. Will definitely make this again for myself.

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Stacey February 3, 2010 at 12:29 pm

Sounds pretty yummy! I'll have to try it for sure. I started on the Medifast program in early '06 and by Christmas '08 I had lost 160#. This program works!

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yiliam777 February 5, 2010 at 3:37 pm

I'm getting ready to make this yummy recipe!! Thank you and keep the Medifast recipes coming LOL!!: ) P/s I can't believe the comment form the person that said about not loosing any weight on MF LOL!! She made me laugh

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getskinnybehappy February 5, 2010 at 7:58 pm

Let us know how you like the recipe! I am definitely hooked on this one. Probably my favorite Medifast recipe so far. I will probably continue to make this long after I am off program.

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punkyb February 6, 2011 at 2:40 pm

I tried this recipe on day 2 of Medifast. What a great dinner!! My favorite meal is tacos, so I was very excited after trying it, because I knew from that point on I was going to be okay. My husband and I are on day five and have not been hungry at all!

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jill williams February 6, 2010 at 12:04 pm

sounds great! I am going to have to try this recipe! I love taco salad!

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seg125 February 8, 2010 at 1:51 am

Thanks for the recipe! I just made it for supper and my wife and I both loved it. I've always liked Taco salads and now I can still enjoy them while on MF and for the future.

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marciefellows February 11, 2010 at 5:47 pm

I am on the medifast meals and excercizing and this is an amazing diet and a great recipe. i probably eat this meal once a week because it is so good. I am on my 4th week and have lost 28 pounds it is so worth it. i just need more food ideas.

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StevieRae February 12, 2010 at 1:57 am

I too added Jalapenos…. This was the first day for son #2 and I. I'm on board 101%… son…? He is thinking world is coming to end. But at 19.5 years and a BMI of 37… he needs this. He loved the salad, so I am hopeful we can make it through the first week without a major blowout.

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getskinnybehappy February 17, 2010 at 8:00 pm

How's your son doing on Medifast? I know when I was younger, I would have probably freaked out.

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getskinnybehappy February 17, 2010 at 8:02 pm

Glad you like it. Take a look at the recipes section because there is some good stuff in there. Now that my travels are over, I'm going to try to document some recipes. But to be honest, the taco salad is still my favorite because it's so good and so easy.

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jewells71 February 18, 2010 at 2:40 am

I really liked this one. I have already had it twice this week and its only wednesday! Its so flavorful. I just found this blog monday while searching for some new recipes. I have officially been on mf for 1 week today. Down 5.5 lbs. I couldnt be more excited! The lady who hadnt lost couldnt have been on plan is all I know! Thanks!

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StevieRae February 18, 2010 at 6:36 am

Well he lost 10 pounds in the first week but decided it was waaaay to limiting for him. I can't force him to continue… but I think it's planted a seed for later. We'll see I guess. I am still truding along though…. aaargh !

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connie munoz February 15, 2011 at 5:57 pm

i thought we were allowed 7 0z of cooked turkey meat if it was 99 percent lean, you have 5 oz and then cook it so it really kind of puts you at 4 oz am i missing something?? if we do 5 oz of turkey meat, can we add 1 oz of cheese on taco salad? just wondering…

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Toya March 5, 2011 at 11:58 am

I was wondering that too.. I started medifast on 3/2/11 and today is 3/5/11 and I lost a total of 5.2lbs already in 3 1/2 days.. I think the more water you drink the more you increase your weight loss in the beginning. But I love turkey meat and I miss my turkey tacos so im gonna give this a shot.. Can somebody please email me other great ideas for medifast plans the strawberry shake is awful so are the soups and brownies and eggs yuck :-/.

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jodie rhees March 18, 2011 at 7:45 pm

Toya…the strawberry shakes are definately yucky!…I hated the eggs at first in microwave but then decided to just make them like normal scrambled eggs after I mixed the water in…it makes a huuuuuuuuge difference, they taste like normal eggs…plus I think the thought of microwaved eggs just grossed me out….I returned my stuff I didn’t like and they sent me other replacements I like…just call number on your order shipment slip…shakes taste a lot better to if you add ice and do in the magic bullet blender….and a pack of splenda and taste like real milkshakes.

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tamara7qk February 26, 2010 at 6:05 pm

This is the first time I 'm here at this web site. I'm happy to be reading everyone's remarks. I heard about Medifast from one of my customers that has lost 119 pounds> when she showed me her before picture, I was like WOW you look great and you shore don't look like that picture at all. I went to medifast chat for over a week to see how it works. I ordered the variety box. I started on Saturday Feb.13. So that makes me on my 25 th day. I have lost 10 pounds. I love the plan.

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tamara7qk February 26, 2010 at 6:09 pm

I will be very happy to look at the different ways you can fix foods. I love different recipes. Thanks so much.

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becky March 7, 2010 at 10:45 pm

If you were on the Medifast diet for two months with no weight loss, you weren't on the Medifast diet… you either did know what you were supposed to do or you just plain didn't stick to it as recommended. Personal responsibility is what it is also about.

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becky March 7, 2010 at 10:49 pm

I'm a little confused with the amount of meat… aren't you supposed to have 6 oz. of COOKED meat? That would mean that measuring out 5 oz. and then cooking it would give you even less of the amount recommended on the chart.

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Liz March 22, 2011 at 11:44 pm

I purchased an electronic scale at Walmart (Biggest Loser brand) and it is a blessing. You put your plate on the scale and then turn it on. The scale subtracts out the weight of the plate/dish so as you add your meat … you know exactly how much cooked protein you are getting. Since I cook for two … there is always enough and I can combine leftovers if I have 2 oz of onen thing and 3 oz of another for the next meal. Pay attention to WHAT kind of protein you are having …. 7 oz of Tilapia -vs- 5 oz. pork loin etc. If you are hungry … fish is your best bet because there is so much volume for the weight! Good luck and if you stick to the program… you will lose! I have to take prednisone and I am diabetic – weight loss is a challenge … I’ve been on program since 2/7 and I’ve lost 24 lbs. It isn’t as much as I had hoped this early in the process – but it IS 24 lbs. less I am lugging around – don’t get discouraged!

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judyparker March 30, 2010 at 4:11 am

Mattie, I am really surprised you say you lost no weight in two months. I can't believe you were true to the program with that claim. I lost 15# my first and second months, and even my husband – who has never had a weight problem has made remarks to people about how great this program has been for me, and how quick the weight has come off. After 5 months I have lost 62.8 pounds and feel better than I have in 35 years. I am a Senior Citizen that does no exercise, BUT I have not cheated, and that makes a big difference. You can not cheat on this program and you MUST drink the water. I just feel you did not do what you needed to do to be successful on this program.

You should not bad mouth a good program for your failure. The program did not fail you, you just failed the program.

I wish you good luck on your next try at losing weight, but you will never lose no matter what plan you are on if you don't stick true to the plan.

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Doug Osburn July 7, 2010 at 5:16 am

I agree with you on this, Judy! There is absolutely NO WAY Mattie couldn’t lose weight if she was staying within the parameters of the program. If anything, the science of weight loss PROVES that drastically reduced caloric intake WILL cause weight loss. I’ve been on my MF plan since 6/5/10 and have lost 35 pounds so far! If you “cheat” while on program, you are only “cheating” yourself and ensuring your ultimate failure…

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Christopher July 7, 2010 at 11:32 am

Hey Doug! Thanks for the comment! 35 pounds in a little over a month is pretty amazing! I am just shooting for 20 pounds off by August 4th. I love hearing from people who are really kicking ass on Medifast. Congratulations!

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aks623 April 5, 2010 at 6:57 pm

This recipe sounds great ! This will be my second week on medifast and I love the diet. Easier than any other diet I have been on and we can eat food . First week 6.5 pounds and very excited. I look forward to trying this recipe . Thanks for posting it.

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jessica April 14, 2010 at 7:30 pm

hello… i was just wondering.. did you quit the diet? you havent posted anything new in quite a while. i look to your website for inspiration and ideas. i hope you didnt medifail!

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getskinnybehappy April 15, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Hey Jessica – I know that I have been totally slacking on the site. I finished off my last batch of Medifast and was off of the diet for about 3 weeks during which I pretty much stuck to Lean and Green. Now I am re-stocked and going for the final push. I decided to quit posting regular updates but I will definitely update when I get close to the finish line. I will be updating the site with other stuff, but I right now I feel like I need to reach my goal without feeling the need to blog about it. Glad you are still getting inspiration and ideas from the site. That's what it's here for!

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getskinnybehappy April 15, 2010 at 4:42 pm

I found this recipe in the official Medifast book, so I'm assuming that it's okay. You could be right. Based on my personal experience, this recipe works because I eat it all the time and am down about 60 pounds from when I originally started.

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sissy's mom April 26, 2011 at 7:32 am

I am new to Medifast , this is my fourth week on the plan, having trouble staying on track on the weekends, and with having the same things over and over and over again! I have been reading about the Medifast book, with receipes? I don’t have this book and where do you get it? all I got with my order was a brochure with the very small list of what you can have. I would appreciate the help. thanks,

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Christy April 27, 2010 at 1:21 pm

I can’t wait to try this. My husband’s a hunter so we’ve got a ton of ground venison in the freezer. I love the crunch of romaine – I think I may use a combination of that and green leaf.

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Christopher April 29, 2010 at 11:40 am

Romaine and Red Leaf would be a great combo. Thanks for your comment and thanks for reading!

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Q May 1, 2010 at 3:54 pm

Gonna try this but with soy grounds… Thanks!

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Kim June 12, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Sounds good! Love your measuring spoon you show in the photo. Where did you find it? Can one healthy fat also be added to this?

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CC June 18, 2010 at 12:42 pm

It looks like a pampered chef measuring spoon. I’m sure a healthy fat could be added.

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Christie July 9, 2010 at 4:14 pm

I just started Medifast yesterday and am already seeing and feeling results. This recipe is SO good! Thank you!

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Kelsey August 4, 2010 at 4:57 pm

I am on Day 4 of the program and tried this recipe on my first day, and it was great! I didn’t have any taco seasoning, so I just used a bit of cumin, garlic powder, and tobasco to season up the turkey a bit. It was great! I’ll definitely be doing it again. So far I’ve lost 5 lbs, and am excited to be making this life change. Happy to have found this website!!!

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Phoebe August 26, 2010 at 9:43 pm

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I just started medifast and I needed a variety of ways to make my lean and green interesting.

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DHM September 11, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Really like this recipe, especially since it’s easily adaptable for the rest of your family. You can stick with your lean and green and they can add chips, cheese and sour cream. Store-bought taco seasoning can get pricey if you make this often. I found a homemade taco seasoning recipe that’s much cheaper and tastes just as good.

Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix it all together and store any remaining taco seasoning in an airtight container.

I use up all of the seasoning because I use 1 pound of ground turkey for my family. First I toast the seasoning in a pan over medium-high heat for about 20-30 seconds, stirring constantly. Then I add about 1/4 cup of water to the seasoning (you’ll need to adjust the amount of water depending on how much seasoning and ground turkey you use), stir and let simmer for about 15-20 seconds. Then I add the ground turkey and break it up into the seasoning sauce, making sure the sauce mixes into the ground turkey, and cook until done.

The ground turkey is full of flavor and really good. Hope this helps someone!

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Barbara July 18, 2011 at 10:08 am

Sure does sound like a winner! Thanks for the post.

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Helen Esposito September 13, 2010 at 10:30 am

I have been on mdifast today is starting my 3rd week. i lost 11 lbs so far. I love to cook so i enjoy looking up rescipes and have made a few of them.

thanks

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Michelle September 19, 2010 at 3:37 pm

This was so good! I’m a vegetarian so I used veggie ground beef. I wanted to cut out the salt, so instead of taco seasoning, I used some cumin, chili powder, paprika, and pepper flakes. Also, I wanted to add sour cream, but didn’t want the extra calories, so I topped the whole thing off with a healing spoon of non-fat greek yogurt (no fat, low carbs and TONS of protein) it turned out fantastic! I fed it to some friends that were over and they didn’t even know it was healthy!

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Nancy81301 November 11, 2010 at 12:34 pm

Thanks so much for this recipe! I’m on day 2 and am only drinking the shakes and the lean and green. I have been completely smoke free now for 2 years and it’s time to get rid of the extra weight that I put on plus more! I look forward to checking back and hearing about more success stories and more recipes! Thanks for starting this!

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Kelly January 30, 2011 at 8:43 am

This is something I’ve been making before even starting medifast 4 weeks ago (22 lbs lost so far & 88 to go, so it’shard to fathom that OP didn’t lose any weight on this diet). I make it w/mock beef cuz hubbie is vegetarian. I will try with the turkey since I need variety. The allowance of salsa seems higher than what the instruction book says I can have though. I liked the suggestion of the greek yogurt but I thought we couldn’t have dairy. Anyway – thanks for posting this recipe I need some more variety.

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Jenny March 30, 2011 at 6:41 pm

Kelly,
Good luck to you on the program! I too have lost 20 lbs in my first month, with 80 to go. I don’t eat meat either and have been pretty much living on veggie burgers, cottage cheese and eggs so can’t wait to try this.

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kimeal May 4, 2011 at 7:53 am

Hey..I’m new to Medifast. in 4 days I’ve lost 6pds, really I just started losing weight because at first i was choosing the wrong foods…last night I ate ground LEAN turkey and spinach..i feel like i was eating the wrong ground turkey! i need to lose 60pd but at least 25pds by mid june..Iwant this so bad i cant afford any mistakes.. anyway veggie burgers sounds great.i know i cant go wrong with that ..I’m looking for good food ideas ;) Have any??

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joanne February 8, 2011 at 6:57 am

The Taco Salad is my favorite recipe. I have it at least twice a week. The recipe actually allows 7 1/2 oz. ground beef (raw) or turkey(95-97% fat free) and you are supposed to have 3/4 tsp. taco seasoning. You are probably going over in carbs using a tablespoon of taco seasoning. It is an awesome recipe and it has helped so much in my weight loss. I have lost 44.5 lbs in about three and a half months. That is also taking into account falling off the wagon a little during the holidays(no weight gain but no loss).

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kimeal May 4, 2011 at 8:05 am

Joanne
I would like to get food ideas from you as well if you don’t mind. 44pds in 3 months is great…

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Colleen February 11, 2011 at 7:14 pm

I have been on Medifast for a little over 2weeks and have lost 9 lbs. I am able to manage the Medifast food, but was getting so sick of dinner. I am a picky eater, and was eating chicken and vegetables every night ! I missed my weekly burger, and was sooo glad to have some lean beef in this great taco salad Thanks for your efforts in helping those of us who are not creative cooks! This is the first diet that has ever worked so quickly for me. I hope to lose 35 lbs. Good luck to everyone who is following this and developing a new way of eating and a healthier way of life.

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Lisa February 24, 2011 at 4:16 pm

I have done Medifast several times (gained weight back during unexpected pregnancy). I am just getting started on it again now that my baby is 2 1/2!! LOL! But this is a favorite that I do all the time. I fix mine and my husbands as a salad, and the kids love theirs in taco shells. Its great only cooking one dish for the whole family instead of individual meals!

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Sueso February 25, 2011 at 3:33 am

I’m sorry, I don’t have the time to read all the comments right now, but I just wanted to say DON’T GIVE UP! After about a month, I was SOOO ready to give up. ha I hated the food even tho I doctored it as much as I could! Now I know that variety is the spice of life and order the things you really like! I actually gained a pound one time and plateaued for a week. That just about killed me, but then I said to myself…my body is changing…it’s trying to fight it…next week will be a BIG loss….and it WAS! The biggest thing you HAVE to do, is write down EVERYTHING. I journal in a little 5×7 SPIRAL notebook. I can get 3 days on a page. I write down the full date and then 1. – 6. That’s it…Then I write down everything I put into my mouth…althou I gave up on writing down water….and tea which I drink mostly. Hope this helps!

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courtney March 17, 2011 at 6:44 pm

What I think of when weight loss slows is that even the people on Biggest Loser have little or even no weightloss. With all the work they do I can expect to have the same sometimes.

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Rosetylerr March 16, 2011 at 7:13 am

How do all deal with alcohol? I LOVE my wine and cocktails. But it literally ALTS the weight loss….I guess the best thing would be to stop drinking. If I go out with friends I usually get diet coke and whiskey. Don’t need much since you don’t eat much…lol. But I see a drastic SLOW even from ONE drink. =(

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Kelly March 16, 2011 at 9:10 am

Giving up alcohol has been hard – I like my cocktails too. But, I gave it up because losing weight became more important to me than drinking. I am nearing the 50 lb loss mark and have decided to allow myself one cheat meal and I will also let myself have a couple of cocktails with it. At that point I will be halfway to my goal. The counselor told me any alcohol, even low carb beer will interfere with weight loss so during this phase, until I transition into maintenance, I will not have any alcohol (except my 50 lb milestone reward). Just tell yourself, it’s not for forever.

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Susan May 23, 2011 at 9:01 am

I think if I was at your weight mark, I’d be faithful right up to the end… there is a time and place for everything and right now, the focus is on weight loss for me. This should be a concern that cheating even tempts.. it shouldn’t. Have you talked to your counselor about that?

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Kelly June 1, 2011 at 7:01 pm

I was just telling Rosetylerr about my personal experience with giving up alcohol since she posted about that issue and I felt similarly about it, and yes I did tell my counselor I wanted to cheat for one meal, she of course recommended I not cheat-well I did and lost 3 lbs that week still. I went on a four day cruise for my dd’s bday and cheated again with no weight gained but only .2 lost that week. Since my prior post I have lost an additional 25 lbs. I think I have done a pretty good job being faithful but I’m also not going to put my life on hold. Everyone’s weight loss journey is different but I’m proud of my progress- 70 lbs lost since Jan 3.

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Elaine June 12, 2011 at 10:01 pm

Kelly that is an awesome weight loss. I agree with you that we need to make the program fit into our life, which includes celebrating milestones, special events, etc. I began my journey six days ago and have lost 8 lbs. I was used to having a glass of wine or beer at dinner and sometimes a second glass if I wanted one. I don’t miss the alcohol at all but at the same time I know Aug. 13 when my son is performing at our outside musical event, I will have a beer (or two). I don’t see anything wrong with that. Good luck everyone…I’m lovin the program.

Nancy81301 March 17, 2011 at 9:31 am

I’ve plateaued for the past 3 weeks with not even a 10th of a pound loss. BUT within that 3 weeks I went from a size 12 to a size 10. Don’t get discouraged! I only drink the vanilla shakes and can switch them up by using coconut extract, orange extract, a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and sometimes I add a half of a small banana. The blender that is sold on the Medifast site is key! And, in addition to the lean and green I’ve been taking recipies off the Weight Watcher site. Each shake is only 2 WW points so I have plenty of points left over for my glass or TWO of wine. I just try to make sure I walk my entire 30 min. and maybe step it up to a faster pace. Just keep the faith that you CAN do this. We’re all here for you so just shout out if you need some encouragement!

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rosetylerr March 18, 2011 at 11:28 am

Thanks Nancy!
I stopped drinking so far and went from 191 to 187 in 3 days! I am still kinda hungry though. Probably PMS. =). I ate some very very small carrots, I know we are supposed to watch those, but they really help me with cravings.

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Robin March 29, 2011 at 1:16 pm

Trying this one tonight! 6 days down 6lbs gone!

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Emily April 4, 2011 at 4:21 pm

I just started Medifast today and made this as my first lean and green meal. I am still trying to follow all of the rules. I used 98% lean ground chicken breast therefore, I followed the guidelines for a “leanest” protein and had 7 ounces of meat and also added 2 healthy fats. It seems like an awful lot of taco seasoning. Most of the optional spices say 1/2 to 1 teaspoon each and this calls for a tablespoon.. taco seasoning is high in sodium.. how does this all affect the Medifast plan? I’m still trying to understand it all.. thanks! It was very good, though. I added some olives and some Italian dressing (with 2 g of carbs and 5 grams of fat) as my 2 healthy fats. Did i do this right?

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Shaysie April 6, 2011 at 9:26 am

Hi, I am 18 years old and this is my first week on MF, feels amazing but I just had the cappuccino for breakfast and almost choked on it. I was scared every meal for the next 4 weeks was going to be like this, until I found this site! Taco salad is by far one of my favorite meals in general, and being in college it works with the budget as well. I am SO thankful for all the recipies provided here and even more so that taco salad is included!
Any chance there’s a way to make the oatmeal edible?
Thank you!!

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connie munoz April 28, 2011 at 5:15 pm

there is an oatmeal pancake, which is delish, i am in puerta vallarta right now, will be home saturday send me personal email and i will send you recipe..the cappuccino, are you putting 3 tablespoons of water in and making sure all the lumps are out before you add the hot water, you so have to do that…and if you still dont like, put in a blender with some ice and 1 cup of water and make a frappe…i always add just a touch of cinnimon also..email me at munoz124@hotmail.com
connie

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Karen April 29, 2011 at 9:45 am

I do not like oatmeal, so I use the oatmeal to make muffins. Any flavor of oatmeal, 1/8 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 packet Splenda. Mix and it makes 2 regular sized cupcakes. Use cupcake papers. Bake at 350 for 16-17 minutes. It is a lot more dense than you would think of a muffin, but if you microwave it a few seconds to warm it up…it is pretty good. Two muffins is a meal. I make 2 packages at a time and make 4 muffins (for 2 days). Do not seal them up in a baggie as they will sweat. I understand you can keep them in frig for a day or so.

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connie munoz April 29, 2011 at 9:57 pm

so on the oatmeal muffins how much water do you add???

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Martha April 28, 2011 at 4:21 pm

This is my first day and I’m glad I found this site for my evening meal. My husband and I don’t eat meat, so I substituted Yves veggie meatless ground for the turkey and it was wonderful! Perhaps it’s because I have been eating this product for so long, but it tastes like a remember ground beef tasting :) and makes a really good Taco salad. Thank you for the idea!

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John July 10, 2011 at 4:21 pm

My wife made this for me today and it great.

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Jean July 20, 2011 at 12:24 am

When mixing the shakes, we use the Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender. We bought ours at Target for $15. Put the water, packet of shake mix and about 1/2 cup ice in. Blend it and then add a spoonful of Walden Farms Calorie Free Marshmallow Dip (we buy ours at Fred Meyer) and blend. It makes it nice and thick and tastes so good! I have loved every shake flavor so far. I have lost 19 lbs in 3 weeks and my husband has lost 19 lbs in 4 weeks and has been able to go off of his blood pressure and cholesterol medications because of his weight loss!

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houstonbrenda August 13, 2011 at 2:05 pm

tell me how you lost 19 lbs in 3 weeks, did you exercise or you just did not veer off program. I did veer off program but stress level super high these last 3 days back on today.

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Paula July 20, 2011 at 2:38 pm

It was good I guess. I couldn’t eat all of it and I really, really don’t like eating meat. It makes me sick to my stomach. But for now, I’m going to try.

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Cheryl October 5, 2011 at 9:10 am

OK, I’ve read everyones posts and I am really curious as to what is working for you people. I have been on the program since June 24th and have lost 35 pounds, now that’s great and all but I’m having a hard time getting a straight answer about why I don’t have energy like I should. I have a health coach but it seems like she’s in it for the $$, and doesn’t really help me except to parrot the book, and I can read just fine. I don’t veer off plan and I definetly drink my water everyday but recently I have stalled and even gained a pound back. It’s very frustrating to go backwards when I spend so much time and money to make sure I’m eating what I’m supposed to and measuring everything and then find out it’s not working because of something I’m doing(or not doing) but nobody can tell me what that is. I need feedback on this, if anyone has ANY tips please feel free to get back to me, I’m trying to not get frustrated but it’s not easy. I started at 210 and I am looking to get back down to 130 but I’m stalled at 175-176 – PLEASE HELP!!

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Miss Amy November 7, 2011 at 7:11 pm

Hi Cheryl, I realize that some time has passed since you posted on 10/5. I started the 5 & 1 plan in early June. I would suggest “starting over”. (meaning act like tomorrow is day 1 of the plan for you). re-read the info, and make sure you are following the guidelines. Personally speaking, when I am on a program for a long time I forget to do the very simple things. Measure the green as well as the lean. Keep track of your water intake. Make sure the MF meals are spaced apart correctly. Maybe you are exercising too much & adding lean muscle? Maybe the pounds aren’t coming off, but your clothes are getting looser? Try not to get discouraged. You are doing a great job. Keep plugging along & it will happen. Amy :)

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Claire October 22, 2011 at 10:27 pm

Thank you Thank you, Have been on for a month, lost 20 lbs. The plan works, this Taco salad is the flavor I’ve been looking for!

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Shan Clak October 30, 2011 at 1:46 pm

Thanks for posting this. I’m not much of a cook, and this. Is relatively easy. Will try soon!

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julie November 9, 2011 at 1:29 pm

To top it off i use the nacho cheese puffs on top for some crunch. I usually save a supplement so that i can do that.

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