Menu plan, Week of February 20-February 26
Hey y’all!!! I’m not sure I’ll still be allowed to use that word in Florida, so I’m trying to make the most of it right now. Although, I guess Florida IS a southern state, so maybe “y’all” will help me to fit right in.
I am seriously nearing panic mode as we are getting ready for this ridiculously huge move. Do you know how crazy it is to move six people halfway across the country, to a place where you hardly know anyone? It’s CRAZY-crazy. There are so many details to tend to that I think they just might push me over the edge.
All right, hey now. No jokes about how I went over the edge a long time ago. That’s our little secret.
Anyway, you would think that all the stuff I have to do to get ready for the move in the next couple of months would mean that I would be trying some simple meals. But honestly, almost all of my meals this week, for dinners at least, are completely new-to-me recipes. I love it that way because cooking is my stress reliever and creative outlet. So rather than making my life more complicated, it’s actually very calming to me to be able to create a good, healthy meal from scratch and serve my family in that way. I LOVE it! Now, if I could just get someone to clean in the wake of mess I inevitably leave behind, I’d be golden.
So, I hope you enjoy my new recipes. They are mainly from recipes I have found through Pinterest (you are following me on there, right???), and I have linked to the original source when possible. Enjoy!
Monday:
- Breakfast: steel-cut oatmeal (I’ve been playing around with this. We normally sweeten it with brown sugar but I am trying to find ways to make it without sugar and it still be something I will eat. My kids like it pretty much any way I make it. It’s me who can’t stomach it unsweetened!)
- Lunch: Homemade egg McMuffins (on 100% whole wheat English muffins), fruit, greek yogurt
- Dinner: Maple and Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin, baked sweet potatoes, salad
Tuesday:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, green smoothies
- Lunch: grilled cheese, fruit, sliced carrots
- Dinner: Stuffed Cabbage casserole, salad
Wednesday:
- Breakfast: Healthy, Hearty, Whole Grain and Nut Pancakes (with pureed pumpkin add-in)
- Snack: almonds, green smoothies
- Dinner: Leftover from Monday’s dinner (My Wednesday evening Bible Study is back in session so I try to plan leftovers or crock pot meals that I can get ready early in the day so we can eat and get out the door in time for our evening activities)
Thursday:
- Breakfast: homemade granola with milk/yogurt (I don’t eat the granola-while it is homemade and made with quality ingredients, it still has plenty of brown sugar and calories in it. I like to try to keep my breakfast calories to 300-400 calories total so I usually make up some eggs over medium or a quick omelet when the kids have this)
- Lunch: Slim bagels spread with goat cheese and homemade jam, green smoothies
- Dinner: Cilantro Lime Tilapia Tacos (I’ll use Pollock instead of Tilapia since it’s what I have on hand), Super Salad
Friday:
- Breakfast: Homemade granola with milk or yogurt
- Lunch: Zucchini boats, cottage cheese, fruit
- Dinner: Pizza night!
Saturday:
- Breakfast: Green Monster Muffins
- Lunch: Quesadillas, green smoothies, kale chips
- Dinner: Limehouse chicken (not a new recipe, but SO good-seriously, you’ve gotta try it!), baked butternut squash, steamed asparagus
Sunday:
- Breakfast: Crockpot Apple Oatmeal (So excited to try this. I like to have breakfast ready to go on Sunday mornings to try to cut down on the Sunday-morning-rush-around-getting-four-kids-ready-for-church madness. I bet my house will smell divine when we wake up on Sunday too!)
- Lunch: Lunch out
- Dinner: Leftovers (I try to make Sunday a true day of rest, so leftovers are an easy option for dinner. We usually have enough from various meals throughout the week to piece together a hodge-podge of goodies that together make a complete meal.)
Snacks:
This is a new feature I am wanting to add so I can have a better plan for easy grab-and-go snacks. I don’t buy processed snacks like chips, cookies, crackers or fruit snacks. But I have to admit, those things are nice for convenience sake when we are in a hurry or when the kids are hungry and I’m otherwise occupied. I also like to keep a few of these types of things on hand in my diaper bag in case of a hunger emergency.
- Granola Energy Balls
- Five Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Baked Apple Rings (Slice apples, sprinkle with cinnamon, bake)
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad (I admit, this is not the healthiest recipe. I will try and tweak it to cut down on the sugar content. My daughter saw the picture and really wanted to try it.)
- Kale Chips
What’s on your menu this week?
I am joining the Menu-Plan Monday link-up at Orgjunkie.com this week. Head on over to get some more great inspiration for your meal-time madness.
And as always, I am happy to post recipes for anything I have not already linked to, just let me know in the comments!
The Chick
Hey there! First, I know you have posted it, but where in FL? I am in Orlando, so that would be cool if you were close. Second… I love, love, love the idea of Green Monster Muffins! I love my green monsters, so that just seems natural to me. Guess what I will be making this week. =)
We will be in the St. Petersburg area. That’s where my hubby’s job is, he’s living in Clearwater and we are looking at the Parrish/Bradenton areas for when we are able to purchase a home. Not too far from Orlando!
You will love it! It is one of my favorite places to visit. And, nope, not too far at all. With all the little kiddies, you will never be at a loss of acitvities to do with them. Hope you get your house sold soon, I know it is pretty difficult being separated from your husband, but I am a firm believer that everything happens when it is supposed to happen, not when we want it to happen.
We are seriously SO excited Diana! Are you orginally from FL? We plan on getting Disney passes and visiting as often as we can. We have friends who are in that area as well (Windemere) so I am sure we will be visiting often!
I am originally from Reno, NV and moved here in 2005. I love it here although I am still getting used to the humidity. Not only is Disney fun, but I am sure the kids will like Universal Studios and Sea World as well. I live within 10 minutes of Univeral and next week I will be across the street from Sea World. (we are in the process of moving)
Wishing you a smooth move!
Thank you!
do you just put the cheese, tomato, and basil on top of a cut zucchini or do you hollow them a bit?? those look right up my alley as a veg-lover and an italian!
Yep, I just put them right on top! They are yummy!
I wanted to add that I make them on the grill pan for my oven, that way the zucchini kind of sits down in those grooves where the holes are and they don’t fall over. Hope that helps!
I’ve been making steel cut oats with a little peanut butter and banana slices added in, with a little flax sprinkled on top. So good!
The banana is a great idea-since they are super sweet, I bet they would do the trick! Thanks for the idea!
Please try your oatmeal my favorite way:
1. I make oatmeal with milk (added protein).
2. Divide into the bowls and sprinkle with salt. (This is where I add fruit, usually bananas.)
3. THEN……drizzle Smuckers sugar-free syrup on top! Sooo good.
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