A HEALTHY FOOD adventure! Trim Healthy Mama style

So I've decided to try something.  In my younger years, I could eat all I wanted and maintain a healthy weight and energy level.  But things have changed.  I've tried several different options but none have worked well for me or been manageable long term.  Several friends of mine have found great success with Trim Healthy Mama.  So I got the book.  And Trim Healthy Table and next week is my first week "on plan."

One of the things I like about this plan is that, apart from sugar and white flour, nothing is really forbidden.  And there are substitutions for sugar and white flour that I can use.  The main idea of the plan is that you separate fuels (healthy carbs and fat) and anchor both with good protein.  So I spent a large part of yesterday afternoon creating next weeks menu and grocery list- I am looking forward to that going much faster soon.  And I want to be able to easily find this one to use it again (no need to reinvent the wheel every single week)  So here we go.

Breakfast:
Big Bowl Egg Scram (THT 331) -S
Big Bowl Cinnamon Oatmeal (THT 354) -E
Cream of Treat ( THT 353) -S
Pint Jar Oats (THT 343) -E (makes 3 servings)
Cinnamon Pecan Bake Pancake (THT 338) - S

LUNCH:
I will have either veggies or a salad with my lunch each day.  I am going to instant pot a turkey breast at the start of the week because I don't like turkey lunchmeat and use that for sandwiches/protein.
Sprouted Bread Sandwich  (E) (2 days at least) -freshy bowl (leftovers) (FP)  Apple (E)
Tuna Pepper Poppers (THT 313) - S
finger food lunch (for packing for a day out) Turkey, cheese, S veggies, Dark choc pieces
leftovers to fill in any extra days

SUPPER
- Barbacoa Beef (THT 108) -S
Freshy Bowl (THT 265) -FP  (leftover of this will help with lunches)
With taco salad toppings....kids will get chips/wraps

-Taco Cornbread Bake (THT 139) - S
salad

- Save my Sanity Chili (THT 81) - E

- grilled burgers (toppings- buns for kids) -S
Amish Broccoli Salad (THT 271) - S

Hubby Loving Chicken (THT 218) - S
Killer Green Beans (THT 261) - S

-Tuscan Cream Chicken - (THT 72) - S
kids will get noodles.  I'll have a salad or leftover veggies.

-Salad Bar Night (I think this will become our sunday night event- perhaps rotating with soup night.  Its fast and easy and well liked and it gives me a chance to prep salad veggies for the whole week).

Snack/Sipper?Other
- Reeses pieces shake (pinterest)
- Raspberry GGMS
-Dump Ranch Dressing/dip -S (to go on salads or veggies with an S meal


Now I don't expect my kids to follow this plan through breakfast and lunch....so I'm buying them some WAY off plan options. I may try to slide them into some plan options as I get more experience and learn....So there's that.  :)

Now on to the grocery list.  There are several things I consider staples and won't be found on this list....onions, garlic, spices, baking powder, etc etc etc.  So use it to start but check recipes and add what you need.  :)

Produce:
spinach-2
mushrooms (for my salads/egg bowl)
cherry tomatoes
rainbow peppers
ginger
garlic
mini peppers
lettuce 2
tomatoes (roma)
broccoli-2
cucumber (salad)
avocado

Canned:
tuna
tomato sauce
diced tomatoes 2
rotel
pinto beans - 2
great northern beans 2
applesauce (UNsweetened)
sun dried tomatoes

Packaged:
Pyure
Nutritional Yeast
coconut flour
golden flax meal
pecans
xanthum gum

Dairy:
almond milk
egg whites
cheddar cheese
skim milk (for making yogurt)
eggs - 2
heavy cream
1% cottage cheese

Frozen:
Raspberries

Fish/Meat:
turkey breast
bacon
chicken legs
chicken breast

Other:
85% cacao chocolate bar

Freezer Prep Cooking with Friends - part 2- The Plan!

So a quick recap.....

I found 4 friends who want to prep with me (still working on a name).  And determined nobody had any food allergies and were pretty much game for trying new things.  (YAY!)  Then I got to searching.  Seriously, LOTS of recipes!  LOTS!

Reviewing what we will prep this time....recipes can be found here

Italian Sausage
Gumbo
Bean Enchiladas
Taco chili
nacho chicken
cowboy beef n beans
chili dogs
chicken lickin
veggie chili
bean and potato soup
german potato soup


Here is my grocery list.  I also did a cost analysis using prices from Aldi and Walmart (so I could give the other moms an accurate estimate of cost).  That is going to be different depending on where you live so I took that part out for this doc  Across the top are the meals we prepped for.  Down the sides are all the ingredients we would have to buy.  I did not include spices as I keep those in bulk in my kitchen.  This doc gives the ingredients for ONE family.  So I multiplied everything by 5 at the store.  :)  If you are shopping for multiple families don't forget to check bulk options and compare price per unit.  It was cheaper per unit to buy a BIG can (like 7 lbs I think) of baked beans but the tomato sauce was cheaper per unit in little 8 oz cans.  Do not try to apply logic while in walmart....it is futile.

 I've been working on the plan since about Thanksgiving to find recipes that offered variety and options and stayed at my goal price point. After doing the shopping this weekend, my time and work paid off and I stayed RIGHT on budget.  Each family will spend $55 total or $5 per meal which is at or less than $1/serving.  Several of the meals are complete.  A few do have some basics that will be needed for serving.

Here is the list of spices needed for all of these recipes....

salt
pepper
parsley
bay leaf
nutmeg
caraway seeds (we are likely leaving this out)
dried minced onion
cumin
oregano
thyme
cloves
chili powder
paprika
ground ginger
garlic salt
red pepper flakes
onion powder
garlic powder
cajun seasoning
cayenne

Two Week Menu Sept 15

I am in a group on facebook where we talk about wellness and health goals.  Menu planning has recently come up and someone asked me to share my 2 week menu.  So that's what I'm doing.

I use these to plan.  I like the horizontal 2 week planner but there are lots to chose from.  I have the master so I can type in my plan and save and then theoretically reuse that menu later.

So here is my menu for the next 2 weeks.  I schedule these by day so that the crock pot meals are on days that I'm busy and don't have time to prep supper, fast meals on days that we have plans in the evenings.  And my lunches make use of leftovers before they go bad.  ;)  I think the only way to do this nicely on here though is to just make a list of meals....so here goes.

Breakfast
eggs your way
brownie batter oatmeal
banana splits (banana, plain yogurt, melted peanut butter, and honey)
muffins
huevos rancheros tacos (or make your own breakfast cause mommy wants to try something new)
oatmeal your way
cinnamon rolls
english muffins
oatmeal (we like this one and it is apple season)
egg and toast
coffee cake
biscuits
crock pot breakfast (another new one)

Lunches
chicken wraps
flat bread pizzas (I use this bread recipe and add pizza sauce and cheese after flipping the first time)
Quessadillas
fruity lunch (cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, veggies and dip)
grilled sandwiches and soup
picnic lunch
mexican sushi (another new one)
hot dogs & mac n cheese
homemade spaghettios (M will have pb & j I'm sure)

Supper
whole chicken in the crock pot, veggie, potatoes
shepherds pie
salad bar
fish, rice pilaf, veggies
crock pot turkey fajitas
minestrone, artisan bread
tuna burgers, veggies and dip
meatloaf, potatoes, green beans
pizza
biscuits n gravy
tacos
sloppy joes, slaw fries.


Ok, so there it is.  For better or worse.  :)  I wish I could make it look pretty in a table.  That really bugs me.  Grrrrrr.

This weeks Menu!

In case someone has been living under a rock and not had any access to a calendar or any other human being....this is Thanksgiving week.  We have so many things to be thankful for and one of them is a huge huge meal cooked by my mom on Thursday.  With that in mind, I tried to plan simple (and kinda light for the most part) for the days leading up to Thanksgiving.  My sister says that this does not give me a pass for thanksgiving but I decided it can't hurt.  Without further ado...

Sunday
B-cereal
L- chicken strips
S- minestrone

Monday-
B- Cream of Wheat
L- sandwiches (leftover soup)
D- corn dogs, baked beans

Tuesday
B - ???
L - leftover corn dogs, chips
D- baked fish, rice pilaf

Wednesday
B- oatmeal
L- sandwiches
S- chef salad

Thursday-
B- ????
L- Thanksgiving Dinner
D- snacks (or pie if I'm being totally honest)

Friday
B- pancakes (I always wake up really hungry when I overeat the day before)
L- hot dogs, chips, fruit
D- pizza

Saturday
B-  ????
L- grilled cheese with tomato soup
D- shepherds pie

So there we go.  We'll see how well we stick to this one.  It's hard to tell.

This Weeks Menu!

So this menu was challenging.  Why?  Because I am completely and totally out of flour after tonight's supper.  Since I also do not buy bread and very few bread products, choices are limited.  I should be able to go to Beachy's and get flour early next week.  Until then, we've got to be a little creative.  Creativity isn't a bad thing.  It means I will use up things that need to be used up and will be able to start with a "clean" slate in the pantry and fridge...theoretically.   So, this is what we're eating this week.

Breakfast
Sun- coffee cake
Mon-biscuits n gravy
Tues- Fruit & yogurt
Wed- oatmeal
Thurs-banana bread (that I baked last week and put in the freezer)
Fri- cereal
Sat-  Baked oatmeal

Lunch
hotdogs
leftover pizza
egg & biscuit sandwich
leftover tacos
fruity lunch
the rest I will play by ear....aka I have no ideas 

Supper
Sun- birthday pizza and cake
Mon- fish and fries
Tues- tacos
Wed - Thanksgiving dinner at awana
Thurs - beef stew
Fri- chef salad
Sat- chili

Menu

So I am running late this week.  I am running late on everything.  Menu plans, lesson plans, the house is a mess, laundry is piled up.  But today I am going to get stuff done liked I had planned it (although I've not) and I am going to get everything else figured out. 

So here is our menu plan.  For lunch and dinner we are "playing it by ear" this week.   And suppers are scratched down in pencil.

Last night, we had eggs and toast before trick or treating.

The rest of the week looks like this.

beef stew
eat at AWANA
meatloaf, sweet potatoes, corn
tacos

I have not gotten to the weekend yet.  I'm sure we'll eat.  :)

Menu

Planning a menu for this week was really hard...why?  Because of the 5 weeknights we will be home just one of them.  You would think this would make it easier....but some of those nights we still have to eat at home but it must be quick.  I also depend on leftovers a lot to make lunch and when we don't eat at home...there aren't any leftovers to use. So this is what I've come up with for this week...I'm betting it will change.

Breakfast
peanut butter muffins (taken from the freezer and thawed)
Hearty Oatmeal Pancakes (new recipe)
Oatmeal
Bagels
Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake
????

Lunch
leftover pizza
sub sandwiches
egg, ham, n cheese bagel sandwich
????

Supper
tuna casserole
Pasta e Fagioli with Italian Parmesan Bread
Meatball subs
Roast with sweet potatoes
We eat at AWANA each wednesday night. 
And we will be eating out twice this week. sigh

As you can see there are a lot of question marks and fly by the seat of my pants days this week.  It will just have to be that way.  We won't go hungry...I don't think.  :)  The pantry is full.  I just don't feel like I have enough of the weeks schedule to plan ahead very well. 

Menu

My first menu in a loooooong time and the first one that feels like fall food.  YEAH and YUM!

Breakfasts:
cereal
peanut butter muffins
banana splits
bagels
fruity baked oatmeal
hearty oatmeal pancakes
blueberry streusel coffee cake

Lunch:
Burgers
tuna burgers
sub sandwiches
hot dogs
bagel, egg, & cheese sandwiches
picnic (sandwiches, chips, fruit)

Suppers:
popcorn & snacks
Minestrone with baguettes
fried fish, sweet potato salad
coleslaw
Mexican Shepherds Pie
Beef Stew
Pizza

Several of the breakfast meals for this week are new recipes.  Looking forward to trying them and seeing how the family likes them.  I'll let you know.  The sweet potato salad is also new.  But the kids all like sweet potatoes better than regular potatoes so it's worth a shot.  Also we don't often have popcorn and snacks for supper but that day we are having the boys birthday party in the late afternoon and I don't anticipate anyone will be incredibly hungry after eating birthday cake.  :)

Menu Monday

So, I know it is Tuesday.  I  had this done late last week but never got it online.  Then I had a headache all day yesterday.  Better late than never I guess.  And since it is already a day late (and a dollar short??) I am not going to say anything else about it.  Here it is.

Breakfast:
banana split
oatmeal
toast
english muffins
muffins
coffee cake


Lunch:
sandwiches
leftover pizza
fruity lunch
leftover enchiladas or Nachos
pseudo "egg mcmuffins"


Dinner:
pizza
BLTs
crock pot enchiladas (new recipe)
chicken, rice a roni, cooked carrots
fried fish, corn, fries
baltimore hash (new recipe)


As it turns out, already by Tuesday, these meals won't all work.  We are going to a friend's home for dinner 2 nights this week...so I will use those meals for next week.  A menu plan is so helpful as long as you are FLEXIBLE!  Flexible has been very important the last few weeks. 

Menu Monday August 1

So, I really didn't feel like doing a menu for this week.  The house feels very empty of food and I am not gorcery shopping till Thursday.  I kinda felt like we would just scavenge.  We are also very busy this week...I am babysitting a couple days (not during a meal time), I think I am going to have some tomatoes to can, we are picking sweet corn Monday afternoon and I am freezing it on Tuesday, the kids are going to a VBS Wednesday-Friday.  And I will not be home the whole day on Saturday.  So making a menu just felt even more overwhelming.  Then I thought about it and this is the EXACT kind of week where having meals planned out (and thawing meat from the freezer ahead of time) my just be my link to sanity.   So in the interest of maintaining sanity, I printed off my planning form and went to work.

Breakfasts:
toast, muffins, oatmeal, banana splits, cereal, and ??

Lunches:
chicken strips (on sale this week), cheese & sausage crackers, leftovers, sandwiches, quesadillas, sandwiches (again!)

Supper:
eggs & toast
Crock Pot pulled BBQ, corn on the cob, pea salad
Black Bean Burgers (recipe to come), corn on the cob
beef stew (crock pot)
grill out burgers & hot dogs, more deviled eggs, salad
frozen pizzas

As I look at this, the menu is kinda "burger heavy" but they will all be slightly different and we like them.  Plus, they are easy, fast and it is nice to cook outside when it is this hot outside.  That's my story and I'm stickin to it.  :) 

And Coming soon-- Look out for another sandwich inspired recipe...this one in a nice little muffin form.  The kids devoured them and I put a few away myself without much difficulty.  :)

Menu Monday July 17-23

I had a little trouble making this week's menu.  But I got it done and here it is.


Today is done but I'll include it anyway...it was a weird day.  The kids had cereal for breakfast (Frosted wheat), then we had a weenie roast at the pond (hot dogs, chips, and more marshmallows than any group of people should eat in one day).  Since we totally stuffed our faces for the lunch the kids and I had popcorn and a sandwich for supper.  Now for the rest of the week...

Breakfast:
oatmeal
bagels
breakfast banana split
muffins
more oatmeal (see previous post on making oatmeal more interesting)
donuts

Lunch:
sandwiches
taco cups
egg & bagel sandwiches
summer sausage lunch with veggies and homemade hummus
leftovers

Supper:
tacos with black beans, rice, lettuce, cheese, salsa, & sour cream
sandwiches (picnicking at the park)
salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans
grilled pizza
eggs & toast (made by the Knight)
Baltimore Hash


Again, we are planning to try a few new recipes...salisbury steak, Baltimore Hash, and homemade hummus.  One thing I did last week is I planned way too many meals and didn't leave enough "blank spots" for leftovers.  I only left one spot for leftovers officially but I also worked to plan leftovers into the week...taco cups are made with leftovers from taco night without just eating reheated tacos. 

Someday maybe I'll have photos to go along with my menus...if the family will wait long enough for me to take pictures.  :)

Menu Monday July 11

Ok I'm gonna try this.  I've been doing menus pretty steadily all summer and they are really working...so this is what we're eating this week.

Breakfast:

• breakfast banana split
• baked oatmeal
• bagels (but I have to can green beans so I'm not sure when I'm going to get those made)
• muffins
• cereal
• Grandma's oatmeal

Lunch

• grilled cheese with creamy tomato soup
• turkey wraps
• "fruity lunch" with hummus dip
• bagel bacon egg sandwiches (maybe)
• leftovers
• sandwiches

Supper

• grilled chicken with spicy corn & black bean salsa
• fried fish & cole slaw
• brats with fried tators n onions
• Little tweezers pizza (King is cooking one night)  (oh this is closely related to Little Ceasars)
• pancakes
• hot dogs 

When I made this menu, I was fed up with eating the same things over and over again - tacos, pizza, meatloaf, ad nauseum.  The family may very easily turn their noses up or even say "Yuck" when I put some of these things on the table (Turkey wraps and spicy corn & black bean salsa, I am worried for you...I think I will love you though).  Many things are new.  I don't often try this many new things in one week...but I've tried to pair all the new things with things they will all like.  So they won't starve!   We also have all the "fixin's" for a big salad anytime- lettuce, cheese, carrots, peppers, black olives, green olives, croutons, those little crunchy noodles, hard boiled eggs, etc etc.  And they all love salad...except for the Page, he tolerates them.