Weekly Menu Aug. 26 to Sept. 1

Well I just could not keep up with a daily post ... so now I'm gonna try doing weekly. I will add pictures as I make the food. So last week I recieved Practical Paleo's new cookbook ... it is amazing!!! So this week I am gonna try a few of her recipes out ... my friend Stephanie at stephaniecowart.com is also gonna try some of the recipes out this week ... check out her blog for her weekly menu. Stephanie and I are also goingt o try a meal swap, since our families eat very similar).

Dinners
(PP= Practical Paleo)

Sun - Greek Meatball Salad (adapting the Eat Like a Dinosaur Cookbook recipe) topping it with Practical Paleo's Avo-Ziki dressing

Mon - PP's Stuffed Italian Peppers pg 300 and Summer Caprese Noodles pg 374

Tue - Meal Delivered from Stephanie

Wed - PP's Thanksgiving Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce pg 388, Roasted Carrots and Green Beans (Taking this meal to Stephanie's family)

Thurs - Leftovers or Eating out ... this is our first full day back at work and school ... its going to be a very long day ... Parent open house at my work and Parent Night at the boys school on top of a full day of meetings and getting ready for the new school year.

Fri - PP's Broiled Lemon and Rosemary Wild Salmon pg 306 and Roasted Brocc with almonds

Sat - Smoked Pork Shoulder with Civilized Caveman's BBQ sauce ... more to come here ... Some dessert and awesome sides ...

Lunch Options 

Tuna Salad with homemade mayo, green apple, celery, onion and walnuts
Turkey wraps
Leftovers

Breakfast Options 

Swirly Crustless Quiche PP pg 240

Baked Bacon
Sunbutter Banana Choc. Smoothie
Banana Almondbutter Muffins - for the boys

Whole 30 Day 7 ... Life is a day at the Park

Today started out great ... easy breakfast of uncured bacon, half an organic grapefruit and some iced organic ginge peach tea from trader joes. 

We then met up with some friends ... then it turned into lots of friends at the local park on Signal. The boys played and ran their little hearts out. We had a picnic lunch there for the kiddos. I snacked on some sunflower seeds but waited til I got home to eat. After getting the boys down for nap and being so inspired by my friend Stephanie Cowart from http://stephaniecowart.com/ (she posts some great meal ideas) !!! I decided to get out my new Coconut Pure Wraps http://www.sunfood.com/pure-wraps-the-original-4-wraps-1-98-oz-raw-alkaline-gluten-free.html and fill it with some goodies ... I found a carrot, quarter of an avocado, a cucumber Michael picked from the garden, turkey and some salsa verde from traderjoes ... it was amazing!

Dinner will be easy since we just got back fom a quick trip to Athens, GA ... I am making some pork chops from Sequatchie Cove Farm ... their meat is amazing. I will also saute some broccoli from Signal Mountain Farms (I bought in bulk and blanched some earlier in the summer) ... more than likely I will make some rice or couscous for the boys!

All in All a great day back home ... now off to clean and unpack ... oh and the dreaded laundry!

Whole 30 Day 6 (The Baptism)

Day Six … wow … this is the day that the Lord has made and he is so good to us! Today has been very very difficult for me. First off last night after the kids went to bed I wanted a snack … I want chips or Pirates Booty! But did I do it … no way! I looked forward to breakfast. … Then we realized the hotel did not have continental breakfast so my sweet husband went to the Bistro in the hotel lobby and brought back FRENCH TOAST cover in powdered sugar and syrup. Disclaimer: I know this post is not going to reflect well on him and I would never post something bad about my one true love but others maybe in the same boat and I want to give HOPE. We then hurried and got ready and off to church we went for sweet Margaret’s baptism. The boys did great and had fun in Sunday School. After the service we went to Mr. and Mrs. Garrard’s house (Henry’s Parents) and had a wonderful time. It was a brunch so the spread was typical: Mini Ham Biscuits, Cheesy Grits, Sausage and Egg Bake (with white bread), 4 types of muffins and fruit salad. So I made the plates for the boys and made a plate of fruit salad and a small portion of ham for myself. After the brunch I hit Trader Joes to grab some great deals while Michael filled up the car and ran to grab some food for us (or so I thought). I came to the car and asked what he got me and he said “oh I didn’t get you anything, I thought you would get yourself something in there”.  What we have here is a problem with communication. In the car I said, “ I am so starving, Are you? Okay then run through somewhere and grab food while I shop.”  So here we are in the car for the next 3 ½ hours (if we are lucky) and all I can think of is bacon and eggs … I just want some meat, some protien!

So here is my HOPE for you (and for myself) … it’s not that big of a deal. Hunger is good … I am strong and determined to be healthy and I am not willing to settle because of a thing like hunger. I know I can eat in 3 ½ hours … it’s not forever. I am so proud of myself for not stuffing my face with the muffin to my left or the cheesy corn puffs to my right (traveling with kids = lots of snacks flying around the car).

Here’s my menu for today:

Breakfast: ½ larabar

Lunch: fruit salad and tiny bit of ham

Dinner: Cobb Salad from Taco Mamacita with my good friend Amber N.  … loaded with PROTIEN … I deserve it J

I get the Cobb salad without Blue Cheese and Chips ... and vinegar and oil fro the dressing!!! YUM 

I hope if you are reading this and you ever find yourself in a situation where it feels like no one is thinking of you and supporting you on your quest to find balance with food … remember you can push through, there is always time to eat later, make the most of your time (I spent most of the brunch taking pictures ... You'll see ... And these are only a few ...) 

The Big Kid Table  

The Spread ... The Fruit Salad was amazing!  

Proud Daddy and Miss Margaret  

 Like Father Like Son 

 GiGi and MVG

 Again ... Will and Toys 

Chit Chat  

 Matthew found some power tools 

 I have to get some girl toys ... My boys love the tea set

Our Crazy Crew 

 Papa J, GiGi, Meghan, Margaret and Henry

 Matthew made some new friends

 Will helping his Mommy 

Matthew was so excited about the books we got Margaret! 

Whole 30 Day 5

TRAVELING ... all the way to Athens, GA. We left around 10 am. Before leaving we finished up the garden fittatas, sausages and braised cabbage.

Picture taken the first morning ... 

We made great time and got just outside Atlanta to stop for lunch at our favorite place ... Chic fil A. Here are my reasons for loving this fast food chain ... 1- Grilled Nuggets 2- Fruit Pouches 3- Clean Playgrounds 4 - Placemat covers for the table 5 - Books in kids meal 6 - Great service ... those are just my reasons for the kids ... I guess that will do! So for lunch I got the Grilled Chicken and Fruit Salad ... I gave Issac my shredded cheese and strawberries , Matthew got all the other fruit ... while I enjoyed my veggies and chicken. When we arrived at the hotel the boys were not in the mood for a nap so we decided to jump in the pool for some fun. Then we heading over to The Garrard's house ... for a fun evening of playing, grilling and laughing. Oh and my first time hold sweet baby Margaret ... what a princess! Dinner was amazing ... Grilled Chicken Kabobs, Spring Mix Salad and Fresh Fruit. I enjoyed my meal and washed it down with fresh lemon water.

 Issac loved seeing the bouncer .... He even tried to squeeze himself into it ... it didn't work out so well! 

 GiGi, Margaret and Henry Thomas

 Will and His toys! 

 Matthew found a football helmet and fell in love! 

Michael chillin out!  

 Me and Baby Margaret ... Issac was not so sure about Michael and I holding her ...

Issac reading to Jasper through the window ...

Whole 30 Day 4

Today is a day of running errands, looking at rent properties and finding a gift for baby Margret's baptism. I found too cute books at Learning Express as well as scoring a MOM Agenda for myself and getting 20% off ... Now that we are home and the kids have been fed and down for a nap. I am off to packing for this weekend. I am so excited to be wearing my new skirt from Matilda Jane I got from the Platinum  Sale ... & $25 and pairing it with a tank I got from Old Navy for 47 cents ... total cost = 25.47 ... crazy goodness!

Again today is a day of leftovers:

Breakfast: 1/2 Sweet Potato Sausage and Garden Frittata
Snack: Cashew Larabar
Lunch:  Curry Chicken Salad on Chopped Romaine and slice grapes
Dinner: Green Beans and Beef Enchiladas

Whole 30 Day 3

Today has been another great day! I think the key for me is being prepared and planning. Stress for me leads to mindless eating. SO again repeat breakfast of Sweet Potato and Sausage Patties and Garden Frittata from Day 2. We went to our friends The Flennikens to play and have lunch. I packed the boys a mix of goodies and for myself I had leftover Curry Chicken Salad in Romaine and some carrot sticks.

Curry Chicken Salad

2 cans of chicken in water (mine is from Costco)
6-8 green onions (chopped)
1/2 c. slivered almonds (unsalted)
1/2 to 1 c. homemade mayo
curry powder to taste
dried parsley

Mix and taste ... add more love until its good ... Serve in Romaine or Pure Wraps


For Dinner I was in the mood for some experimenting with flavors ...

Thai Basil Coconut Shrimp over Red Cabbage "Noodles"

1 can of light coconut milk (trader joes)
1 T minced garlic
1/2 T butter (Kerrygold, grassfed butter or ghee)
lots of basil with stems
sea salt and pepper
pinch of red pepper flakes
1 lime
1 t. fish sauce

1 lb shrimp (mine were pre cooked ... a freebie from Earthfare)
1/2 c. whole raw cashews (toasted and chopped)

In large sauce pan add coconut milk, garlic, butter, salt and pepper, juice of a lime and fish sauce. Take leaves off basil and put stems in sauce (Remember how many and remove before adding shrimp). Chop the basil leaves and put in sauce. Bring to a boil and turn off. Add shrimp and just heat.

1 small head of red or green cabbage
1 T butter (Kerrygold)
1 T garlic, minced
1/2 c chicken broth (homemade ... never throw a chicken bone out)
2 T tamari (gluten free soy sauce)

In a dutch oven heat butter and garlic. Core and Shred cabbage. Saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and tamari. Cover and reduce heat. Let simmer for 15 min.

Serve with fresh basil and toasted cashews.

Whole 30 Day 2

This morning started off with a bang. Last night I made Sweet Potato and Sausage Patties and a Frittata with kale, swiss chard, tomatoes, olives and bacon. I knew we had to run errands today so I needed a big breakfast and a small lunch. Lunch was easy apple slices (thanks to my friend Amber who did a Costco run) and leftover chicken soup. Tonight we are going Mexican ... Beef Enchiladas in Coconut Tortillas with Homemade Sauce and Roasted Veggies (Zucc, Mushrooms and Onions)


Sweet Potato and Sausage Patties

1 large sweet potato (shredded and peeled)
1 lb. ground pork sausage (mine came pre salted)
salt and pepper
Ground Sage
Allspice
Oregano
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder

Mix together with hands and form into 9 patties.
Pan fry 6 min per side in some coconut oil.

Based off of this recipe https://www.againfaster.com/en/blog/2012/04/25/sweet-potato-apple-sausage-breakfast-patties/


Garden Frittata

10 eggs beaten with salt and pepper

1/4 lb uncured bacon
2 c. chopped kale
2 c. chopped swiss chard

1/2 can black olives sliced
1/2 can diced tomatoes (drained)

Pre heat oven to 350. Grease 9x13. Cook bacon and remove from pan. In bacon grease cook greens and add in olives and tomatoes. Layer in greased pan. Chop bacon and layer on top of greens. Pour egg mixture over veggies. Bake 20 min. (Serve with fresh chopped basil)



Enchilada Sauce

1 1/4 c. homemade chicken stock
1 6 oz can organic tomato paste
1 t. pink sea salt
pepper to taste
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. allspice
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. ground coriander seed
1/4 t. onion powder
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. chipotle chile powder

Mix and heat in sauce pan. Bring to a boil and whisk to combine.

Based off of this recipe http://wholefamilystrong.com/2012/01/22/whole-mexican-family-enchiladas/

I used the recipe for the tortillas from http://www.againstallgrain.com/2011/05/04/grain-free-tortillas/... I did use chicken broth instead of almond milk and it worked great!

Whole 30 Day 1

Day One 

Breakfast : Watermelon and Water

Lunch : Romaine topped with Curry Chicken Salad and Leftover Braised Cabbage and Carrots 

Lemon, Ginger and Mint Water  

Dinner : Leftover Skirt Steak on Romaine and Fresh Green Beans from the Signal Mt Farm 

Whole 30 Goals

So my friend Stephanie and I did the 21 day detox and had great results. After doing the detox I have continued eating a Paleo lifestyle ... including Paleo treats. I have maintained my weight, which is different from any other detox or diet, but have not lost since the detox. Stephanie introduced me to the idea of doing the Whole 30. New concepts like no scale and earlier to bed. So I set a timer on my phone for bedtime and asked Michael to hid the scale ... and started working on my Whole 9 goals (they advise picking some that will work for you) Here are the 5 goals I made:

Nutrition - No cheats
Sleep - I will go to bed at 10:30 pm.
Stress - I will take an epsom salt bath 1 a week.
Exercise - I will work out 3 times a week.
Personal Growth - Blog