Whole30 Week 1: Jan2-Jan6

I've completed my first week of my Whole30.

 It wasn't a complete week since I started on January 2nd and not the 1st. 

Here is my meal plan and a few pictures from each day my favorite meals. 

Links to recipes are forth coming!

Egg muffins and grapes

Day 1: Jan 2
B: 3 Egg muffins, grapes
L: Salad with boiled eggs, avocado and orange bell pepper
S: Almonds
D: Chipotle Bowl with Chicken, fresh salsa guacamole and lettuce

Spaghetti squash with sauce,
 roasted asparagus and grapes

Day 2: Jan 3
B: 2 Egg muffins, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 Granny Smith apple
S: Raw almond butter and 1/2 Granny Smith apple
L: Salad, with 1/2 avocado, 3 slices of turkey, and orange bell pepper
D: Spaghetti squash with meat maranara, roasted asparagus and grapes
S: Fuji Apple

Salad with turkey, orange bell pepper
and avocado

Day 3: Jan 4
B: 2 Egg Muffin 1/2 avocado 1/2 c blackberries
S: Raw almonds and pink lady apple
L: Salad with Turkey, avocado, and orange bell pepper
D: Spaghetti squash with meat sauce

Egg muffins, grapes and 1/2 avocado

Day 4: Jan 5
B 2 egg muffins, 1/2 avocado and  1/2 c grapes
S: Unsweetened apple sauce and raw almonds
L:
Dinner: Salad with Chicken, avocado, bell pepper

Chipotle Bowl, chicken, salsa, guacamole
and lots of lettuce

Day 5: Jan 6
B: 2 Egg muffins
S: Pink Lady Apple and raw almonds
L: Chipotle Bowl, chicken, salsa, guacamole and lettuce
D: Chicken thigh leftover asparagus
S: Avocado

'Breaded' Chicken and Sweet Potato Fries

This chicken is so yummy I love the bread like coating. It is now in the meal planing rotation and the boys love it. So I am excited to share it will you! If you make it let me know what the family says!

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thigh

1/2 c. almond flour

1/2c. coconut flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp pepper

1 egg

In a 9x13 baking dish coat the bottom with olive oil

In a med bowl mix the flours, salt and pepper till combined

In a separate bowl beat the egg.

Dip the chicken in to the egg, then roll in the flour mixture till well coated

Place in baking dish and bake for 28-33 minutes, till juice run clear when cut into.

These fries are a favorite in our home. I eat them sparingly, but my boys LOVE them!

2-3 sweet potatoes, cut into spears

3 TBSP Coconut oil

1 tsp sweet paprika

1 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl combine oil, cinnamon and paprika

Toss sweet potatoes in the mixture 

Pour sweet potatoes on to a foil lined cookie sheet

Bake for 15-18 minutes at 375 degrees F.

These two go so well together with a salad and it is a complete meal the whole family will enjoy

Both recipes are adapted from 

This book is staple for cooking Paleo that the boys love. 

The author is a wife and mother of 3 boys which I love. 

Which means most of these recipes are kid friendly and delicious! 

*disclosure- book links are Amazon affiliate links- I get a small percentage from Amazon  if you decide to order from my links

Garden Meatballs

I adapted this recipe from Sarah Fragoso cookbook Everyday Paleo

 which is amazing resource for those interested in Paleo. 

1. 1lb of ground beef

I am a firm believer in grass-fed beef/bison. Yes it is more expensive, but the taste is obvious to and the quality is unbeatable. I'd rather go low meat and all grass fed then more meat all conventional. 

2. 1 squash grated and 1 large carrot grated

3. 1 clove of garlic minced

4. 1 egg beaten

5. 1/2 cup almond meal/flour

6. 1 tsp salt and pepper ( you can add more or less)

7. Mix all ingredients together and form into balls a bit bigger than a golf ball.

Place in a oiled baking dish and cover securely with foil

8. Bake at 375F for 45 minutes 

These are very yummy and can be added to so many dishes. 

A few ways I have and will eat them;

in marinara sauce

over sauteed vegetables

crumbled over a salad

by themselves!

Enjoy!

Alfredo/Marinara Chicken Pasta

I love when I plan a meal on the fly! I had parts of  different recipes so I made one up

1/2 zucchini, diced

1/2 yellow squash, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

12 asparagus spears, diced

1/2 jar of alfredo sauce {I like Classico and bertoli}

1 can diced tomatoes {with garlic,oregano and basil}

2 boneless skinless chicken breast cubed

1 box of whole grain rotini pasta

salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook pasta according to the instruction, drain and set aside

2. Cook chicken in a skillet in olive oil. Remove chicken, set aside

3. Add vegetable to the skillet and saute them for about 3-5 min

4. Puree the can of tomatoes and blend with the alfredo sauce

5. In a oiled pan combine pasta, chicken, alfredo/tomato sauce and vegetable

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min till heated through

I froze a small portion in foil for later! Hope it taste as good!

Enjoy!

3 Ways Planning Helps with Homemaking

 Planing!

This touches every aspect of the homemaking. Activities, dinners and grocery shopping. Here are a few ways I handle each of these:

Activities:

This category isn’t too big in our home yet; with two toddlers there aren’t many activities going on for them. But I am a VERY social person and so at the beginning of the month I get all my event calendars together, MOPS, Building Blocks, Bible Study and play dates and block those times off. I am big on doing two big things on the same day. So if two events fall on the same day I pick one, sometimes that decision is hard but the repercussions of me over-extending myself and doing to much is harder on me and my family. 

Dinner/ Grocery Shopping

I like to plan my weekly meals on Sunday evening.  I like to add new meals in from time to time. Who wants to eat the same thing for every meal. Variety is the spice of life after all! When I do my planning I include at least 3 breakfast, 3 lunches, 2 snacks and 3 dinners. So that means there will be repeats of at least 2 different meals. Just incase you are wondering what we are eating this week here it is

Breakfast:

Steel cut oats

Eggs {scrambled, fried or omelets}

Waffles

Lunch

Tuna Salad

Chicken Salad

Chef salad

Lettuce Wraps

Dinner:

Taco Soup {out of the freezer}

Spaghetti

Breakfast for dinner

Snacks

Hummus and bell pepper

Nuts and fruit

Toast with nut butter and banana

So nothing that is rocket science. I’m not gourmet chef but my family likes it!  

Another aspect of meal planning is freezing meals. I love love, LOVE to freeze food for later in the week or month.

Grocery Shopping.

First and foremost I “shop” around the house before I even make my list. For instance, I go pantry shopping {going to my own pantry to see what is already in the house} and freezer shopping {take a guess that means}. I try to make sure and use the things that already in the house to maximize our grocery budget. As I make my dinner menus I take note of the meals that are a hit and the one that hit a sour note. The winners’ get their ingredients get added to the grocery list. This makes it easy to know what to by. But if I don't do these things I end up buying doubles of things we have, and forgetting things we need! 

How does planning help you run your home?

Taco Soup

This is one of my favorite freezer meal that I found on Biblical Homemaking that I adapted to our liking

1 lb of stew meat {or ground beef, chicken or turkey}

2 cans of corn

1 can of chili beans

2 can of pinto beans

1 can of black beans

1 can {1lb 12.oz} crushed tomatoes

1 can {1lb 12 oz} diced tomatoes

2 cans of Rotel{the Target brand works great too!}

1 package of Taco seasoning{I like Ortega because no MSG}

1 package of dry ranch seasoning{the Simply Organic has no MSG}

In a skillet

1. Brown stew meat

2. Add all ingredients {don't drain the tomatoes}to a large slow-cooker

3. Cook on low for 6 hours!

This meal freezes wonderfully and is a favorite for meal planing a goal I shared with you before! 

For our family I can get 3 meals {4 cups in ziplock bags} out of this one recipe

Enjoy!

Month by Month Goals!

2012 goals by month:

	Do:	Read:	Learn:	Be:
Jan.	Finish the boys dresser list 2 items on eBay/Craigslist prepare 8 freezer meals	Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage Dr Kevin Leman	Memorize James  1:1-12	quiet: make a conscious effort this month to keep my mouth from complaining
Feb.	prepare 12 meals for freezer refinish/paint TV stand sew curtains for the garage window	The Power of a Praying® Parent Deluxe Edition by Stormie Omartain	Memorize James  1:13-25	gentleness: taking the gentleness challenge to react sweetly to my family
March	prepare 12 freezer meal Have a garage sale Plant early garden veggies	The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine	Memorize James  1:26-2:10	sweet: sit on the floor with the boy for as long as they want and just play
April	Organize and finish painting the desk  Organize the garage  prepare 8 freezer meals	The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson	Memorize James  2:11-22	merciful: show mercy to each child when they don’t deserve it as possible
May	Spend as much time as possible outside with my boys	Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus byElyse Fitzpatrick	Memorize James  2:23-3:8	a helper: ease the burden of someone else
June	Plan a stay-cation with my husband	The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Hear for Eternity Sally Clarkson	Memorize James  3:9-4:2	affectionate: hug and kiss my husband when he walks in each day, no matter my mood.
July	Explore museums in the summer heat as a family	One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp	Memorize James  4:3-14	Loving: have bottled water in my care for homeless in the heat
Aug.	Prepare 8 freezer meals	How to Have a HEART for Your Kids by Rachael Carman	Memorize James  4:15-5:9	Patient: Be thankful for slow moments as a gift to pray and be thankful
Sept.	Prepare 12 freezer meals		Memorize James  5:10-19	kind: make an effort to encourage my husband with my words (his love language)
Oct.	Make the ornament for the Jessie Tree Go to Canton with girlfriends		Memorize 1Peter  1:1-12	thankful: write thank you notes to loving people in my life
Nov.	Fill 2 Operation Christmas Child boxes Start Jessie Tree		Memorize  1Peter  1:13-22	caring: take a hot meal to a friend or neighbor who can't return the gift
Dec.	Host a Christmas Party for friends		Memorize  1Peter  1:23-2:9	generous: give away something I love to someone who needs it

.

This table has been adapted from one of my favorite blogs Biblical Homemaking, many of the books are repeats I do make a small portion if you use my links that take you to Amazon. 

I am still looking for some books to add to the last 4 months of the year so if you have some recommendations I am all ears.

What are your goals for the year. I am sure I will be tweaking this and reviewing at the end of the month so I can better prepare for the future. 

Meal Planning

I am very interested in simplifying my life. Everyone one is way too hurried in our culture.
 I don't want the memory I leave my boys to be;

  'Mommy was always in a hurry or Mommy was always rushing us out the door'. 

No I want to spend intentional time with my sons and not feel hurried to get it over with because I have something else I need to be doing. 

Thus meal-planning is going to be a HUGE help this year. Now that both boys are able to eat just about everything mom and dad eat I can concentrate on just one item per meal time. I have been checking out Onceamonthmom and I am looking forward to tailoring it to fit our family. I like to cook so I probably will want to do so more than just once a month but the concept will be very beneficial to our family and having dinner ready when daddy walks through the door.
I know that this will give me some freedom and elevate stress that happen around 5pm.
My goal is to share my recipes /meal plans with you.
This will defiantly be  a learning experience so join me as I learn. 

Lemon Almond Blueberry Muffins

This morning I made some super yummy muffins that I adapted from Jessica Seinfeld 

Deceptively Delicious. 

Preheat oven to 350 F

1/2c firmly packed brown sugar

4 TBS butter {I used cocoanut oil}

1 large egg

1c lemon yogurt {I didn't have lemon so I mixed 1/2 c plain with 1/2 c vanilla}

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tsp pure lemon extract { I used almond and a splash of lemon juice}

2 c. Whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2c yellow squash puree

1c blueberries

1 large egg

1/4c ground flaxseed

Line muffin tin pan with paper cups and spray with olive oil

1. Mix butter and sugar 

2. Add yogurt, egg, squash, zest, extract mix till combined

3. Combine all dry ingredients flour, ground flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.    

    Then add dry to wet ingredients

4. Fold in blueberries

5. Fill muffin tin 2/3 full bake for 10-13 min

This recipe made 16 mini muffins and 12 regular muffins

I plan on freezing these and adding them to breakfast. My 2 year-old and hubby loved them. 

So SUCCESS!!!!