I’m attempting to be a bit healthier in my cooking now due to the fact that Rob found out he has high cholesterol.   He’s a very picky eater, so this is a big challenge–finding healthy food that he’ll actually want to eat.  I went through all my cookbooks and pulled a few recipes together for the week–we’ll see how it goes.

As far as breakfast and lunch go, I’m planning to make a big batch of granola for the week, and lunches are usually leftovers or sandwiches.

Saturday

Spicy Chinese Noodles with veggies

Sunday

Grilled Chicken, lemon-herb couscous, corn on the cob

Monday

Cook – out with the in-laws

Tuesday

Chicken burritos, fruit salad

Wednesday

Chicken Adobo wiht Black bean and mango salsa, rice

Thursday

Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil pizza, salad

Friday

Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic toast

I sat down yesterday and worked out a list of meals that we’ll eat the next few months.   I had to brainstorm some less heavy, warm weather meals.  Here’s what I’ve come up with:

• French dip sandwiches
• spaghetti and meatballs / Cheese ravioli
• Pasta salad w/chicken
• Homemade Pizza
• Stir fry
• Fried Rice
• Hot dogs/burgers
• Tuna quesadillas
• Chicken & Pesto pasta
• Taco salad
• Chinese beef and peppers / Beef and broccoli
• 7 Layer Taco dip
• Chicken Caesar salad
• Pulled Pork sandwiches
• Melts (either tuna, lunch meat or  just grilled cheese w/tomatoes and basil)
• Homemade chicken tenders and fries

I have been watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, and it’s really convicting me of feeding my kids junk for lunch.  I started doing that because I was so tired when I was pregnant, and it was just easier, but that isn’t really much of an excuse anymore.  So, I’m trying to make healthier meals.  It’s a work in progress, and I’ve got some picky eaters, but I do what I can.

Monday

Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Toast (made from leftover homemade bread)

Tuesday

Ham and Cheese Stromboli and coleslaw

Wednesday

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Peas

Thursday

Chicken Spaghetti, Garlic bread

Friday

Leftovers

For healthier lunches, I have stuff to make quesadillas with beans and cheese, tuna salad, dinner leftovers, the always popular pb & j, and roll ups (which basically consist of cream cheese, chopped up veggies, refried beans and some seasonings, rolled up in a flour tortilla).

Breakfast remains a not so healthy free for all, with the main staples being pop tarts, cold cereal and trix yogurt (the only yogurt the twins will eat).  Oh well, at least the other 2 meals are healthy, right?

Monday

Meatloaf, roasted potato wedges, broccoli

Tuesday

Spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread

Wednesday

My birthday–I don’t care what we have so long as I don’t have to cook it.

Thursday

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Coleslaw

Friday

Pizza and Salad

Saturday

Clean out the fridge night

Saturday – Garlic & Olive Oil Pizza (pepperoni pizza for the kids)

Sunday – Turkey Meatloaf and balsamic roasted carrots & potatoes

Monday – Pork stir fry with Jasmine Rice

Tuesday – Hot dogs and Sweet potato fries

Wednesday – Tuna Noodle Casserole

Thursday – Lentil Tacos and Spanish rice

Friday – Chicken & Pesto Pasta

So, it’s finally come to this, lol.  I’ve always been naturally thin–people hate me for it.  When I got married at 18, I was just barely 100lbs.  Then, I had Annie, and I kept a few pounds from that pregnancy.  Then a few years later the twins came along, and they left me with a few more pounds and a stretched out flabby stomach.  Now after Cutie, I’m left with yet a few more pounds which all seems to have congregated right around my middle.  I’m not technically overweight, but the belly fat is killing me.  None of my clothes fit properly, and I look frumpy in everything.  So, for the first time ever, I’m going on a diet.

 I’ve been reading The Flat Belly Diet, and it seems to be the perfect plan for me.  Basically, you stick to 400 calories at each meal, and eat 3 meals and one large snack a day.  I’ll probably do 2 small snacks instead, but we’ll see.  At each meal you include a MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid).  These are the good fats,  like olive oil, olives, dark chocolate (YAY!!) and nuts .   I nagged convinced Rob into doing the diet with me.  I figure, he’s kept some of that baby weight on too, so he should partner up with me and we’ll lose it together.

I won’t post my weight, since I’m not really concerned so much with loosing weight as I am with inches.  Right now my waist is 32 inches.  I’m hoping to loose about 6 inches so I can fit back into all my clothes and not have to wear everything baggy to hide my gut.

So with that, here’s my meal plan for the next week.

Sunday

B – Peachy Pecan Oatmeal

L – leftover Spaghetti and meatballs

D  - Cheesy Veggie Pasta and Salad

Monday

B – PB & B (peanut butter and banana on a whole wheat english muffin)

L – Soba Noodle Salad with Snow Peas (me)/ Tuna Salad Sandwich with Tomato (Rob)

D – Pork and Veggie Stir Fry with Rice

Tuesday

B – Hash browns and scrambled egg whites

L – Soba Noodle Salad (me) / Turkey and Provalone sandwich (Rob)

D – Chicago Style Hot Dogs, salad, Fries (for the kids)

Wednesday

B – PB & B

L – Soba Noodle Salad (me) / Tuna Sandwich w/ Tomato (Rob)

D – Chicken Caesar Salad

Thursday 

B – Has browns and scrambled egg whites

L – Tuna Sandwich with Tomato (both)

D – Almond Encrusted Chicken and Baked Sweet Potatoes (prob some kind of roll or pasta for kids)

Friday 

B – PB & B

L – Turkey and Provalone sandwich (both)

D – Out (this is Annie’s opening night in Annie, so we’ll be eating out before the big show!)

Snack Options

String cheese and crackers

Hummus and veggies to dip

Cottage cheese with fruit and dark choc. chips

Oatmeal cookies with dried cranberries and choc. chips

Here’s my menu for the next week.  I don’t plan out breakfasts and lunches, because those are usually “fend for yourself” meals.  Typically we eat either pop tarts, cereal, instant oatmeal, eggs or yogurt for breakfast.  Lunch is often leftovers, frozen pizzas or sandwiches.   My kids and I are grazers, and we have lots of fruit, granola bars, nutrigrain bars, crackers and cheese and yogurt for snacks between meals.

Saturday- Shepherds Pie and Salad

Sunday- Turkey Pasta Primavera

Monday- Meatloaf, squash, stuffing and peas

Tuesday- Hot dogs, french fries, veggies and dip

Wednesday- Tuna Noodle Casserole, Applesauce jello

Thursday- Turkey Stir Fry and rice

Friday- Homemade Pizza, Caesar salad