Meal Planing Monday 10/7-10/12

My family ran a race last Sunday morning, and while my hubby made awesome time, my meal-planning for the week didn't fare as well.  I use Sunday mornings to plan our menus and then go grocery shopping while he takes the Pickies to the gym.  That didn't happen last week and our entire week felt the pinch:  lots of take-out, not-so-healthy meals. 

My handsome running hubby  is a rock star!

My parents are coming this week-YAY!-so Thursday and Friday are up in the air.  

Monday
Smoothies and oatmeal
Red pepper and white bean soup, salad
Pumpkin and white bean lasagna, salad, bread

Tuesday
Smoothies and pumpkin-chocolate chip muffins (NEED baking powder!)
Leftover lasagna and salad
Black bean and sweet potato enchiladas, green beans, fruit

Wednesday
Smoothies and cereal
Chickpea salad sandwiches, fruit and salad
Hot and sour soup, edamame, rice, salad with miso-ginger dressing

Thursday
Smoothies and cereal
Out for lunch!
Tortilla soup and taco salad

Friday
Smoothies and coffee cake
Leftover soup and salad
Out (Birthday dinner?!?)

I forgot to mention that I have been loving my crockpot and the cookbook Vegan Slow Cooker.  Not only are the recipes delicious and pretty healthy, but some of them can cook on high for 3-4 hours, which is awesome when the littlest Picky is resting and I'm thinking about dinner in the afternoon.

Next week's plan should be fun because my mom is gluten-free, and that's always fun with a vegan menu, haha.  :)

Meal-Planning Monday IS BACK--9/24-9/28

And...I'm back.

So it turns out that when you do the school PTA newsletter, you don't blog.  And when you blog, you don't knit.  And when you knit, you don't read.  And when you read, you don't snuggle on the couch with your handsome hubby.  I guess it's about finding balance, right?  Anyway, I can't even begin to tell you the number of people who have asked about my blog these last couple weeks, and more importantly, they want to know what we are eating (which I find funny).

Let me tell you a little secret:  We have been eating out WAY too much, spending WAY too much, and eating WAY too much.  So now that I feel like we have established a good routine, I have been meal-planning.  As always, if you want a recipe, I'll be happy to share.  :)

Monday:

Shakes and cereal

Salad and tomato-macaroni soup

Chickpea piccata, cauliflower mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday:

Shakes and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

Salad with quinoa and tempeh

Miso soup, stir-fry, rice and salad

Wednesday:

Shakes and cereal

Leftovers

Spaghetti squash with black beans, salad, fruit

Thursday:

Shakes and baked donuts

Out

Chocolate-orange pancakes, scrambled tofu, roasted veggies

Friday:

Shakes and cereal

Leftover tofu and quinoa

Homemade calzones, green beans and salad

And I am sure I will make these every night.  What are you eating this week?

Beans for Breakfast? Who is this Crazy Woman?

I can't possibly be the only one.

Everyone else eats beans for breakfast, right?


OK.  I am fully aware that I may get the "weird award" for my breakfast preferences, but if you haven't tried eating them in the morning, you are missing out.


When hubby and I went vegan, I did my fair share of baking vegan donuts, pop-tarts and coffee cakes.  I have never been a huge breakfast eater, so most of the time I would skip it.  Or I would eat half a Larabar or an apple and a handful of raw almonds to give me the energy I needed for my morning workouts (I still do that sometimes).  I was never a huge egg person (blech), but I definitely missed the savory options in the morning.

And then my southern friend introduced me to garlic-y, salty, creamy grits.  And I was sold.  I started making them every so often with tofu and then one day I had leftover black beans.  They were delicious, although the grits were a bit heavy and the protein in the beans left me satisfied through my usual "snacky" times.


When hubby and I went to Costa Rica, we had this incredible buffet at the hotel.  Obviously we didn't partake in the majority of the offerings, but they had these awesome potatoes and gallo pinto (black beans and rice).  We would eat it with fresh salsa and guacamole...seriously it was probably one of the best things we have ever eaten.  The great thing about this was that we would eat around 6:00am, go surfing, ziplining or work (apparently we had to work in paradise), and I had very little desire to snack until lunch time.  I wasn't stuffed, just comfortably satisfied.

Our unbelievable Costa Rican breakfasts...

So now, I try to eat beans for breakfast...whatever is leftover works for me.  My friend's mom made us her Arabic mjadra (lentils and rice) and I ate that for four days straight.  Yesterday I ate leftover chickpea piccata.  Since I have been doing this, I haven't wanted to eat everything not glued down.

So as Yo Gabba Gabba says, 
"Try it.  You'll like it."

What do you eat for breakfast?

Mama's Making Some Meals 3/13-3/16

Another Monday, another mildly crazy week.  

Only this one starts off with a home-bound mama with a sicky Picky.  

I ran away to the grocery store yesterday afternoon after planning a few meals off Pinterest and I am hoping everyone likes them around the house.  I'm only planning dinners because we mainly rely on sandwiches, burritos and leftovers for lunch.

Monday:

Vegan pizza soup, salad and sesame soy green beans

This is most definitely not my picture
(I "borrowed" it from the link)...but it looks yummy!

Tuesday:

Potato and pea samosa phyllo triangles, kale salad and fruit

Wednesday:

Chili, cornbread and broccoli

Thursday:

Crock-pot baked potatoes with leftover chili, salad

Friday:

Homemade pizza, roasted veggies

What are you making this week?

Happy Philanthropy Friday.

I know you're on Facebook.

I know you're on Pinterest.

I know you have the ability to click the little mouse on your keyboard OR hit enter on your phone.

If you literally have 30 seconds, you can make a difference, without giving up money, time or energy.  No volunteering, no signing over your first child (however, that may suit some of you on a Friday) and no annoying emails trying to get you to buy various magic creams or weight loss-plans.

I have two sites that I need you to visit daily for a short period of time and your click will make an impact.

Happy Philanthropy Friday.

I have a beautiful friend who lost her love way too early, while she was six months pregnant.  She is up for one of the Top 25 Inspiring Blogs and it would sure mean a ton to her and her family and friends if you could vote for her blog, Everyday Kings, EVERYDAY until March 7th.  Please click here for the voting link.


The Home Depot Foundation builds more than just home projects; they build futures for many people who need it by giving $250,000 to a deserving non-profit.  Please, click here, scroll down and vote for the Ronald McDonald House.  This is a non-profit who houses the families of seriously-ill children, while being steps away from the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.  This money would be used to build a new roof and provide updates to continue their mission of caring about children.  Voting ends MARCH 31st, so I have plenty of time to harass you (I mean, give you gentle reminders).

The morning is just beginning; don't you feel like you have already done something good?  Please don't hesitate to pass this on!

Happy Philanthropy Friday.  

Learn Something New: Car Seats and Coats

I am always surprised that someone allowed me to be a parent.  Sure, I do research and I have an elementary education background, but really, what do I know?

And while I am at it, where did I put that child-raising manual?  

I want a refund!

Anyway, it frightens me to think that although I have been a parent for 7 1/2 years, I can majorly mess up for the majority of those years...just because I was uneducated and inflexible to new ideas.

Let's talk car seats and coats.

All of our little cuties have sat in those super heavy car carriers or five-point harnessed car seats (keep them in as long as you can, people!).  And if you live anywhere that gets mildly chilly, I have a PSA for you...and read it LOUD AND CLEAR.

TAKE THOSE COATS OFF YOUR KID IN THE CAR SEAT.

Before you roll your eyes or pat yourself on the back, humor me and pay attention for a second.  Those carseat straps may feel super tight against the coat-wearing little bodies, but when in an accident, the coat will compress and your little Picky can slide right out of the car seat.  NO joke.  Give yourself four minutes and watch this video:

(please note that this is NOT me, haha)



I found this to be deeply disturbing and shocking. Now, my Pickies all take their coats off and snuggle up with them in their laps while driving. Much more comfy, much more safe.

Please, please, please pass this on!

Dinner Plans 2/27-3/2

I had to take all three Pickies to Whole Foods yesterday...on a Sunday afternoon.  I think I deserve a medal or at least some delicious chocolate cake.  They can be super helpful, picking out the exact tortillas we need or loading up the cart with various colored bananas, but having three Pickies wander an already-crowded grocery store is...well, an adventure.  Thankfully we don't have to do that often.

This week is a crazy one, so I only planned the dinners and figured we will be in survival-mode for the rest.

Monday:
Breakfast for Dinner:  pancakes, yogurt, fruit and maybe some scrambled tofu

Tuesday:
Chickpea cutlets shaped like veggie tenders, roasted potatoes, green beans

Wednesday:
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup

Thursday:
Chickpea picatta, mashed potatoes, salad

Friday:
Homemade pizza, salad, green beans

I let the Pickies each choose a dish this week and I am often surprised when the seven year old picks "chickpea picatta"...really?  What kid does that?  She likes capers, which I find extremely delicious as well.  Weirdo child.  ;)

What are you eating this week?