meals: vol. 20

menu for 3/17-3/23
monday: garlic chicken sausages, french fries, steamed broccoli
tuesday: italian wedding soup (paleo)
wednesday: turkey & fried egg burgers, roasted brussels sprouts, green beans
thursday: slow cooker korean beef bowls (with zucchini, carrots, spinach, rice noodles)
friday: loaded sweet potatoes, leftovers
saturday: tilapia & veggie oven pouches
sunday: lazy chicken marsala, garlic green beans

breakfasts: smoothies, breakfast sausage & bacon, larabars, wheat-free waffles, sun butter and bananas

lunches: leftovers, asian avocado tuna salad, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots, bacon, snacks

snacks: paleo muffins or sweet bread, beef jerky, dried fruit, nuts, cheese sticks & yogurt (c), larabars

meals: vol. 19

i'm back! this is the first week since i got sick that i've even come close to getting a menu down. it feels good to be on the mend.

menu for 2/17-2/23
monday: white wine & herb turkey breast (slow cooker), roasted veggies, coconut flour biscuits
tuesday: sushi date with my main main (yay!)
wednesday: turkey italian sausages with asparagus, paleo garlic bread
thursday: korean beef bowls (with zucchini, carrots, spinach, rice noodles)
friday: leftovers
saturday: out for the evening
sunday: fish something

breakfasts: breakfast sausage, larabars, wheat-free waffles, bacon, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots, bacon, snacks

snacks: paleo muffins or sweet bread of some sort, beef jerky, dried fruit, fruit, nuts, cheese sticks & yogurt (c), larabars, spiced candied walnuts

what are you making this week?

love.

meals: vol. 16

aaand i'm late with my menu. again.

i'll claim post-thanksgiving sluggishness (maybe partly due to that grain-free pie you see up there). okay? thanks.

menu for 12/2-12/8
monday: leftover roast chicken soup with roasted vegetables (i used leftover turkey instead)
tuesday: bacon-wrapped steaks (orr just steaks and bacon. let's be real) and mixed veggies
wednesday: italian turkey sausages and roasted carrots, turnips and mushrooms
thursday: steak, loaded sweet potatoes, green beans
friday: salmon, leftover baked sweet potatoes, asparagus 
saturday: eggs and sautéed spinach, bacon and cashew flour pancakes
sunday: crock pot something.

breakfasts: almond flour pumpkin muffins, hardboiled eggs, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers with goddess dressing, snacks

snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks (c), fruit, nuts, cheese sticks (c), larabars, hardboiled eggs, spiced candied walnuts

happy planning!

love.

meals: vol. 14 (a new start).

today marks the first day of our new life (when it comes to eating).

we are going paleo. 

it's something that we've been discussing for awhile now, and something i've been hoping to try for over a year. not for my own health (though i know i'm going to benefit from being more purposeful in eating whole, healthy foods), but for nick's.

the paleo diet has had much success in the auto-immune disease circles, specifically those that have gut health issues. and so, here we are. giving it all that we've got and will be for the next year or so (unless we see much improvement, and then it will be indefinite). personally, the story of danielle walker from against all grain, has left us particularly inspired. reading her story with illness was like reading our own journey with nick's.

so, what does this mean for this blog?
well, it means that you will probably see a good bit more about food. 

i will try my best to not be obnoxious about it, and this is definitely not going to become a food blog. but there will be more on the topic, because this blog is about real life, every season of it. and this season is going to be a little bit more about what we eat.

also, i want to share all that i'm learning about how to implement this diet into our everyday lives. the practical, the planning, the outcome. the successes and the failures. also, even if paleo isn't your thing, i hope you'll stick around. i'm hoping to integrate this new lifestyle into our existing one, including working to create food (with the help of many that have gone before me) that would be exiting for anyone to eat, regardless of diet restrictions.

so, let's do this.

menu for 11/18-11/24
monday: out for dinner
tuesday: pan fried chicken breasts, loaded sweet potatoes, salad
wednesday: slow cooker beef stir fry
thursday: salmon, sweet potatoes, asparagus
friday: chicken sausages and veggie sauté 
saturday: breakfast for dinner (paleo pancakes)
sunday: soup or stew?

breakfasts: egg muffins, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies
lunches: salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers (hopefully i'll get to make a paleo ranch!), hot dogs, leftovers, snacks
snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks, fruit, cashews and almonds, cheese sticks (coen)

meals for the week: vol.13

I think fall has finally found its way to north Carolina, and I'm pretty excited about it. my goal this week is to not consume ridiculous amounts of coffee & hot chocolate. and maybe to actually get to all the things on the menu. 

menu for 10/21-10/28

monday: slow cooker chicken salad sandwiches, tater tot things, sautéed squash  

tuesday: slow cooker beef stroganoff over egg noodles, green beans

wednesday: fish taco bowls (& salads), slow cooker berry cobbler

thursday: leftovers 

friday: one pot chicken lo mein

saturday: breakfast for dinner

sunday: slow cooker mexican chicken & lime soup, cornbread

breakfasts: cereal bars, oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, slow cooker berry cobbler

lunches: smoothies (with kale, shh!), chicken salad, tuna salads, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: cheese, fruit, popcorn, yogurt, veggie straws

happy planning!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 11

yes, it's thursday. and it's not pretty. i'm sorry.

but at least it's something. and i needed to get my brain together to have the weekend at least semi-planned out. this week has been something, for sure.

help a mama out and share some meal ideas? thanks, guys.

meals :: 9/23-9/29

monday: slow cooker pesto ranch chicken, baked potatoes, asparagus

tuesday: nope.

wednesday: i don't remember (seriously.)

thursday: slow cooker shoulder roast, baked potatoes, sautéed okra, peppers & onions, cornbread

friday: slow cooker chicken & dumplings

saturday: bacon cheeseburgers, sweet potato fries, veggie 

sunday: slow cooker beef stroganoff and egg noodles (or something with chicken? help!)

breakfasts: protein shakes, granola, bagels, yogurt, eggs, berry crisp

lunches: smoothies (with kale, shh!), leftovers, salads, tuna salads, carrots, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, cheese, trail mix, fruit, popcorn, granola, kale chips

meals for the week: vol. 10

it's late, but it's here! 

my love for my crockpot has been revived with the arrival of this (semi) fall weather. have any killer slow cooker recipes sans tomatoes? please share!

meals :: 9/16-9/22

monday: nope.

tuesday: slow cooker turkey sausages, peppers, onions & potatoes (and maybe a recipe to follow?)

wednesday: slow cooker beef & broccoli and rice

thursday: roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, garlic green beans

friday: leftovers

saturday: out for the evening

sunday: Thai-inspired chicken & rice soup (adapted for slow cooker)

breakfasts: protein shakes, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins, yogurt

lunches: smoothies, leftovers, salads, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & ranch, cheese sticks, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

what's on your menu?

love. 

meals for the week: vol. 7

oh, hey tuesday. better late than never, right?

i hope your meal planning is going well these days--if you have any great recipes to share, please do!

meals :: 8/26-9/1

monday: chicken & veggie stir fry

tuesday: fish something (any ideas?) 

wednesday: chicken &rice bake, green beans

thursday: shepherd's pie (i mean it this time)

friday: tbd

saturday: out to dinner!

sunday: chicken, bacon & green beans (modified for slow cooker), easy baked potatoes

breakfasts: protein shakes, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins

lunches: smoothies, leftovers, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, lunchmeat & sandwiches, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

happy planning!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 6

so after a month of cutting out wheat, we've added some back in. so far we haven't noticed a difference, but we're still limiting it a bit. honestly, i feel better without it. 

meals :: 8/19-8/25

monday: leftover stew (slow cooker) 

tuesday: summer vegetables with sausage & potatoes 

wednesday: chickpea potato curry & rice

thursday: shepherd's pie (i am determined to finally make this. haha)

friday: chicken, bacon & green beans (modified for slow cooker), easy baked potatoes

saturday: 

sunday: girls' night! (finger foods & appetizers)

breakfasts: yogurt and granola, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, lunchmeat & sandwiches, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

what are you eating this week? i'd love to hear!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 5

i'm pretty sure i can just say "ditto" to all the things of last week's post. 

so, i will (new recipe coming soon, i hope).

also, have you noticed i've gotten into a bit of a rut with my meals? yes, many have just had to keep carrying over from not getting to them, but there are quite a few repeats as well. any suggestion for me? i'm all ears. :)

meals :: 8/12-8/18

monday: chicken stir-fry

tuesday: korean beef bowls (with rice noodles)

wednesday: farmhouse beef & bacon stew (slow cooker)

thursday: chicken curry and rice

friday: fish tacos, guacamole & chips

saturday: shepherd's pie

sunday: chicken, bacon & green beans (modified for slow cooker)

breakfasts: yogurt and granola, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins, smoothies

lunches: veggies & homemade ranch, tuna salads, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, fruit, popcorn

hope you have a great week!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 4

it's that time again!

plans changed a few times last week (i'm learning that's just life), so there are definitely a few repeats for this week. also, i've tried to link back to the recipes that i'm planning on following for some of them, which will hopefully help in your own meal planning. :)

i have a recipe to share with you all later this week, so keep an eye out for it!

meals :: 8/5-8/11

monday: farmhouse beef & bacon stew (it's in the crockpot now, and it smells amazing)

tuesday: fish taco bowls 

wednesday: paleo bacon meatloaf, baked potatoes, peas

thursday: chicken stew with kale and beans

friday: leftovers

saturday: shepherd's pie

sunday: bacon, chicken & green beans

breakfasts: very berry crisp, egg muffins, yogurt and granola, fruit

lunches: lunchmeat rollups, veggies & homemade ranch, tuna salads, chicken nuggets (for c)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, fruit, popcorn

hope you have a great week!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 3

i don't have a recipe for you this week, but i figured i should extend an open invitation--feel free to leave a comment to request recipes for anything on the menu that you might like to try. 

sound good? good. 

meals :: 7/29-8/4

monday: korean beef bowls

tuesday: slow cooker whole chicken, asparagus, fries 

wednesday: fish taco bowls

thursday: chicken stew with kale and beans

friday: shepherd's pie

saturday: farmhouse beef & bacon stew

sunday: leftovers

breakfasts: very berry crisp, egg muffins, yogurt and granola, fruit

lunches: chicken salad, hummus, veggies & homemade ranch, tuna salads, chicken nuggets (for c)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, fruit, popcorn

hope you have a great week!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 2

look at this, two weeks in a row--i'm on a a roll.

but seriously, even though i wasn't able to fully stick to the menu last week, it was super helpful at saving me time, brain power, and from being overwhelmed. so, i'm pretty excited.

i made these no-bake energy balls to eat for snacks (thank you, lindsey for the recommendation). i may have eaten them for breakfast a few days, too.
they were so good.

no-bake energy balls

yields about 20; adapted from here.

ingredients

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup nut butter (peanut or almond)

1/2 cup flaxseed meal

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1 tbsp chia seeds

directions

in a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until wet. set in refrigerator until chilled (at least a half an hour). once chilled, scoop out and shape mix into a ball. i make them so they take about two bites to eat. store in either refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.

you're welcome.

____

meals :: 7/22-7/28

monday: summer vegetable chicken salads

tuesday: slow cooker pot roast stew

wednesday: slow cooker whole chicken, peas, fries 

thursday: shepherd's pie

friday: leftovers

saturday: sweet potato curry & rice

sunday: leftovers, maybe?

breakfasts: berry crisp, egg muffins with turkey sausage, yogurt, fruit

lunches: leftovers, tuna salad, salads, veggies and homemade ranch (didn't get to this last week)

snacks: popcorn, yogurt, fruit, almonds, seaweed, energy balls