Bringing the meal plan back + around the weekend
Hi friends! How was your weekend? Hope you had a great one! We had a few (extra) rough couple of nights of sleep, so after tag-teaming it last night, we’re coming out on the other side. 😉 This weekend was relaxing and wonderful, and we also managed to get out and about a bit.
Friday night, we decided to grab True Food for dinner, since it’s one of my very favorite restaurants and our grocery stash was dwindling. We started off with this awesome roasted vegetable board (with Goddess dressing and a pimento cheese spread), and the edamame dumplings.
For my entree, I branched out a little -I get the kale salad almost EVERY time with salmon and sweet potato hash- and decided to try the Autumn chopped salad with chicken. It was pretty good, but my favorite part of the meal was the veggie board. It would be an awesome fall party appetizer.
Since we were at the mall and everything, I stopped at Sephora to pick up VIB sale goodies. 😉 The line wrapped around the entire store! Turns out that people are serious about their holiday gift sets. Thank goodness for online shopping in jammies later.
Saturday, we hung out in the gorgeous weather at the park, I went to the gym to introduce P to everyone and say hi,
and Liv went to a friend’s b-day party. For dinner, I made this chicken recipe (I use half the mayo, and sub almond meal for bread crumbs, seasoned well with garlic powder, salt, pepper and oregano), and it has become a staple. It’s a no-fail recipe to get Liv to eat half a chicken breast.
Sunday was errands, groceries, and a nice long walk with the pups. <3
Since I’m still not cleared to work out -3 more weeks to go!- I’m starting to walk a little more each day. When I was in the hospital, the midwife told me to start walking as soon as I felt up to it, and could walk up to an hour a day. It’s so nice to get fresh air and shake my legs out a little bit. Also, it’s a good way to build my cardio base back up so when I’m teaching spin again, my legs aren’t in total shock. 😉
Since I haven’t posted these in a while, I thought I’d share what’s on the menu at our house this week. Nana will be here this morning -I totally spaced and thought her flight was yesterday… and it’s today- so I’m sure we’ll take her out to some of our favorite places in addition to enjoying some snacks and meals at home.
Meals for the week:
Slow cooker Greek chicken soup
Pesto salmon with roasted broccoli and sweet potatoes
Barefoot Contessa Roasted Chicken with veggies and brown rice
Sweet potato and black bean enchilada casserole (recipe to come!)
Turkey meatballs with pasta and veggies
Snacks:
Hummus and veggies
Prep in advance:
Chia pudding (I’ll probably do chocolate instead of pumpkin to switch it up)
Hope you have a very happy Monday!! Did you plan and prep for the week? What’s on the menu? I’m always looking for new ideas to switch it up.
Speaking of recipes, I’ll see ya later today with a bomb dessert recipe.
xoxo
Gina
Something to do: This circuit workout using one of my favorite strength training strategies.
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Ah, good for you getting back into meal planning so quickly!!! I also made the Barefoot Contessa roasted chicken (thanks to your suggestion years ago). I also made a veggie chili (old standby Cooking Light recipe), kale and red pepper fritata, and i plan on making sweet potato and black bean enchiladas as well.
Happy Monday!!!!
so happy you like the chicken recipe, too. it’s always good 🙂
xoxo
I actually think walking is one of the best forms of fitness. We’re so into extreme fitness these days, it’s nice to get back to what’s realistic. Hope you get more sleep soon!
i think so, too!
xoxo
Getting back into meal planning is both the best and the worst lol! I feel so accomplished by planning ahead of time and getting all the grocery shopping done…but I have to remind myself that there will still be days when I’ll say “Screw it!” and get Chick Fila instead 😉
haha i totally agree
Hi Gina! Happy Monday. My BF and I were in Disney this last weekend so ofcourse I hit up the downtown Disney Sephora.. Ohh and maybe did more online shopping on the drive home Saturday 😉 I meal prepped the usual yesterday, grilled chicken, rice, pumpkin breakfast muffins, oatmeal banana cookies, hard boiled eggs and make a big batch of tortilla soup! So glad you’re brining back the meal plans! Love getting new ideas also!!! Have a great week!!
happy monday to you! 🙂 i love that disney sephora. please tell me you got a rice crispy treat at the confectionary 😉
thank you for the tortilla soup reminder- i need to make some!
xo
I’m starting a challenge with my gym today, so meal planning is a must!
Looking forward to these:
– http://www.worthcooking.net/asian-crack-slaw/
– http://againstallgrain.com/2013/01/30/leftover-roast-chicken-soup-with-roasted-vegetables/
those look amazing- thank you for linking!
I love walks too 🙂
How long a head of time is it OK to prep chia pudding?
i usually eat it within 3 days
Hopefully tonight greets you with some solid hours of REM.
Btw, you’ve just given me mad cravings for meatballs and marinara. Those look delicious- especially with the windy weather we are having right now. I’d love nothing more than to pile up under blankets with a bowl of those steaming hot meatballs!
yes, this weather is crazy!!
Gina, you’re the bomb. I’ve been reading your blog for over four years and I still love it just as much as the beginning. You’re doing a great job & you deserve to know it!
thank you so much, kate- that means a lot to me <3
Awww, your baby is so adorable! I’ve been craving comfort foods (which is totally from the cold weather) and I’m making chicken parm tonight but meatballs will be on the menu soon!
Hope you get some better sleep soon!
Aw Liv looks so happy, and P is such a cuddlebug :).
We just got back from 2 weeks in Vietnam, to an EMPTY fridge… so I hopped on the meal planning wagon as well. YAY for organization 🙂 I just ordered my first Erin Condren planner, eek!
oh, you will LOVE it 🙂
I try to make a pot of soup every weekend. Here’s one of my staples and what I made this week, from a cookbook.
Carrot Ginger Soup
Saute one chopped onion, 1.5lb chopped carrots, 2T fresh grated ginger. Add 3c. chicken broth and simmer til tender. Run through blender. Add juice of one orange (or 1/4c) and 3/4c. milk or yogurt, S&P to taste.
i will definitely try this- it sounds amazing!
The weather looks beautiful there. I also think that meal prep at the beginning of the week is KEY. Not having a plan= carb heavy snacks instead. I’m going to try your turkey meatballs…they look delish. Hope you have great week!
I love to see what ideas people have for meals/ their recipes 🙂 or I tend to get into a rut. Can’t wait to try them
Thanks for sharing!
totally thought the back of P’s head was Liv and was SO confused for a sec haha.
(i scrolled too fast and it was the first thing i saw!)
it does look like her baby head 🙂
That is awesome that you have your meals all planned out! I feel like I will just be winging it everyday haha but hopefully can be more on top of things!!