Meal Planning- healthy style

[cbear]

I would love to start the year off by eating better. Part of my issue is just throwing something easy together and that doesn't always mean being healthy. I really want to get some good meal plans in place to make things easier!
So post your go to healthy meals that you love! Extra bonus points if it's fairly easy lol!

[heatherbee]

Following this I literally just sat down to meal plan for next week so I'll post back if I think of anything good! I'm thinking about trying to of the 21 day fix program (minus the shakes) again but I always fail at the working out part ...

[tribute17]

One of our go tos is stir fry and you can make it as healthy as you like. I usually use white rice but you could switch to brown or quinoa if you wanted. Then steam some frozen veggies in a microwave steamer (I usually use the sugar snap peas blend) then mix veggies with pre made stir fry sauce. You can use a little or a lot. Then H just adds in whatever meat we have or makes popcorn chicken to put in. It is good for leftover meat that is almost past its prime.

It is so easy and I usually have everything for it. Takes 15 minutes and Patrick will eat it without sauce. You could even skip the rice if you wanted.

Also we do spinach salad a lot. My favorite is spinach with dried cherries, feta cheese and balsamic vinegarette. H will add in grilled chicken.

[trixi282]

I need inspiration too. I've gotten so bad about cooking at all, let alone something healthy. I've been reading like crap lately and need to get it together.

Before we moved last year I was eating really well and would make various things with chicken or other lean meats and then roasted vegetables, yum! I made roasted veggies yesterday for family get together at IL's and they were so yummy. After I put them on the player I chilled them and they're good warm or cold. I have left overs and we'll be having them tonight for dinner.

[xanthepants]

I got a veggie spiralizer so I'm going to have spaghetti for the crew with marinara and veggies noodles for me. I think we will do turkey meatballs with.
Next I'm thinking I'm going to try and do a shredded brussel sprout salad with a lite dressing and cranberries with a baked chicken breast.
We typically do a quick pizza on Wednesdays for dance nite, but I'm going to skip that and try and do a spinach salad with leftover chicken.
Thursday I think we are going to do stuffed baked potatoes ( I'm going to sub mine out for a sweet potato).
And that's as far as I've gotten. We usually go out on Fridays and it's Cosette's pick so that means Chinese. I've got to figure out a new plan for that place.

[mightybee]

I make some version of these every week or two:

Tacos served in lettuce leaves or zucchini boats

Roasted chicken thighs with carrots, onions, potatoes, and prunes

I try to add lots of veggies to whatever I'm making--chili, tacos, meatloaf, etc. Love roasted veggies as a side and spinach/kale/arugula/red cabbage. Eat all the veggies!

How are you liking your spiralizer xanthepants? I got a hand held one and I'm loving it.

[tribute17]

I second what mightybee said, add veggies to everything not just as a side. Spaghetti- throw in some broccoli and carrots, pizza- load it with olives onions peppers and mushrooms. Not only do you get veggies but it takes away some room for cheese. Baked potatoes with cheese and broccoli on top, we do egg burritos a lot and add in onions tomatoes and peppers or quesadillas with olives onions and peppers. Every diet I've seen says you can have as many veggies as you want.

[xanthepants]

mightybee, I haven't tried it yet. We've had family dinners, meals every day so far this week. Tomorrow is the first day I'm free, so I can finally get back on track.

[jennmm]

We like doing meats and veggies together in the crock pot and also on the grill. Use food that remembers where it came from.

[origamimommy]

I like making zucchini noodle stir fry with spicy chicken sausage from trader joes and tons of veggies.

My favorite veggies in it are bell peppers, cruciferous veggie blend from TJs, sometimes shredded carrots, and then top with goat cheese and sriracha. I could eat this meal every single day. Other veggies that are good in it are cubed butternut squash, onion, yellow squash. I don't like tomatoes or eggplant because they get too soggy in the stir fry.

I like to make an Alfredo sauce with cauliflower and broth which is healthy and delicious. I'll use whole grain pasta or zucchini noodles and it's SO good you can't even tell. My husband is the pickiest of picky and he's eats tons of this sauce.

We do a lot of grilled chicken with veggies. If you're short on time steam fresh is a quick way to do veggies.

My husband loves his Italian food, so anything I make that Italian is smothered in spinach, puréed squash, fresh tomatoes, etc.

I also will not serve a meal without a vegetable. Even if Tyler or MH won't eat it, it's put on their plate. Now Tyler's favorite for is green beans. He also loves carrots, bell peppers, and squash. He hates zucchini and celery and I'm fine with that because he's at least trying things.

[cbear]

All great ideas!! I made this tonight and used quinoa instead of rice and it was pretty good!
bakeatmidnite.com/smoked-sausage-cheesy-rice/

[roo1582]

Has anyone made butternut squash mac and cheese? I'm trying to sneak in more veggies for the family. Is there a strong squash taste? Do you notice a huge difference?

Recipe

[britbratjf]

Jan 8, 2016 13:03:36 GMT -5 roo1582 said:

Has anyone made butternut squash mac and cheese? I'm trying to sneak in more veggies for the family. Is there a strong squash taste? Do you notice a huge difference?

Recipe

Someone made one for us when Freya was born. I really liked it! I didn't think there was a super squashy taste but it's not as creamy/cheesy so H& Dagny didn't like it.