Menu Plan Monday

When we were in Florida a couple of weeks ago, we went to the store to buy food for the week. Since it was just my mom, sister, and I (and the two little kids), and we are all into watching what we eat, we were able to just purchase a bunch of fruits, veggies, lean meats, and snacks. The whole week of eating FELT good. (I also noticed that I did not have heartburn when I went to bed each night, like I usually do.)

Especially in the winter months, I load us up on comfort foods. I try to keep them as healthy as possible, but I cook with lots of pastas and rices and potatoes and creamy soups. We are a casserole family.

When I was preparing for our grocery trip this week, I just felt like buying differently. I had in my mind the types of meals I want to prepare this week, but didn't make a real MEAL list. Instead, I just started listing all of the lean meats, fruits, veggies, and healthy snacks I could. Then I decided that I would just plan our meals each morning using those ingredients.

What did I buy? pork ribs, chicken breasts, ground turkey, tilapia, broccoli, avocados, green peppers, red onions, spinach, cabbage, asparagus, mushrooms, grapes, apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, mandarin oranges, canned peaches, whole grain pastas, brown rice, yogurts, cheeses, whole wheat crackers ... you get the picture.

What types of meals and snacks will I fix? homemade veggie pizzas, turkey tacos, popcorn chicken salad, baked tilapia with brown rice and veggies, grilled pork ribs with veggies, banana muffins, oatmeal raisin cookies, and whatever strikes my fancy that day with the ingredients we have.

I am actually planning to go through my pantry today and toss every box that's in it, that does not contain a healthy-ish item. I am not a fanatic who plans to cut out every processed food item from her family's diet. But I just know that we will all feel better if we cut out the majority of it.

Now, with me being a planner, this might not work for long. For ten years I have planned our weekly menus and put them on a calendar. Choosing meals each day might not work. I'm afraid that I will get busy and, because I haven't planned, that when it's time for dinner I'll just give up and tell everybody to fend for themselves. But, I'm willing to give it a try.

Oh, and here is why you should clean out the bottom of your grill before you use it the first time after winter.

I glanced up from the kitchen and saw smoke and flames billowing from my grill. I know you are supposed to cook pork well done, but this was a little much. It was really, really funny, and tragic because those pork chops were looking and smelling SOOOOO good! The Wendy's spicy chicken sandwiches didn't taste near as good with our homemade garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.