Wednesday

Food journal

Breakfast - my sausage (~4 oz); 2 biscuits (Grands flaky layers buttermilk) w/butter and 1 w/Simply Fruit (strawberry)

1/2 cup coffee w/the usual

Lunch - Turkey Salad; Ghirardelli square (60%)

Supper - grilled cheese (2 slices bread, cheddar, mozzarella, cooked in butter); chocolate covered almonds

Turkey Salad

Turkey Salad

1/2 c. cucumber, chopped
1/2 c. bell pepper, chopped
2-3 tbsp. green onions, chopped
Salt
3 oz. cooked turkey, shredded
~2-3 tbsp shredded cheddar
1/2 c. cold leftover mac & cheez
~1/3 c. sour cream
1/8-1/4 tsp. dill weed

Sprinkle veggies with salt to taste and mix. Stir together turkey, veggies, cheese, and mac & cheez. Spoon sour cream on top. Sprinkle dill on sour cream. Mix in sour cream.

Tuesday

Probably not done for the day but I'll edit if need be... Meals were later than usual today so I likely will just have something small later

Meal 1 - cottage cheese w/peaches; homemade hash browns w/onions and green onions

1/2 cup coffee w/Stevia and cream (finally got to the store that has Stevia!)

Meal 2 - turkey breast (leftover) w/onions; mac & cheez (Annie's); Cal mix veggies w/butter and salt; cookies

Tuesday

Realized after lunch yesterday that our BargainBee certificate for the Italian buffet expired last night! So that was supper...

Food journal

Breakfast - cottage cheese and peaches (canned in juice)

1/2 cup coffee w/demarara and cream

Lunch - BK double cheeseburger; honey bun

Supper - Italian buffet

Meal Plan

Breakfast:
Smoked turkey sausage; Eggo's
Eggs/Cottage cheese; peaches
Bacon; toast
Sausage; Eggo's
Brunch pizza
My sausage patties; biscuits; cheddar (biscuit sandwich)
Leftovers

Lunch:
(Shopping day - pick up something quick)
Steak w/sauteed onions and bell peppers; loaded microwave-baked potatoes
Turkey; cream spinach; lemon linguine
Pizza - turkey, alfredo sauce, roasted red bell peppers, onions, mozzarella
(OUT)
Turkey, mac & cheez, California mixed veggies/green beans
Baked cod w/lemon; lemon linguine; broccoli/green beans

Supper:
(At in-laws)
Tuna salad (salad/sandwiches/crackers)
Turkey sandwiches/salad w/turkey and Craisins
Tarragon turkey salad (salad/sandwiches/crackers)
Leftovers
Burgers; fries; cucumbers
Grilled cheese; tomato puree

Thursday

Breakfast - grilled chicken/rice/butter/parsley

1/2 cup coffee with demarara and cream (still out of stevia!)

Lunch - roast beef sandwich (white bread) w/mayo and bleu cheese salad dressing; Ghirardelli square

Supper - grilled chicken, leftover shells and white cheddar, roasted red bell peppers; cantaloupe

ETA: Chocolate covered almonds later :)

Sweet Beef and Rice

SWEET BEEF AND RICE

1 large onion, chopped
2 large red bell peppers, chopped
Olive oil to saute
1 lb lean ground beef
Salt & pepper
2-3 cups cooked brown rice
Cream (I used about 3/4 cup)

Saute onion and peppers in OO until peppers are soft and onions are translucent. Remove from pan and set aside. Brown ground beef. Add veggies and S&P to taste. Mix in rice. Stir in cream to taste.

*I named it what I did because Jesse asked what was in it that made it so sweet! Ethan LOVED it too! Gabriel didn't eat a whole lot but he's still not feeling back to normal.

Monday

Food journal

Breakfast - nothing

1/2 cup coffee w/demarara, chocolate Torani, and cream

Lunch - Jason's Deli leftovers - Sergeant Pepper; few bites potato salad; Ghirardelli square

Chocolate covered almonds

Supper - grilled chicken w/alfredo on toast

Saturday

Food journal

Breakfast - cottage cheese w/peaches; piece of toast w/butter and Simply Fruit

1/2 cup coffee w/demarara and cream

Lunch - 93/7 ground beef/green beans seasoned w/mustard, Essence, onion powder, garlic powder, salt; chocolate covered almonds

Supper - leftover pizza and garlic cheese bread w/bleu cheese dressing; Ghirardelli square

Friday

Had errands to run and a sick kid so meals were quick and easy today...

Breakfast - bacon; Eggo w/butter

Lunch - Subway - 6" flatbread cheesesteak - meat, swiss, mayo, lots of bell pepper and onion

Supper - leftover pizza and garlic cheese bread w/bleu cheese dressing; Ghirardelli 60% square

This was my first time trying the flatbread at Subway. I didn't want anything too bready so decided to see how it was. Oh my goodness! It was so delicious! And just perfect with my cheesesteak. The bread was slightly buttery and didn't overwhelm the rest of the ingredients. I'll definitely be eating it again!

Thursday

Breakfast - chicken in onion gravy and small piece French bread

1/2 cup coffee w/demarara and cream

Lunch - grilled cheese - cheddar and mozzarella on white bread cooked in a little butter; tomato dip - pureed grape tomatoes/kosher salt; Oreos

Supper - small red potatoes (cooked in microwave) w/butter, grilled chicken, sour cream, cheese, and broccoli (about 1/2 my bowl was broccoli); chocolate covered almonds

Top Ten Healthy Eating Tips

As part of an online healthy eating group I belong to, our challenge for this week was to compile a top ten list of healthy tips. Here's my list:

1. Eat lots of protein! Make sure you have a good bit with every meal, and preferably with snacks as well. It keeps you full and helps with the munchies.

2. Eat "real" food. Keep chemicals, artificial ingredients, etc to a minimum!

3. Dark chocolate. Preportioned! More and more research has been coming out lately about the health benefits of dark chocolate. In moderation of course ;) Eat by itself or melt, mix in almonds, spread on a cookie sheet, and top with sea salt; cut into pieces when cool for a yummy snack! One individually wrapped square of Ghirardelli 72% chocolate (my favorite!) has 55 calories, 5 gr fat, <5 gr carbs and is extremely satisfying!

4. Read labels on EVERYTHING! Even raw meat often has additives. Look for "Enhanced with a x% solution" on the label. This means there are hidden ingredients, which usually include some form of MSG.

5. Cinnamon and mint fool the tongue into thinking there's sugar in whatever you add them to ;)

6. When you treat yourself to pizza, top it with grilled chicken, fresh tomatoes, and lots of other veggies.

7. Keep ingredients for quick and easy meals on hand. My favorite - Puree a jar of roasted red bell peppers, add to a jar of good quality Alfredo sauce. Mix with frozen grilled chicken. Serve with leftover pasta or multigrain French bread. Or keep healthy frozen options on hand.

8. Plan your meals! I keep a list of meals (sorted by breakfast, lunch, supper, veggies, carb sides, etc.) in a binder to make it easier to plan for the week.

9. If you have problems with indigestion, don't drink anything 1/2 hour before or 1 hour after you eat. Liquids dilute digestive juices and make it harder for your body to process the food.

10. Healthy soda substitute - sparkling water + frozen 100% juice concentrate (I'm not a big soda drinker but DH is and he drinks this now instead)

Did you find any of my tips helpful? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Breakfast - cottage cheese; peaches (canned w/100% juice)

1/2 cup coffee w/demarara and cream

Lunch - BK double cheeseburger (minus ~1/2 bottom bun); Oreos

Supper - grilled chicken (Tyson frozen) dipped in sour cream; biscuit (small canned) w/butter; Ghirardelli square

Meal Plan

This is for Wednesday through Tuesday. I have two lunch meals unaccounted for. Wednesday's lunch will be something quick and easy I'll decide on while I'm shopping. I may pick up a rotisserie chicken from the deli. Another day my mom has a doctor's appointment that should end right before lunch. So I'm not sure what we'll do that day. We may eat out with her.

Breakfast:
Sausage; biscuits
Breakfast pizza
Eggs (boys); cottage cheese (me); peaches - 2 days
Grilled chicken/rice/butter/parsley
Sausage; Eggo's
(Turkey) Bacon; toast

Lunch:
Turkey; cream spinach; *carb*
Pizza - turkey, alfredo, roasted red bell peppers, onions, mozzarella or Italian blend cheeses
OUT (Sunday after church)
Imitation calzone (turkey, spinach, mozzarella)
Leftovers

Supper:
Tuna
Turkey sandwiches or salad w/Craisins
Turkey tarragon salad
Greek meat salad
Leftovers
Turkey nachos or quesadillas
Roast beef salad

Thursday

Breakfast - tuna/Alfredo/peas

Lunch - leg quarters/onion gravy (beef broth with a little roux, diced onions) over rice; small piece cake

Supper - grilled chicken/rice/cream cheese

Dessert - No Ice Cream Banana Split

Other - 1/2 cup coffee w/Demarara and cream (sipped throughout day)

Wednesday

Slowly but surely I'm feeling better. My sinuses are a lot better but I am still really run down. The least bit of exertion makes me out of breath. I think it's partly from being sick, and partly from the antibiotics. At least my stomach has eased up from them! Tomorrow is my last dose. My gallbladder has had little twinges but nothing major. I was concerned about how it would handle all the chemicals in the medicines (I've had to take ibuprofen off and on for the past two-ish months to relieve the pressure and swelling in my sinuses). But it's doing okay. I think the twinges have been from the stomach upset more than anything.

Breakfast - leftover corn dog casserole

1/2 cup coffee w/Demarara and cream (I'm out of stevia)

Lunch - tuna/Alfredo sauce/peas/few bites garlic bread

Later - chocolate almonds

Supper - roast beef in romaine salad with bleu cheese dressing; small piece of cake (Funfetti w/homemade chocolate buttercream)

"That's Not Trash, That's Dinner"

Interesting article... http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/dining/thats-not-trash-thats-dinner.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

Tuesday

Breakfast - grilled chicken/rice/butter/parsley

Few sips of coffee w/usual

Lupper - Italian buffet

Monday

Breakfast - macaroni salad w/cheddar

Lunch - (93/7) ground beef/carrots/mashed potatoes (boxed)/seasonings; chocolate coconut (semi and bittersweet chocolate)

Supper - almond butter (100% almonds)/peach (canned in juice, pureed) sandwich; brownie

Other - 1/2 cup coffee w/usual (sipped throughout day)

And oh yeah... My stomach is a bit messed up from the antibiotics :( Really thankful for probiotics!

So, July is Over...

And since I promised to start posting regularly again, here I am! With a sinus infection :p

For the past 6+ weeks I've been sick. I've gotten better and worse but never completely well. It's felt like a constant cold that flares up when I'm run down.

Saturday afternoon my throat started hurting really bad. By that evening the left side of my face was slightly swollen and I had pain and pressure from my temple to the top of my shoulder. I took a couple ibuprofen and it helped some but I knew I had a sinus infection :(

Looking back, I think I've had it for quite a while but my supplements have kept it from getting bad. Till Saturday. I think the stress and unhealthy eating while moving lowered my immune system and the sickness started then. I had nonstop days leading up to Ethan's party Saturday and between being stressed, busy, and not getting enough sleep, I think my body just didn't have any more fight left...

Sunday morning I went to the after-hours walk-in clinic. It didn't take the doctor long to make the official diagnosis. Big surprise. NOT. So now I'm on antibiotics for the first time since Gabriel was born. My body doesn't tolerate most antibiotics well but I do pretty good with Zithromax. And I only have to remember to take it 5 times ;) My stomach was upset after the initial (double) dose yesterday but it usually is. I sipped some mint/green tea last night and it helped. Hopefully today will be better!

One good "side effect" of the antibiotics though. Last night I could see my face was already clearer :p It always clears up when I'm on antibiotics. Positive sign that they're already working :)

I don't know what meals will be like today. We finished off the leftovers yesterday but I'm not exactly up for cooking. Still lightheaded :(

I'm hoping the antibiotics will kick this for good and August will be a much better month!