Happy Sunday, everybody! Many of you know that my family and I started on a journey to healthy living in March of this year. Prior to that, we were in full on survival mode, ordering take-out several times a week and eating carbs, carbs, and more carbs. And before bedtime every night? There was ice cream or cookies or something else sweet. We justified it because “it was just a season of life” and “all we had time for.” But I’ve learned over the past few months that it’s actually possible to eat healthy with minimal time!
One of the keys to eating healthy has been meal planning. And since I’m not a cook, the even bigger key has been to KEEP IT SIMPLE. I’m not spending hours cooking every day, because let’s be honest, I’m lucky if I get 20 minutes in the kitchen before my kids start hanging all over my legs.
Since I’m planning my meals anyway, I thought it’d be fun to start sharing them with you all every Sunday!
Monday
Breakfast: Frozen waffles with peanut butter & eggs
Lunch: Shakeology for me, deli turkey, veggie, and fruit for the kids
Dinner: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup (adapted from Potentially Lovely)
-1/2 cup chopped onion
-1 teaspoon minced garlic (I buy mine in a jar from Target)
-3 cups low sodium chicken broth
-1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
-1/8 cup cilantro
-1 15 oz can black beans
-1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
-2 cups frozen corn kernels
-1 tsp cumin
-1/2 tsp ground oregano
-5 – 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Line slow cooker with a plastic liner for easy clean up. Add all ingredients to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Remove chicken from soup and shred (I do this with my KitchenAid mixer). Return to slow cooker and serve! Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Yogurt parfaits (greek yogurt, sliced bananas, sliced almonds, coconut flakes, old fashioned oats)
Lunch: Shakeology for me, leftover chicken enchilada soup for the kids, plus some fruit and pretzels
Dinner: A bag of frozen steamable veggies, and meatballs
-2 lbs. ground beef
-1 cup old fashioned oats
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp pepper
-1/2 teaspoon minced onion
-1 teaspoon dried basil
-1 teaspoon oregano leaves
-2 eggs
-1/2 cup milk
Heat over to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and grease it with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients and shape into meatballs. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes!
Wednesday
Breakfast: Frozen whole grain waffle with peanut butter and sugar free jelly for the kids, eggs
Lunch: Shakeology for me, Applegate All Beef Hot Dogs, veggie straws and fruit for the kids
Dinner: Slow Cooker Beef & Carrots
-1 beef roast, frozen
-1 – 2 lbs carrots, peeled and cut to bite size
-3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
-2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
-salt & pepper
Line slow cooker with plastic liner for easy clean up. Add all ingredients to slow cooker. Add enough water until half the roast is submerged, this helps it to stay extra moist. Cook on low 10 – 12 hours, or until it easily comes apart with a fork.
Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with peanut butter, raisins, and bananas
Lunch: Shakeology for me, leftover roast, veggies, and fruit for the kids
Dinner: Steamed broccoli, grilled skinless boneless chicken breasts on the grill
Friday
Breakfast: Yogurt parfaits (greek yogurt, sliced bananas, sliced almonds, coconut flakes, old fashioned oats)
Lunch: Shakeology for me, leftover chicken, veggies, and fruit for the kids
Dinner: Slow Cooker Pizza (adapted from Healthy Feels Happy)
-1 lb browned ground beef or turkey seasoned with 1 tsp. worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder
-1 15 oz jar pizza sauce
-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
-2/3 cup parmesan cheese
-3 cups fresh spinach
-Turkey pepperoni
-1/2 green pepper, chopped
-1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
-1/4 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
-1 tsp minced garlic
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey with sauce and onions. Place half of sauce mixture in the bottom of a 6 quart crock pot.
- Place half of fresh spinach on top of sauce mixture.
- Place pepperoni and 1/2 desired toppings on top.
- Place half of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top of toppings.
- Repeat layers ending with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cook on low 4-6 hours.
- Let cool slightly and cut into 8 slices. Refrigerate remaining.
Saturday
Breakfast: Cold cereal
Lunch: Shakeology for Jake and me, deli turkey, veggies, and fruit for the kids
Dinner: ANNIVERSARY DATE NIGHT! (Kids will eat Annie’s mac & cheese)
Sunday
Breakfast: Cold cereal
Lunch: Out for lunch at Chipotle or Jersey Mike’s
Dinner: Any leftovers we haven’t eaten/breakfast for dinner!
And that’s it! Planning ahead is KEY for us staying on track!
I hope that helps! I’d love to hear what your go-to healthy simple meals!
Have a wonderful week!
XOXO,
Amber
P.S. For more reflections on parenthood and life, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!
11 Comments
Just curious, do you intentionally do no carbs for lunches and dinners? And if so, can you explain the benefits for me? Thanks!
Thank you for sharing! I want to get on this path but have had a hard time with planning ahead!
I would love to hear what you do for snacks for you or the kids during the day! That is our hardest spot!
Great, easy looking meal plan! I’m so impressed that your kiddos eat all of that…my Lucas went from eating almost anything to basically nothing these days!!
Looks so simple and yummy, just the way that I like things!
Thank you for doing this! I get so tripped up in guilt thinking I need to be slaving away in the kitchen all day preparing amazing meals. Your meal plans will be so helpful!
Love this!! Thanks for posting this. I’m on a low carb due to type 1 diabetes. Love having some new ideas for low carb meals!
Oh my goodness YES! Love meal planning and it’s so great to get some encouragement and a reminder that writing it down will really help me stay on track and “get ahead and stay ahead” for the week.
This is so great! You should definitely post your meal plans every week! Quick, easy dinner are where its at! I LOVE sharing meal ideas!! Here’s a few of our go-to favorites:
Breakfast: french toast (whole wheat bread, egg&cinnamon, 100% pure maple syrup), shreddies cereal (dry) & yogurt, banana & yogurt & baby organic granola bar, homemade bran/raspberry muffins, toast&peanut butter
Lunch: peanut butter sandwiches are always a hit (add fruit), crackers & cheese, deli chicken sandwich
Dinner: I’ve been on a serious hunt for quick, easy dinners and here are a couple GREAT ones that I think your fam would love (and you will, too):
– Fajitas (turkey scallopini, red&green peppers, onions – spray pan with olive oil, place turkey on the bottom of pan, sprinkle with half of Oldl’ El Paso TACO seasoning, place onions then peppers on top and sprinkle with the remaining seasoning – cover and cook for 35-40 min at 400. I even buy disposable pans on sale to cut down on dishes!). Add rice (I buy Uncle Ben’s Bistro Express Basmati rice – saves on having to use a pot!), cheese, cherry tomatoes halved, and salsa.
– Vegetarian Quinoa Chili (http://recipesandme.com/recipes/vegetarian-quinoa-chili/) – I substitute Old’ El Paso Chili seasoning (instead of the combination of spices in the recipe) and garlic powder (instead of garlic cloves). Top with tostitos, green onions and cheese! 🙂
– Betty Crocker slow cooker Chicken Cacciatore (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-chicken-cacciatore-with-linguine/788bd2b5-46e4-467b-aaf1-1350dad25698) – combine whole wheat/white penne pasta.
– Frozen quesadillas (M&M Meats) or make your own with a purchased roasted chicken (using whole wheat tortilla), Uncle Ben’s Bistro Express Basmati rice, steamed broccoli
🙂
–
Great meal plan! We are in the process of eating out WAY too much, eating way too many carbs and having dessert every night.
Quick and easy meal planning. LOVE! Thanks for posting your easy family friendly meal plans 🙂 I like the easy meatball recipe, will def be trying it out. Do you freeze your meatballs and warm them up at a later time? If so can you please share your method. Thanks!