Tag Archives: low-carb

menu plan monday, 10.2

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It has been a pretty easy adjustment to the carb-restricted diet, and even though I don’t have to eat this way, I am and I’m enjoying a lot of benefits, specifically increased energy. I can’t believe the difference in the past week. I’m getting more done, I’m sleeping better, and I’m waking up more alert. The kids are also better behaved and more focussed. If only all transitions could go as smoothly as this one! The big hit last week was the cauliflower pizza crust. Mine came out a little soggy, but I think if I’d cooked it on my pizza stone the texture would have been great. I can’t wait to make that again! Our CSA pickup is this week, so the veggies toward the end of the week might change a little bit depending upon what’s in our basket.

Here’s what’s cookin’ in Carol’s Kitchen this week 😉

  • Sunday: Eat out
  • Monday: Chili, green salad
  • Tuesday: Crock pot gyros turned into a massive salad with romaine, tomato, red onion, feta, cucumber, black olives, and tzatziki
  • Wednesday: Pork chops, roasted broccoli, “loaded” mashed cauliflower, green salad
  • Thursday: White chili, green salad
  • Friday: Burgers on Oopsie Rolls (gotta find another name because I feel ridiculous typing that), cole slaw or green salad, cut-up veggies, bacon-wrapped jalepeno poppers
  • Saturday: Chicken fajitas (tortillas for the kids if they want them), black bean salad.

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

friday favorite finds – healthy breakfasts

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It’s Friday! So that means it’s time to link up with Finding Joy in My Kitchen‘s Friday Favorite Finds. Here are my Pinterest food finds for the week.

This week has been weirdly humid and rainy — not quite hot but not cool. Definitely not my favorite weather. When we went to the grocery store yesterday we drove through quite a downpour — the old swishers were working overtime to clear the windshield! It’s supposed to really cool off over the weekend, so I’m thinking about cozy breakfasts. Now the the boys have CCD on Wednesday afternoons, we can have lazy Sunday mornings and I love that!

Here are some delicious breakfast recipes I wanted to share, Enjoy!

Berry “pancake” souffle

 

Crustless Quiche – I made a version of this recipe and it was terrific!

 

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

 

Oopsie Rolls – Not just for breakfast, these low-carb “rolls” are GREAT with peanut butter, to dip in egg yolk, and can be doctored up with vanilla, cinnamon, etc. Super easy to make and surprisingly yummy!

 

Be sure to head over to Finding Joy in My Kitchen and see what inspired everyone else this week!

menu plan monday, livin’ la vida low carb

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Drew and I embraced a low-carb lifestyle a few years ago and until recently were sticking to it quite well. Over the summer we slacked quite a bit, but now we are back and absolutely committed.

Per D’s doctor’s orders, we are eliminating sugar and back to low-carb living. I’m totally fine with it and the kids are enthusiastic about trying new dishes and eating healthier. Although I won’t be totally eliminating breads and sugar from their diet, we are all working together and they’re happy to eat more protein and veggies. (Thank goodness I do not have picky eaters!)

We are back to eating South Beach style, so if you’re looking for low-carb menu ideas, you’ve come to the right place! Mind you, these meal plans will not always apply to our kids, especially breakfast and lunch. As for D & myself, breakfasts will be some kind of preparation of eggs, or yogurt sprinkled with nuts. Lunches will be a large salad with a protein (chicken, tuna, or shrimp most likely). Dinners this week look something like this:

  • Sunday: Chili, green salad
  • Monday: Sausage and peppers on an Oopsie Roll, roasted tomato soup, green salad
  • Tuesday: Lemon chicken, roasted broccoli with Parmesan, green salad
  • Wednesday: Turkey taco salads with black beans, avocado and cilantro-lime vinaigrette
  • Thursday: Roasted lemon garlic herb shrimp, roasted broccoli, green salad
  • Friday: Grilled steak, loaded broccoli, Caprese salad
  • Saturday: Pizza night! Trying out this cauliflower crust recipe. And a green salad, of course.

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

friday favorite finds, 9.23

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It’s Friday! So that means it’s time to link up with Finding Joy in My Kitchen‘s Friday Favorite Finds. Here are my Pinterest food finds for the week.

We’re back to seriously focussing on our low-carb lifestyle. The past few months I admit to doing a little (okay, a lot) more baking than usual, and serving a lot more pasta dishes and a lot more sandwiches and… you get the picture. Well, it has to stop. Luckily I found no shortage of inspiration to get back on track.

Chicken With Puttenesca Sauce

 

Chicken Pesto

 

Chickpea Salad

 

Avocado Chicken Salad

 

(And one dessert!) South Beach Mini Cocoa Swirl Cheesecake

 

Be sure to head over to Finding Joy in My Kitchen and see what inspired everyone else this week!

menu plan monday, busy week edition

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I don’t know about you, but around here the days are just packed with activities lately. We have doctor’s appointments, dentist’s appointments, school activities up the wazoo, and I also can’t forget to make my ultrasound appointment to check on my thyroid nodule (hard to believe it’s been a year already). So as school winds down and summer begins, my plan is to just go with easy meals that don’t take much time or brain power.

Speaking of my thyroid, my results came back from the Celiac panel, and they were within the normal range. Nevertheless, I am still going to try cutting back on carbs and gluten. The more I read, the less I want to consume them. Plus, I just feel generally better when I am not bloated after eating bread or pasta. And, of course, there’s my family history of diabetes. The less sugar in my system, the better. With all of the wonderful produce available during the summer, I think it’s good time to work on this. I’m not cutting them out entirely, but I’m going to be a lot more mindful of the carbs I eat. I currently have “Good Calories, Bad Calories” by Gary Taubes sitting on the end table, and as soon as I finish “Catching Fire,” I am diving into it!

Anyway… on to my meal plan.

  • Sunday: Take-out
  • Monday: Beef & vegetable stiry-fry
  • Tuesday: Turkey & bean chili (slow cooker), green salad
  • Wednesday: Chicken curry, basamati rice, cucumber & onion salad
  • Thursday: Spinach & swiss quiche, green salad
  • Friday: Cub Scout picnic – no cooking
  • Saturday: Winging it — leftovers or something on the grill

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.