Menu Plan {February 27th – March 4th} plus Weight Loss Goals and Make Ahead Action Plan

It has been a couple of weeks (or longer) since I have posted a menu plan. I was still using one I just did not have the time (or energy) to actually post it. However, please note, when there are times I don’t get to post my menu plan you can always see previous menu plans here in the archives. That way you can still get your meal inspiration and ideas even when I am being a slacker

The format for this week’s menu plan is not going to be as “formal” as in the past. I realize that I need a bit more flexibility in my meal schedule.

Lately, I have been giving myself meal options for the week, preparing everything ahead of time, and deciding a night or two before what foods I am going to choose.

I still have the lofty goal to someday create a monthly menu plan but for now this seems to be working well with our busy work schedules as well as our budget.

Weight Loss Goals for 2012

• My goal is to get down to 130 pounds by June 1st. Right now I am stuck at 146. However, despite my feelings of total burnout these last couple weeks I still have managed to keep my weight loss going. Granted it has only been a pound but at least I did not gain.

Weight Loss Action Plan

• I am completely cutting my caffeine intake. Usually, I am all about going slow but I think my coffee consumption is getting out of control. Not only is it causing me to drink extra calories but it is making me crash everyday around 3:00pm. Not good. The only coffee I will be drinking is my one cup in the morning flavored with yummy homemade vanilla coffee creamer.
• Exercise needs to be a priority. I feel that I am at a stand still with my weight loss because I am not exercising nearly as much as I should. This week I will power walk Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday morning on the treadmill. I will also do strength training for 15 minutes those days.
• Refocus on my food journal. Some days I am locked on with my food journal other days not so much. This week I will be entering all my meals in prior to eating so I can make adjustments, if needed.

Menu Plan {February 27th – March 4th} and Make Ahead Meal Instructions

Even though I eat relatively healthy and have lost weight I still am not consuming as much fruits and vegetables as I should be. So, in putting together my menu plan this week I really wanted to focus on fruits and vegetables.

If you have any tips or recipes for getting more fruits and vegetables in your diet I would love to hear it (maybe you would even want to submit a guest post on the topic).

Most of the nutritional information can be found by clicking on the links to the recipes. If it is not my recipe and the nutritional information is not offered you can calculate it via My Fitness Pal.

Some of these recipes are new ones that I am trying. If all goes well I will post them with my adaptations along with the nutritional information and freezer cooking instructions.

Breakfast

Breakfast bowls ~ I was inspired to put these together after seeing this recipe over at Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures. I made mine without meat and with mushrooms and onions. They turned out great and froze perfectly. Over the weekend I put together 6 of them for the freezer.

Cheddar and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich. This is a newer take on my other freezer breakfast sandwich. I will post this week. You are going to like these. Over the weekend I put together 18 for the freezer.

Fruit and yogurt smoothies

Lunch

Skinny Green Monster Smoothie. This is my first time trying a green smoothie. I admit I am a little scared but people over in the SMK Facebook community swear by them. I will let you know. If I like it I am going to try to drink these 3 to 4 times a week. My thought is to make these ahead of time and transport in a water bottle.

Bean and Cheese Burritos using my homemade refried bean recipe.  I know I eat these all the time but they are good, fill me up, easy to make, and healthy. Need I say more?

Chobani Greek yogurt with frozen berries.

Leftovers

Dinner

Pizza Pasta Bake. I used this recipe from Food.com. I adapted it by first cutting the recipe in half, then substituting ground turkey, turkey pepperoni, and whole grain pasta. I also reduced the cheese and used homemade sauce. It turned out good so I will post the recipe sometime this week or next. I did not try to freeze it as an entire meal yet. However, I did have the meat and the sauce prepared ahead of time which made putting this meal together a cinch.

Tacos. What would my menu plan be without tacos Meat is already prepared in the freezer.

Slow Cooker Thai Pork. This is a new recipe that I am using from the cookbook Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker. I have high hopes for this one so I will let you know how it turns out. Also, I prepared the meat and marinade ahead of time and froze it. Now all I need to do is take it out the night before then dump it into the crockpot in the morning. Fingers crossed for this one.

Chicken Enchiladas. I put together a freezer meal kit using shredded Mexican chicken, enchilada  sauce, and burritos. At one time I made and froze the whole meal together but it came out a bit too mushy so I have found a freezer kit to work best. I will post on this recipe in the future but you can see what I mean by freezer kit by checking out my chicken quesadilla freezer kit.

Meatloaf with Mashed Red Potatoes and Balsamic Brussel Sprouts. I made the meatloaf last weekend and froze it. My goal was to also make and freeze the mashed potatoes but never got around to it. The potatoes and brussel sprouts will be made the night of. The brussel sprout recipe I use is fromVeggie Belly.

Homemade Frozen Pizzas. My husband thinks I am a genius for putting these together. I made 4 basic cheese and pepperoni pizzas last weekend – he already cooked two of them last week. I will be sharing how to make your own this week. You are going to love these! I can’t wait to play around with different toppings.

Grilled Marinated Chicken with Brown Parmesan Rice and Corn. Chicken is frozen in the marinade in the freezer. Will take it out a day or two before and let it thaw in the refrigerator. Rice is cooked and in the freezer. When we are ready to eat I will warm up the rice in the microwave and chicken will go on my indoor grill.

What is on your menu plan this week?