Meal Plans and Snack Ideas

I will try and update this list as I come up with ideas to share. But here is a handy dandy list if you are trying to think of some healthy, grain-free meal or snack options. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section!! I’m always looking for new and tasty ideas. J I will post pictures and recipes for some of these as I make them at home… stay tuned.

Breakfast Choices (If I am not running out the door with a plain banana I go with one of these):

1    .     Banana with 2 TBL almond butter (or other nut/seed butter). I love MaraNatha All Natural No Stir Almond Butter Smooth.

2    .     ½ cup of Plain yogurt (I use TJ’s European Style Organic Plain Nonfat) with a large handful of blueberries. Optional add-ins include; slivered almonds, toasted coconut or other berries. Can sweeten with cinnamon or honey or agave syrup.

3    .     Hard-boiled egg (I like to make a few early in the week for an easy grab).

4    .     Scrambled eggs with feta cheese (I started using coconut oil to cook eggs). Go fancy and add some parsley, dill or other herbs. Season with salt/pepper.

5    .     My easy pancake recipe made with just eggs and banana (recipe).

6    .     Sunday brunch usually includes some type of omelet and very crispy bacon! I love bacon!

Lunch Options:

1    .     Romaine lettuce wrap. Can include chicken, turkey or other meat with some hummus or guacamole, sprouts, and cucumber for some crunch. You can also go veggie with red pepper, carrots, green onion and anything else you can fit in there. FYI… Jimmy John’s delivers and you can order any sandwich as an “unwich,” in which they use a huge piece of lettuce instead of bread to wrap up the inside goods. But try to make homemade and try to stick to meats that are not deli-meats. The less processing, the better.

2    .     Tuna salad or chicken salad. I make my chicken salad with some Lemonaise, celery, walnuts, and apple. For the tuna, I like to get the one in oil so I don’t need mayo, and add celery, capers, pickles, scallions and walnuts. Yum yum. You can eat this by itself or in a lettuce wrap.

3    .     Make a salad. Any kind, pile up the veggies. Adding an avocado gives it a little depth. I also like adding some Mediterranean olives (not the seedless ones that you can put on your fingers to make an olive monster). (Blue cheese and cranberries) (make it greek) (arugula with lemon juice, olive oil and parmesan).

4    .     Soup. Vegetable soup, tomato, lentil, etc. (see my hearty soup recipe… )

5    .     Roasted chicken with roasted or steamed vegetables (I love roasting broccolini/broccoli rabe)

6    .     Raw shaved zucchini, asparagus, or mini artichoke salad. Add shaved fennel, spring onions, parsley, goat cheese, lemon juice and olive oil.

Dinners (recipes to follow soon to eventually):

1    .     Basically any meat with a side of vegetables and a small salad if needed.

a.     Baked or roasted chicken thighs/breast with roasted vegetable (onions, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower).

b.     Mashed cauliflower and roasted red cabbage with grilled sausage.

c.      Roasted brussels sprouts, baked sweet potato with cinnamon with pork roast.

d.     Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce and red cabbage slaw.

e.     Lamb chops with arugula salad.

2    .     Ground beef stew with zucchini, tomato, and green beans.

3    .     Roasted vegetable lasagna.

4    .     Omelet for dinner.

5    .     Bean salad with chorizo.

6    .     Flatbread pizza on a cauliflower crust or cheese base.

7    .     Tomato, mozzarella, basil salad.

8    .     Artichokes with a lemon oil sauce for dipping.

9    .     Spaghetti using spaghetti squash.

Snacks:

1    .     Water – don’t underestimate the importance of hydration. Sometimes when you’re thirsty, your brain confuses it for hunger. Hydrate first and foremost!

2    .     Apple with some almond butter

3    .     Navel orange

4    .     Cheese sticks

5    .     Guacamole with Plantain chips (my favorite!)

6    .     Cucumber or carrot sticks with hummus

7    .     Handful of nuts or seeds. Try Pepitas! (Make pre-portioned baggies so you don’t go overboard).

8    .     Beef Jerky

Drinks

1    .     Water, lots of water!

2    .     Green Tea or White Tea

3    .     My Starbucks run is usually for either a Grande Nonfat Latte or Earl Grey Latte. Yum yum.

4     .     Stay away from juices and sodas, especially diet. Yuck for fake sugar. I do admit that on special occasions I do order a regular Coke. Soooo good, but it has corn syrup – which is made from grains, so not good, not to mention all that sugar and carbonation.

5    .     Alcohol you say? I stick to Red Wine. Beer, Vodka, Whisky, etc. made of grains. Swans Neck Vodka is made of grapes and is the only one I like (I think Cîroc has a weird taste). So I can still enjoy my favorite Bloody Marys!!