Clean Eating Meal Prep

For me meal prep is the number one things for me to succeed! 

Each week on either Sunday or Monday evening I set aside a hour or so and prep my meals for the week. This has been a huge part of me sticking with it. 

I mainly just prep for breakfast and dinner since I am running out the door to work 

in the morning and need something to eat while there.

 Dinners are easier for me to prepare on the spot since I am home at night. 

First,  I start by making a large batch of uncut steel oats. 

In the morning all I have to do is a little almond milk,  raw honey or cinnamon 

and I like to add fruit to it as well.

 I portion this out into wide mouth pint jars so that i can just take it with me and eat it from the jar. 

1/2 Cup Uncut Steel oats cooked and ready to be reheated! 

Then I make a big batch of brown rice. I make enough to portion out for 6 days and have a little left over for home that I will have for dinner as well. I add about a 1/2 a cup  into my lunch container. 

I grill six chicken breast. I portion them out into my lunch and then it 

leaves me with some for at the house as well. 

 The ones I use are large so about half is good for my lunch! 

This is the chicken I use and I buy it frozen from Walmart

Then I steam 2 to 3 different veggies so I don't get burnt out eating the same thing. 

I put the brown rice on the bottom and chicken and veggies on top.

While prepping I also cut up veggies and fruit so that they are easy for me to grab. 

This way when I want a snack or for me to make a smoothie if I am in a hurry.

 I try not to let to long go in between meals and snacks or I start craving things I don't need! 

I also cut up veggies to throw into egg whites or in with the brown rice to make a veggie bowl. 

Cutting up fruits and veggies for the week!

Some of my go to meals are:

 Grilled Salmon with veggies.

Spinach Salad with veggies, fruit and an organic vinaigrette.

Veggie Brown rice bowls and I add chicken sometimes.

Grilled Chicken with veggies.

Veggies on the grill with grilled pineapple.

Rarely, but sometime Grilled Turkey Sausage.

Stuffed Bell peppers with brown rice and ground turkey.

Some Go To Snacks:

Greek Yogurt with fruit and healthy granola.

Apple with natural peanut butter.

Banana with raw honey. 

Smoothie if I am really hungry or to follow up a hard workout.

A cup of fruit with Almonds.

This is just some of what I do and I will be sharing some clean recipes and new things I try as well! 

Try to take the time to prepare your meals before hand. 

It helps me when I am in a hurry as well as with my mindset before the week has even begun. 

Oh and because I am SUPER EXCITED! I have lost 19.5 pounds!! Still a lot more to go, but I am looking forward to it and the Journey ahead of me. 

Shine on Lovelies,

Ashley M.

Pinterest Inspired Recipe: Loaded Baked Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole

My favorite part of Meal Planning and cooking more has to 

be trying new recipes! 

Most of which I find on Pinterest. 

 How did we cook before Pinterest? 

I never found good recipes like this in my recipe books.

Being a huge fan of easy and not a ton of ingredients,

the recipe I am going to share with you was amazing!

Loaded Baked Potato & Buffalo Chicken  Casserole

I will of course give credit where it is due, I found this recipe here.

However, I changed it up so my toddler would eat it

 so I will tell you exactly what I did.

Ingredients: 

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small bit size pieces

8-10 medium potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes  (I peeled the potatoes)

1/3 cup olive oil 

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 TBS. freshly ground pepper

1 TBS. paprika 

2 TBS. garlic powder 

3 TBS. hot sauce 

Topping:

2 cup Fiesta Blend Cheese or a mix of Cheddar & Monterey Jack

1 cup crumbled bacon
1 cup diced green onion

Preheat oven to 500F (This is NOT a typo, 500F is correct!)  
In a large bowl mix together the olive oil, 
salt, pepper,  paprika, garlic powder & hot sauce. 
Add the cubed potatoes and stir to coat. 
Carefully scoop the potatoes into a cooking spray coated 9 x 13 inch baking dish,
leaving behind as much of the olive oil/hot sauce mix as possible. 
 Bake the potatoes for 45-50 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes,
until cooked through and crispy & browned on the outside.  
While the potatoes are cooking, add the cubed chicken to the bowl
with the leftover olive oil/hot sauce mix and stir to coat.  

Once the potatoes are fully cooked, 
remove from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 400F.  
Top the cooked potatoes with the raw marinated chicken. 
In a bowl mix together the cheese, bacon & green onion
and top the raw chicken with the cheese mix. 
 Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or 
until the chicken is cooked through and the topping is bubbly delicious.  
Serve with extra hot sauce and/or ranch dressing.

This turned out just as awesome as it sounds and we loved it.
Already saved as one of our go to favorites.
Hope you enjoy it as much as we did and thanks to Pinterest
for allowing me to find this gem! 

Bon Appétit,
Ashley

Our Weekly Plan

A huge part of me trying to get us on a budget and 

organized before we welcome our newest bundle of joy is

Organization.

So I made us a family binder.

Yep your thinking right. Just like the one's you use to have in high school.

Tabs and all. I am sure as I get more organized and use to it I will add to it.

Right now it consist of our 

Calendar. Income. Budget. Meal Plans & Weeks Recipes. 

Cleaning Lists and Grocery List.

Oh and don't get me wrong I am not the crazy momma who thinks this will

fix everything but at least maybe it will help us get on the right track.

Here is our Meal Plan for the Week:

Breakfast is always what sounds good in the morning:
Eggs and bacon. Cereal. Oatmeal. 
Pancakes. (that I pre-make and freeze then just reheat) Waffles.
Muffins. Biscuits & Sausage. Smoothies.
We also always include fruit and yummy juice and Milk.

Lunch Is kind of the same concept. 

Daddy is working so it's just me and the little guy.

We love making homemade mini pizza's with some veggies and meats.

Salads. Chicken. Salmon Patties. Sandwiches. PB&J.

Leftovers. More Fruit. =) Broccoli & Cheese. Pre- Made Casseroles reheated.

Here is our Dinner Plans:

Monday: Red Bean & Rice with biscuits.

after a long day at doctor I knew we would need something easy and fast.

Tuesday: Loaded Potato & Chicken Casserole 

Wednesday: Has been nominated as Leftover Day! ;)

Thursday: Lasagna & Corn with Garlic Toast

Friday: BBQ Pork Chops, Macaroni & Cheese and Collard Greens.

(Yes I am a Southern Gal!)

Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers & French Fries with a Salad

Sunday: Cajun Chicken Pasta with steamed Broccoli as side

I went this last week and got all the groceries I need for this week and next.

My plan is to make our menu's two weeks out and get all that I need. 

As well as plan meals with store specials and coupons.

Hoping this helps save lots of money. ;)

I have also taken the things that need to be done around the house and 

spread them out for each day of the week. 

This really helps me being almost 30 weeks pregnant and having a toddler.

I don't feel like I have to get it all done in one day and 

it still gets done and keeps me from getting too behind!

The great thing about the binder is it is easy for my husband and myself 

to pull out and see what needs to be done. Where we are at and

what the week ahead looks like.

Do you guys have a family planner/ binder? 

What system have you found that works best for you?

I have always been when of those unorganized, organized people. 

So I am trying to get more organized... Here is to wishful thinking!

Before I leave you here is my sweet boy exhausted from our busy Monday=)

Happy Planning,

Ashley