Posted on November 4, 2018
Welcome back for me, for you.
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back into regular posts,
although the smiles and trials of life do happen.
And yes, this is only one, yet I am planning on this weekly post subject for you.
My plan is to share some simple meal planning ideas, healthy low carb, paleo, keto recipes.
I have been working on this post for a little bit now.
So this is a patchwork quilt of subjects running thru my head.
I put them all in this post, so we can catch up a little.
There is always one day in the week to try to figure out what to do for meals. Generally that is the day of walking around the grocery and this is on sale, that is on sale, grab and go because a hungry family waits at home, or are anxious in the cart with you. Sometimes trying to figure out what to cook is an every day struggle. Even the simplest of plan can help with healthier and better choices and avoid some of the stress. We all have enough stress, so even eliminating a tiny bit helps.
Our family has made some big changes in the way we eat since July 2018, moving to low carb/keto meals. This way of eating has been truly wonderful for us. This change has of course helped in weight loss, but also helped for increase energy, and as the family cook… I am happy with what I am eating and preparing for my family. I don’t feel guilty at all with food anymore. My sugar levels are finally in a “normal” level, and I don’t crash after meals. Every bit of food prepared is filled with vitamins, nutrients, and what our bodies need. No more what I now consider empty choices.
As I get older I feel more and more we lose track that everything counts and that we need to make everything count. Food is of course needed as part of our existence. So if we are trying to live our lives to the fullest in work, play, every other way possible then we should include food in that list.
Meal prep is a big thing, and it truly is a great process. Although, I admit as much as I want to prepare everything and it be so simple once a week, life does happen. My biggest prep is making sure I have what I need in the pantry, freezer, and refrigerator each week to complete easy, healthy, low cost meals.
Here are my basics I need to have, with a few recipes. I will have plenty more in following weekly posts. These are some of my favorites that bring me a smile at dinner time.
CHICKEN – I buy chicken breast from Alisons Pantry. They are great quality, easy prep, and even though skinless/boneless I generally make them with a fatty sauce, or into a salad. So that isn’t an issue. Local Grocery Chicken – this is going to be the sale ad search. Generally the thighs, skin on/bone in are the cheapest. Plus I love them, and they are a double duty meal. Grill/roast up with basic salt, pepper, garlic. Keep the bones and make chicken bone broth. Butter Chicken is my creamy favorite chicken treat, thanks to KETO CONNECT for this food happiness. Recipe here.
BEEF – A wonderful fatty steak is amazing, yet a treat, not in the weekly meal plan. The fatty ground beef is always in the meal plan. I have found in our local grocery the fattier ground beef is in the tube. I know… beef in a tube?? Yes, I went for it… because first off it is cheaper, and secondly I wanted the fattier beef. I have only found one problem with it.. I have to remember to clean my grill out more often.
PORK – Pork is what I get when the local grocery is buy one get one free. I am happy that it is pretty often at our stores and am to stock up. Chops, roasts, always good. Ribs??? They are generally on the sale also, yet I have never been able to conquer a recipe for myself. So I sadly decline. One of these months or years I will have to conquer a great set of bbq smoked ribs. Until then a great roast and a side of cauliflower mac and cheese.
BACON – yes, bacon has its own area. Bacon is bacon and wonderful! I have found some bacon cheap treats at the grocery, because it rarely goes on sale. Big Buy Bacon is good. Some places have a couple pound pack of ends and pieces for a reasonable price… which is great. Because you can always chop thick pieces up for breakfast and use smaller odd pieces to add fats into meals.
EGGS – I can not run out of eggs. I buy the biggest pack the grocery store has each week. I generally cook up at least a dozen boiled eggs a week. This will go into egg salad, and just eating boiled eggs. The rest is in breakfast omelet or scrambled and general baking. Some weeks I make a special treat so we go to a local farm for fresh eggs. Plus, the recipe never calls for a dozen eggs, so I have extra tasty fresh ones for fried eggs with some tasty bacon. My new favorite boiled egg treat is from Ketoconnect, fry the boiled egg, melt the cheese on top. Then I like to drizzle avocado oil on top. I never thought there was a difference in oils. Although with my boiled fried egg treat, I like avocado oil much better than olive oil.
SNACKS –
Pork Rinds – Keto low carb snacks do not include potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels or anything like that. Although, I know our family loves a crispy crunchy snack… especially on movie nights. So, pork rinds it is. They rarely go on sale, yet they are cheaper than other chips. Plus, oddly eating the way I do now, a few crunch snacks satisfies, unlike the chip cravings when I could eat an entire bag, and continue to search for more.
Almonds – I always get Blue Diamond Almonds.. Our family has never had any allergy issues with them and such a quick grab and go snack.
Cheese – Cheese is… well Cheese and I love cheese and it is always wonderful. Yes, I will say it again… I love cheese. Fried cheese, melted cheese, cold cheese, cheese curds, cheese bread.. and the best.. cheese pizza crust. Fathead Dough from Wholesom Yum is my go to recipe.
Thanks to you all for following!
Much more to come.
Next up: Will Power Wednesday!
Great to wake up to your delicious meal ideas! I want to offer a great way to make pork ribs (any rack of your choice). Though we have a great cast iron smoker, I actually enjoy these made-in-the-oven variety even better! Heat oven to 400. Place garlic powdered and peppered rack into tightly wrapped foil, around entire rack of ribs on a cookie sheet with edges (I also cover the cookie sheet with foil, too), and place in oven for about 10 minutes. Turn oven down to 300 and bake for about 3 hours. Take out, brush with your favorite BBQ sauce, re-wrap with the foil, and put back in oven another 15 minutes or so. Voila!!! They fall off the bones! They are like pulled pork!! Wish I had a rack right now…Looking forward to your upcoming recipes!