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Back in the Menu Planning Saddle 3

Filed under yum food
Written by Annie on 18th Jan -10

NOT my menu...
It’s been a month since I planned a menu. The last one was a two-week planning fest designed to carry us through Christmas without leaving a bunch of excess food in the fridge when we went out of town over New Year’s. It worked pretty well, and then we were out of town, and then we were home and sick. We were supposed to start our diet the first week in January, and we did. That stomach bug really gave us a kickstart. Woohoo. The things some people will do to lose weight… But the tummy bug was not voluntary so I really shouldn’t praise my own dedication to weight loss. In fact, if I’d had a choice I definitely would have declined. I despise being sick and I’m really bad at it, as in, whiny and unpleasant and grouchy.

Here I am, anyway, trying to keep us semi-aligned to our diet aspirations and on track for losing the rest of the weight. I actually lost 15 pounds over the holidays and the following two weeks of sickness, so I guess that’s good however unpleasant it was for me and the rest of the family. Heh heh.

One thing I’ve learned about my menu planning is that detailed menu planning kind of throws me off. I work better when I plan 6 or 7 dinners and then just choose the night before what we’ll have the next day. If I forget to think about it and  thus forget to pull meat out of the freezer, all the fish thaws in minutes so I can throw one of those meals together quickly if needed. I like having dinner prepped earlier in the day but it just doesn’t always work that way.

Our diet criteria are also influencing how I plan menus these days. I’m trying to think more, eat better, and not just grab what is quick and easy. ( Read inspiration here.) We’ve never eaten a lot of red meat because it’s expensive, but we used to eat a lot of pasta and good ole down-home Southern stuff: chicken and dumplings, homemade mac & cheese, meatloaf & mashed potatoes. I’m drooling. Stop, Annie, for the love of all that’s thin and healthy!

So now we’re doing a, um, very modified version of the Rosedale Diet. Basically lots of fish and lean poultry, salads and fresh vegetables, and not so much sugar and carb-laden food. I’m allowing us one pasta night per week & one beef night per week, and I’m aiming for eating fish at least twice a week and meatless twice a week.

I’m linked up with OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday.

fisheatfish

Dinners

Cranberry Chicken Melts on Low-Carb Buns
Beef Fajitas
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, Salad, Sauteed Veggies
Broiled Salmon, Buttery Cauliflower, Salad
Crock Pot Chili Lime Chicken-Tostada-Salad (probably skip the tostada and just make it a salad)
Broccoli Cheese Soup, Homemade Crackers
Artichoke Pasta with Alfredo Sauce

Lunches

Tuna Salad
French Onion Soup
Salad with Grilled Turkey or Chicken
Leftovers

Breakfasts (which I’m trying to save, still)

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins (a friend’s recipe I can’t wait to try, these will be our breakfast “luxury” for the week)
Raisin Bran
Whole Wheat Bagels
Omelet & Turkey Sausage (if I get really industrious, or if I whine enough and get Joe to cook…heehee)

Images courtesy of mugley and floodllama.

Day 10: The Get Up Early Challenge Comments Off

Filed under monthly challenges
Written by Annie on 11th Feb -08

10 February – We Will Overcome

Success with the alarm and with staying awake! I am beginning to really enjoy this monthly challenge. I’ve always liked getting up early, but I’ve never been consistent with it for a long period of time. I haven’t exactly hit “long period of time” – this is only Day 10 – but the actual getting up part is much easier than I anticipated.

This last week of half-success with getting up early while sick has led me to new conclusions in the area of cold and flue treatment: I’m thinking there is a definite medicinal value in coffee. I know I feel better after a warm, smooth cup with Creme Brulee creamer. Nutritionally, perhaps, it doesn’t sound helpful but on a more visceral (and effective) level I know it does me good.

Diet is a tricky thing. I hate weight-loss or special diets of any kind. My experience with them is limited but so terrible that it has kept me from them, probably forever.

First, back in early high school years, my whole family went on a Cabbage Soup Diet, which is as torturous as it sounds. After a week of smelling and eating cabbage soup, I gained two pounds.

Then, in my later high school, we became vegetarian for a while. Vegetarian was tolerable; there were plenty of options and I’ve always enjoyed fresh fruits and vegetables. It was when we decided to go vegan that my food life went downhill. Think The Titanic in culinary terms. Filmy soy butter and plastic, shiny slices of soy cheese appeared in our refrigerator. We ate veggie burger (not bad) and fake “meat” crumbles (horrifying) and seasoned everything with Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (distinct).

I think it was the soy dairy that did me in. Something deep inside me (the part that really likes butter, I guess) rebelled at a diet that replaces good and real, albeit fattening, food with processed, colored, imitation products of soy. The answer is simple: do without dairy, real or otherwise. Simple, but unacceptable for me.

To the successful vegans out there, I say more power to you. You have my respect and admiration. But don’t feel you have to invite me over for dinner.

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