Meal Plan: June 9 – 15, 2019

This is our basic meal plan for the week. Sometimes we will switch the days around if I forgot to set something out or put something in the crockpot. Please feel free to use this or change it around to suit your family’s needs.

I have started trying to do easier meals on days that I have square dancing obligations. This helps me to be able to put a nice meal on the table without feeling guilty about having some much needed ‘Mommy Time’. Some of these meals may also help with those that have busy or irregular schedules due to work or extracurricular activities.

I do have ‘Snacks/Desserts’ listed as well. I always try to keep a bowl of fresh fruit out on the counter or table for the kids to snack on. Sometimes I will make a special snack or treat for us to enjoy.

We have also been using the Trim Healthy Mama books to try to convert some of our favorite recipes to be healthier. Meal planning really does help keep this tired Momma from completely losing her sanity. It also helps when I can quickly locate the recipe and ingredients I need for grocery lists and meal prep. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the supplements and such that we are using. You can always buy them a few at a time or many of them can be substituted or even omitted, if necessary.

Some recipes are from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook and the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table. These will have a link to the product on Amazon as I can not post the recipes online without prior permission. In many cases, I have tried to tweak our recipe to be more in line with THM but I can’t guarantee that they would be 100% on the plan but I can say that they are healthier than their previous versions.

I do still have a lot of recipes that I need to convert so this will be a bit of a process for us as well. Some recipes are better as they are and we will try to make them work as best we can. I know the kids need a few extra calories and nutrients so we do usually have a few extras (like bread and rolls) that us grown-ups will need to exercise caution with but other than that it has been pretty easy to follow along with this plan so far. If the meal happens to be something that I feel is not on the plan I may choose not to eat part of it or make a big salad and top it with whatever protein source everyone else is having.

I know the THM plan says that you may not see any weight loss at first but that your body will be healing from the inside. I know that we are eating much healthier than we were before and I’ll try to be content knowing that we are getting healthier one meal at a time.

I also love to utilize the grocery pickup services from Walmart and Sam’s Club not to mention that Amazon Prime Deliveries can make life so much easier as well.

Scroll to the bottom of the page for Meal Prep Ideas to make this week a little easier.


Sunday 

Breakfast:

Sensible Scrambled Eggs

Toast

Fruit

Lunch:

We had a family cookout so this ended up being a FREE DAY.

We took:

Boston Baked Beans

Apple Sonker (I used frozen blackberries sprinkled with a bit of sugar instead of apples)

Dinner: ++

leftovers

Snacks/Desserts:

Fruits (We were gifted with some yummy watermelons that we will be snacking on this week.)


Monday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal

The Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook and the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table both have some great ideas for cereal alternatives you can make at home.

Fried eggs over cubed zucchini fried in butter

Lunch:

Salad topped with cooked shrimp, chicken, or other meat

Dinner: ++

Personal Pita Pizzas

Salad

**(This is usually a fairly quick meal to put together as we have a class/dance in the evening)

Snacks/Desserts:

Cookies (** I will try to make a few extra to take along for refreshments at the dance.)

Cottage Cheese with sliced strawberries


Tuesday

Breakfast:

French Toast

Chocolate Fat-Stripping Frappa Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook p. 418

Lunch:

Leftover French Toast w/jelly

Fruit

Yogurt

Dinner: ++

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (I’ve made some adaptations to the original recipe to make it a little bit more waist-friendly.)

Salad

Snacks/Desserts:

Fruit

Peanut Butter Pudding


Wednesday

Breakfast:

Basic Muffins

Chia Pudding in a Jar Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table p. 352

Lunch:

Scrambled Egg Sandwiches

Veggies

-or-

Stuffed Mushroom Omelet

w/small Salad

Dinner: ++

Chili Dog Casserole

Salad

Snacks/Desserts:

Boiled Eggs

Leftover Muffins

-or-

Muffin in a cup recipe from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook or the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table.


Thursday

Breakfast:

Protein Power Pancakes (3 variations) or Trim Healthy Pancakes or Waffles (E) p. 259

Blueberry Syrup (with healthier options) or Pancake Syrup (FP) p. 480

Lunch:

Super Easy Rotisserie Chicken Salad

-or-

Waldorf Cottage Cheese Salad Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook  p. 190

Dinner: ++

Mustard Crusted Pork Chops

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Oven Roasted Green Beans

Snacks/Desserts:

Fruit

Lemon Cake


Friday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal or Apple Pie Crunch Granola (E) p. 255

The Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook and the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table both have some great ideas for cereal alternatives you can make at home.

Field of Greens Om Cake Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook p. 240

Lunch:

Soup

Grilled Cheese

Dinner: ++

Philly cheese steak sandwiches

Salad

Use Wonder Wraps Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook p. 204 in place of bread

**(This is usually a fairly quick meal to put together as we have a class/dance in the evening)

Snacks/Desserts:

Cookies (** I will try to make a few extra to take along for refreshments at the dance.)


Saturday

Breakfast:

Bagels w/Cream Cheese

-or-

A plan approved toast with laughing cow cheese

Fruit

Lunch:

Tuna Salad (use lettuce to wrap the tuna instead of bread for an on plan lunch)

Choco Chip Baby Frap Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook p.421

Dinner: ++

Salmon Patties

Super Yummy Caulitaters

Creamed Peas

Snacks/Desserts:

Butterfly Wings Cake (FP) p. 301 with fruit and whipped cream (I never got around to making this last week)

++I have a few kids who seem to be going through growth spurts right now and are always HUNGRY. I have been keeping a pot of beans, blackeyed peas, or another vegetable as a side. I also have been buying a few extra snacks like fruit, veggies, yogurt, etc. 


Meal Prep Ideas

  • Buy a rotisserie chicken or cook a few chicken breasts and shred for salads
  • Make your own bagged salads
  • Make some The Easiest Boiled Eggs Ever! for meals and snacks
  • You could also mix up the pancake and muffin batters the night before to make your mornings a bit easier.

**This post does contain affiliate links to products and/or services that we use. We may earn a teensy-weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission and allow us to continue to post FREE articles, recipes, and tips.

 –Thank you!

Meet Our New Berkey!

Continue reading “Meet Our New Berkey!”

Free report on herbs and supplements to combat illness!

Get Dr. Jay Davidson’s 10-page Ultimate Supplement and Detox Guide to Viruses and Retroviruses, and discover herbs and supplements to help you combat illness!

—>>Click here to download your free eGuide to viruses!

Generally, retroviruses cause immune deficiency. They can affect very specific parts of our immune system, causing a multitude of illnesses. With lost immune protection, parasites, bacteria and other types of viral pathogens have a greater opportunity to impact your health.

Retroviruses are unlike typical viruses and are often responsible for deadly diseases including cancer, leukemia, and AIDS.

In this 10-page eGuide, Dr. Jay will walk you through retroviruses, the various herbs, and supplements for support, what to do for regular viruses and everything you need to know about EBV.

That’s why you should grab this eGuide today!

And, you’ll also save a seat on July 1st for the start of the free, online Viral and Retroviral Summit — over 25 experts focused on the prevention, treatment, and reduction of symptoms from viruses and retroviruses!

—>>Gain IMMEDIATE ACCESS to this 10-page viruses eGuide!

You can truly get started on better health today!

P.S. Don’t miss out on Dr. Jay Davidson’s 10-page Ultimate Supplement and Detox Guide to Viruses and Retroviruses when you click here to grab it now!

Meal Plan: June 2 – 8, 2019

This is our basic meal plan for the week. Sometimes we will switch the days around if I forgot to set something out or put something in the crockpot. Please feel free to use this or change it around to suit your family’s needs.

I have started trying to do easier meals on days that I have square dancing obligations. This helps me to be able to put a nice meal on the table without feeling guilty about having some much needed ‘Mommy Time’. Some of these meals may also help with those that have busy or irregular schedules due to work or extracurricular activities.

I do have ‘Snacks/Desserts’ listed as well. I always try to keep a bowl of fresh fruit out on the counter or table for the kids to snack on. Sometimes I will make a special snack or treat for us to enjoy.

We have also been using the Trim Healthy Mama books to try to convert some of our favorite recipes to be healthier. Meal planning really does help keep this tired Momma from completely losing her sanity. It also helps when I can quickly locate the recipe and ingredients I need for grocery lists and meal prep. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the supplements and such that we are using. You can always buy them a few at a time or many of them can be substituted or even omitted, if necessary.

Some recipes are from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook and the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table. These will have a link to the product on Amazon as I can not post the recipes online without prior permission. In many cases, I have tried to tweak our recipe to be more in line with THM but I can’t guarantee that they would be 100% on the plan but I can say that they are healthier than their previous versions.

I do still have a lot of recipes that I need to convert so this will be a bit of a process for us as well. Some recipes are better as they are and we will try to make them work as best we can. I know the kids need a few extra calories and nutrients so we do usually have a few extras (like bread and rolls) that us grown-ups will need to exercise caution with but other than that it has been pretty easy to follow along with this plan so far.

I know the THM plan says that you may not see any weight loss at first but that your body will be healing from the inside. I know that we are eating much healthier than we were before and I’ll try to be content knowing that we are getting healthier one meal at a time.

I also love to utilize the grocery pickup services from Walmart and Sam’s Club not to mention that Amazon Prime Deliveries can make life so much easier as well.

Scroll to the bottom of the page for Meal Prep Ideas to make this week a little easier.


Sunday 

Breakfast:

Breakfast In a Cup

Toast

Fruit

Lunch:

Tuna Salad with or without bread

Lettuce and Sliced tomatoes

Pickles (the kids love pickles)

Dinner: ++

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Cole Slaw

Potato Salad or Cauli Potato Salad (S) p. 231

Snacks/Desserts:

Fruits


Monday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal

The Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook and the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table both have some great ideas for cereal alternatives you can make at home.

Lunch:

Grilled Cheese

Celery w/Peanut Butter

Dinner: ++

Leftovers

**(This is usually a fairly quick meal to put together as we have a class/dance in the evening)

Snacks/Desserts:

Cookies (** I will try to make a few extra to take along for refreshments at the dance.)


Tuesday

Breakfast:

French Toast

Lunch:

Super Simple Egg Salad with or without bread

Lettuce and Sliced tomatoes

Pickles (the kids love pickles)

Dinner: ++

Daddy Can’t Wait Casserole

Super Yummy Caulitaters

Corn Muffins for those not on the weight loss plan.

Snacks/Desserts:

Boiled Eggs


Wednesday

Breakfast:

Basic Muffins

Lunch:

Scrambled Egg Sandwiches

Veggies

Dinner: ++

Meatball Sandwiches (those on the weight loss plan can omit the bread)

Salad

Oven Roasted Green Beans

Snacks/Desserts:

Muffins


Thursday

Breakfast:

Protein Power Pancakes (3 variations) or Trim Healthy Pancakes or Waffles (E) p. 259

Blueberry Syrup (with healthier options) or Pancake Syrup (FP) p. 480

Lunch:

Super Easy Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Veggies

Dinner: ++

Mama’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce

Dreamfield Pasta or Zucchini Noodles

Salad

Quick & Easy Garlic Bread or Garlic Cheesy Bread (as long as you aren’t on the weight loss plan)

Snacks/Desserts:

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake or Pineapple Upside Down Cake (E) p. 290


Friday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal or Apple Pie Crunch Granola (E) p. 255

The Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook and the  Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Healthy Table both have some great ideas for cereal alternatives you can make at home.

Lunch:

leftovers

Dinner: ++

Laura’s Sweet Pork

Cole Slaw

Cheese Potatoes (I’m going to attempt to make a cauliflower version of these and will update the recipe as needed.)

**(This is usually a fairly quick meal to put together as we have a class/dance in the evening)

Snacks/Desserts:

Cookies


Saturday

Breakfast:

Protein Power Pancakes (3 variations) or Trim Healthy Pancakes or Waffles (E) p. 259

Blueberry Syrup (with healthier options) or Pancake Syrup (FP) p. 480

Lunch:

Soup

Grilled Cheese

Dinner: ++

Sweet Pork Quesadillas

Salad

Rice or Caulirice

Snacks/Desserts:

Butterfly Wings Cake (FP) p. 301 with fruit and whipped cream

++I have a few kids who seem to be going through growth spurts right now and are always HUNGRY. I have been keeping a pot of beans, blackeyed peas, or another vegetable as a side. I also have been buying a few extra snacks like fruit, veggies, yogurt, etc. 


Meal Prep Ideas

  • Brown hamburger meat, drain and place in containers for the week
  • Buy a rotisserie chicken or cook a few chicken breasts and shred
  • Make your own bagged salads
  • Make some The Easiest Boiled Eggs Ever! for meals and snacks
  • Marinate the pork roast the night before for extra flavor
  • You could also mix up the pancake and muffin batters the night before to make your mornings a bit easier.

**This post does contain affiliate links to products and/or services that we use. We may earn a teensy-weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission.

 –Thank you!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

So it’s still early (we haven’t even had breakfast yet) and I’ve pulled out the vodka already… don’t worry I’m not drinking it but I have another use for it.

Some of you know that I use vodka in our spider spray that we keep on hand to repel those creepy crawlers but it is also very helpful for many other things as well.

I don’t know if anyone else remembers seeing bottles of vanilla with the bean when you were growing up but I do and I can’t seem to find it anywhere so I’ll be finishing up my bottle to make some vanilla extract. I’ve had intentions to do this for a while but haven’t gotten around to it until I ran out of the vanilla I had. The price for real vanilla extract is crazy!

While this homemade stuff won’t be ready for at least a couple of months I’ll be able to refill it, again and again, to keep my supply going. I did order some Mexican vanilla extract to tide me over.

After some careful research, I’ve found that you can but Tahitian, Madagascar, and Mexican Vanilla Beans. A lot of people don’t seem to care for the Mexican as they have a more distinct flavor and many of the recipes I’ve found call for the Madagascar beans. I, however, bought these Tahitian beans to give them a try.

You can also buy different grades of beans with Grade A being the better quality but Grade B is a bit more budget-friendly. I went with Grade A this time around but some people do prefer the flavor from the Grade B so I may try that the next time around. This is something you will have to play around with to suit your taste.

Below is the recipe I used. I made two bottles with the intention of gifting one. I may go ahead and order some of the Madagascar beans to try as well so I can taste test them. Now I’ll always have a steady supply of vanilla for all of our yummy creations.

 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Continue reading “Homemade Vanilla Extract”