If you’re anything like me, the last few weeks have gotten out of control: routine, sleeping, eating right and working out. I’ve resolved, like I do most Mondays to be better, but this time for real! I’ve always liked healthy foods, but something about the holidays just makes it harder. I gave myself a few “extra” days to start this reset, but am excited to make the changes we need! I know for me, I’m not looking for a diet, but a lifestyle, and going Paleo has helped me over the years. This includes no sugar, no carbs, no diary, no grains, no legumes, nothing processed and limited alcohol, very similar to Whole30. Really trying to eat as clean as you can. It isn’t easy, but everything in moderation definitely is true, so don’t worry there is pizza at the end of the tunnel!
I find when preparing meals, it sets us up going into the week. Sunday morning, I took about two hours to cook up a few things and I was so proud (it’s the little things)! I think every week I will make two meals and some lunch items and then rotate. My husband doesn’t love leftovers, but hey, if he wants to eat, he will! I got an Instapot a few years ago on Cyber Monday and it is amazing! If you do not have one get one, it’s worth the cost or wait for a sale!
So here is what I made. I’ve been following a blogger for years Paleomg and she has some great recipes and cookbooks so I’ve taken the things I like and continue to make them. This weeks menu is Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Eggplant Parm (my own), Grilled Chicken (bought), Hard Boiled Eggs, and a Kale and Brussels mix. I barely took pictures as I was going so bare with me, but I know as women and moms we are great multi-taskers, and there is no time to take a picture!
Baking/Sautéing/and Instapoting:
- Boil some water and hard boil a dozen eggs, done. You can also make hard boiled eggs in Instapot, I have yet to do this, because its always being used for something else! My husband takes these to work and adds Trader Joe’s Everything Spice to them.
- In the Instapot, I add a huge spaghetti squash, a little EVOO, and salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes – this makes it easier to pull apart then anytime I’ve put in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Sauté the Kale and Brussels mix with mushrooms and a red onion. The Kale and Brussels mix is from Stew Leonards, because of course I had to go there to get ice cream before this “reset” started so might as well food shop! I also picked up a big container of Lime and Cilantro Grilled Chicken (that should last the week for lunches for my husband and I).
- Sauté a chopped red onion, and three peppers (one of each color to make it colorful), a little EVOO and salt and pepper.
- Slice up a huge eggplant thinly and baked on 350 for 15 minutes with a little EVOO and salt and pepper.
- Next up in the Instapot was chicken cutlets, three of them, for 10 mins with Franks Red Hot Sauce then shred with two forks.
- Cook a pound of ground turkey meat for the eggplant.
- Also cook some sweet potatoes. Boil them until soft then throw in the kitchen aid mixer with a little cinnamon and butter (grass fed is better if you are doing Paleo).
Preparing
Buffalo Chicken Casserole: Take the forked out spaghetti squash, shredded chicken, and sautéed onion and peppers into a large pyrex dish. When ready to bake (it does take 45 minutes so I actually didn’t bake until we ate it last night) but add 2 scrambled eggs uncooked to the top and bake for 45 mins on 350. When done, add cilantro and avocado and done! Here is the real recipe paleomg.com and when reading, it I realized I don’t do it exactly like her but mine works!
Eggplant Parm– take the sliced eggplant from oven and layer into another large pyrex dish, add a little sauce (homemade or we like Rao’s has the least amount of sugar I’ve found) and then little pieces of Almond Milk Cheese (the cheese section at whole foods) and the turkey meat scattered. I was able to get two nice layers from one eggplant – so excited to have this tonight! It’s a good alternative if you love eggplant parm like I do, and I know it’s nothing like my moms, but is a great substitute for this time of year!
-The kale mix and sweet potatoes were made as a side for the chicken for lunches. I usually have a salad (when being good) for lunch everyday with a mix of avocado, fresh pico, some sort of seeds or nuts and grilled chicken.
Preparing all this took a little time and planning, but it’s so worth it and the best part is that it’s healthy! I will add each week two different meals, until I run out! But I am all about anything easy, and using the Instapot or Crock Pot to make a lot of leftovers and cook it fast!
**Disclaimer I have a 21 month old who will eat mostly anything, so I can give her some of this each night and I put together a side of the buffalo chicken casserole minus the hot sauce.