We Eat {this week} | 8/13/17

meal planning.  

something I used to be SO good at.  I used to meal plan every single week.

I also used to make a hot meal every night and attempted to continue that trend when the twins were born.. and sort of fizzled out after Baker arrived.  pregnancy keeps me tired and not hungry at all, so prepping, planning, and cooking dinner falls off my to-do list and its taken me a hot minute for me to be able to get back into the swing of things! I also would love to be more intentional in planning ahead meals for the big girls for both lunch and dinner instead of leaving it to the microwave or toaster oven to do the prep for me.

SO here I am attempting to get back into the swing of being in the kitchen.  

meal planning looks a lot like me skimming my Pinterest boards, which mainly consists of food.

I used to write my own recipes.  and then I had kids and quick and easy became my favorite two words when it came to describing my cooking.

nothing wrong with that, you guys!

BREAKFAST

breakfast everyday looks very similar for me as it does my kids.  I eat peanut butter and banana toast or oatmeal and they will do the same!  we mix it in with some toaster waffles (we love Van's or Kashi brand) or if we are rushing out the door, granola bar and skim milk with carnation instant breakfast is where its at.

TODDLER LUNCH

::monday::

pasta salad + carrots + ranch dressing for dipping

pasta salad

cooked whole wheat ziti mixed with fresh zucchini, tomatoes, sweet peppers, turkey pepperoni (I like Boar's Head), and mixed with Italian dressing.

::tuesday::

no bake energy balls // low fat yogurt

easy recipe for energy balls HERE

I usually offer the girls 2-3 for lunch. as for me, I eat 2-3 as a snack.

::wednesday::

deli turkey + cheese roll ups // wheat thin crackers // grapes + watermelon 

::thursday::

white meat chicken nuggets (Tyson brand) // macaroni + cheese (Annie's brand)

::friday::

scrambled eggs + mozzarella cheese // peanut butter on toast // strawberries + melon

FAMILY DINNER

::monday:: 

crock pot cilantro lime chicken tacos // Mexican creamed corn 

cilantro lime chicken tacos

2 pounds chicken breast mixed with ranch dressing seasoning packet, cilantro lime skillet sauce packets (I LOVE these skillet sauces- I buy them at Target and Kroger) or you can use a jar of green salsa.  cook on LOW for 6 hours

corn tortillas

guacamole + sour cream + pico + fresh cilantro

Mexican creamed corn 

6 corn on the cobs roasted in the oven for 45 minutes, husks on. remove from the oven and allow to cool enough to be able to cut the kernels off the cob. throw in a preheated skillet pan and stir in 3-4 chopped fresh jalapeños, 1/2 block low fat cream cheese and fresh jalapeños.  season with smoked paprika and taco seasoning to taste.

::tuesday::

left overs from Monday:)

::wednesday::

grilled guacamole and gouda burgers // sweet potato fries

burgers

1lb (93/7) lean ground beef + minced garlic + salt + pepper to taste, formed into patties. grill or cook in a skillet pan- about 4 minutes on each side.

top with left over guacamole from Monday and melty gouda cheese

sweet potato fries from the frozen food section:)

::thursday::

crispy black bean quesadillas // roasted squash

black bean quesadillas

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained.

corn tortillas 

Mexican cheese blend

veggie oil

heat 1 tsp oil in skillet and add one corn tortilla. add beans and cheese to one side of the tortilla and fold over with a spatula. cook 3-4 minutes on each side, flipping in between until golden and crispy.

roasted squash

chop zucchini and yellow squash into medium thick sticks. drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper. roast at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

::friday::
breakfast burrito bowls with spiced butternut squash + quinoa 
bowl recipe HERE

::NOTE::
the lunch ideas above are definitely geared towards feeding your kids but can also be prepared for yourself! my breakfast and lunch look very similar from day to day and you can find my daily food plan HERE. 

in the kitchen with Hello Fresh

we had a special and rather delicious delivery hit our doorstep last week.

 while you might be thinking I'm talking about Baker's cheeks.. I am actually talking about a giant box filled with a week's worth of ingredients from hello fresh.

 I found myself back in the kitchen this last week, excited to make and try three new recipes delivered straight to my door.. without any meal planning or scouring of pinterest to figure out what I was going to prepare for my busy family.  

pregnancy and postpartum leave me little motivation to meal plan and cook for my crew.. so I tend to just cook what I know is easy and quick.  the WE EAT section of the blog has been far neglected and it gives me hives to think about how terribly I've been slacking in that department. 

we have been eating a lot of grilled chicken/steak and salads.  the crock pot makes an appearance here and there and occasionally I'll get a wild hair and turn on my oven.  there was ONE week towards the end of my pregnancy that I planned and prepped three new recipes and on meal one/night one the side spilled over the edge of my casserole dish in the oven and that mess sat there for another week (or more?!) before I cleaned it up. every time I went to use the oven I remembered the mess there in the bottom and scratched that plan for dinner and threw chicken nuggets in the microwave instead!  

 this is a far cry from my days (pre-kids.. well pre-FOUR kids) when I would meal plan every single week, five or six different meals for the days ahead.  I love being in the kitchen and I'm actually a pretty great self-taught cook (just ask Jordan!)- but time isn't something I have a lot to spare in this life stage.   So, I find myself seeking out a different route at dinner time and love the idea of quick, easy, healthy, and of course delicious!

enter hello fresh.

in case you have never heard of hello fresh or have never tried a meal delivery service like this (I'm a newbie!).. lemme break it down for you.

hello fresh is a service that delivers fresh ingredients for healthy recipes right to your doorstep.  they pride themselves on encouraging their customers to cook with fresh ingredients and in turn helps you stay healthy and beats any type of convenience, frozen, or fast food. 

hello fresh employs a dedicated team of chefs and dietitians creating recipes on a weekly basis to ensure that your dinners are balanced and wholesome.

MAJOR brownie points for hello fresh.. they have a dietitian (holla!)

there are three meal plan options

the classic plan (meat + fish recipes; 2-4 adults; choose from 6 recipes)

the veggie plan (vegetarian options only; 2-4 adults; choose from 3 recipes)

the family plan (meat, fish, + veggie recipes; 2 adults + 2 children; choose from 3 recipes)

 

 we selected the classic plan and received three meals consisting of three different protein options (shrimp, beef, and chicken breast).  everything arrived crisp and fresh in a refrigerated box.  each meal was pre-portioned and packed with all the ingredients in individual kits, so I didn't have to worry about sorting them out myself.  this also made storage in the fridge really easy, too!

I wasn't home when my box was delivered, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got the box off the porch (and out of the Texas heat!) that everything was still very cold! All of the meats and dairy is wrapped with special wool and cooling material to keep them fresh until you get home during delivery day.

hello fresh has a wealthy selection of recipes and adds 10 new recipes to their rotation every week

there's absolutely no commitment and you can skip, pause, or cancel your subscription at any time.

all of their meals range between 500-800 calories per serving and full nutritional information for every recipe can be found on their website!

last, but definitely NOT least- hello fresh recipes are not labor intensive or overwhelming at all to make.  each meal can take about a half hour to 45 minutes to prepare! my experience this week has been that I can get these meals on the table in about 35 minutes.

 I'm so excited about these boxes arriving every week.  when we budgeted our groceries while including the classic plan (for 4 people) we actually found to save money.. getting three different healthy protein options into my grocery cart isn't always cheapest route, so I can appreciate what hello fresh has to offer!  not to mention, it keeps me motivated to get back in the kitchen- I really have missed it and the consistency of cooking balanced and healthy meals.

wanna try it?!  hello fresh has graciously offered a generous discount code to my readers!

use code MASSEYA30 for $30 off your first box!  

 dinner is served!  and.. you guys!  it is as delicious as it looks! my former food blogger self might be a little proud that the burger looked very close to the picture on the recipe card hello fresh included:)  presentation is almost as important as taste.

almost.

thank you Brittany for cooking in the kitchen with us, and to hello fresh for sponsoring this post!

weekend top 5

one. kitchen sink stuffed peppers

I made these stuffed peppers last week and they were SO stinkin' easy.. I made another version again using sausage + quinoa instead of ground beef and rice as listed in the recipe below.

 basically, anything you have in your fridge or pantry that needs to be used or tossed is fair game for these peppers.  

--

brown 1 pound of lean ground beef in a skillet with about a tablespoon of olive oil. add in 1 small chopped onion + 3 cloves fresh minced garlic until onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.  stir in 4 cups fresh baby spinach and sauté until wilted down; stir in 1 can white beans, rinsed and drained + 1 cup cooked brown rice.  lastly, add 1 cup jarred tomato sauce and about 1 cup of shredded cheese (I used monterey jack because thats what I had in the fridge!)

fill 6 bell peppers, seeded and de-veined, and cover with foil.  bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes,  remove from oven and top with more tomato sauce and shredded cheese (if desired) and allow the cheese to melt. 

--

such a quick and healthy recipe!

 two. nana + duke's quick trip
my parents came in for a super short visit on Friday night and left Saturday morning.  we grabbed a casual bite to eat at the mall and let the chicks run in the play area and that's about the highlight of the trip. aside from the girls talking abut "manna and duke" for the rest of the weekend.  that makes me so happy to hear them acknowledge my parents outside of the short visits we have.

 three. maternity photos
this weekend was SO COLD. like 30 degrees for the high.  I kept seeing all these social media posts about negative NINE and we are over here in Texas closing schools early for flurries on Friday afternoon:)  Saturday we had made plans to take some maternity pictures, just me and Jordan, and oh emm gee it was chilly!  thankful for the coffee Britt got me to keep me semi-warm! 
the little bits of snow on the ground and the cool air made for some beautiful pictures!  sharing more on that tomorrow, BUT ya'll my favorite Christmas coffee flavors are being phased out and so I ordered the smoked butterscotch latte.. well, I had to make another trip for one on Sunday afternoon because its THAT good.  I am not a fan of sweet coffee at all whatsoever, and this one has just the right amount of sweetness.

 four. lazy sunday
Jordan has been working a couple shifts a week in the ER at a hospital near our house as a medic, and yesterday happened to be his shift- so me and the girls literally did NOTHING all day. 

nothing.

at.all.

until we made a run to grab my prenatal vitamins prescription and a swing through starbucks for a couple of butterscotch lattes and a few chocolate chip cookies.

 five. first lady love
my big girls.  they talk about Brady A LOT.  Parker is such a sweet soul and mentions wanting him to be here soon.  I find random little stuffed animals in his (empty) nursery that she's placed in there and says "brother needs it for when he sleeps, mom"
heart bursting.
Jolie, my laid back baby girl, talks about how big he's getting- my belly is HUGE but "he will be SO cute when he finally gets here". she asks when she can hold him and if he will love her..
heart exploding.

the weekend was good.

I hope yours was, too:)

XO!

pregnancy protein bowl | 3-ways

now that I'm in my second trimester Ive started to really get my appetite back.  food isn't such a struggle, which I am thankful for, and I am enjoying food again. while I wasn't terribly nauseous or feeling like I was going to throw up all the time, food just really wasn't interesting to me AT ALL.

I've been focusing on smaller meals that are high in nutrients, fiber, and protein.  back a couple, err four years ago when I was pregnant with the twins I started eating this fruit/yogurt bowl that was insanely high in protein and I've found myself back into that swing because fruit is my favorite when I'm pregnant. now, I've designated these as breakfast + lunch + dinner options, but there has been many times that I've eaten the fruit bowl for dinner and the quinoa/hummus bowl for lunch.. or even breakfast!  SO, mix and match however your heart + tummy desires:)

these bowls are about 400-500 calories each and range from 25-45 grams of protein per bowl!

--

breakfast // 1/4-1/2 cooked whole oats + 1-2 tablespoons almond butter + 2 tablespoons slivered almonds + 2-3 strawberries, sliced, 1 teaspoon chia seeds.

lunch // 5-6oz plain greek yogurt (I use FAGE 0%) + 1/2 or 1 full scoop protein powder (about 25 g protein) + 1 apple + 3-4 strawberries + 1/2 cup grapes + 1/2 banana, sliced

dinner // 1/2 cup cooked plain quinoa + 1/4 cup hummus (I love white bean hummus) + baby kale + 4-8 chicken sausage meatballs

--

a couple tips for making these bowls.. 

lunch // I typically use one of the single serving cups of greek yogurt, which ends up being a little less than 6 whole ounces.  as far as protein powder goes- I love the isopure zero carb.  since I'm adding so much fruit (carbs) to my bowl I don't need the extra I get from some protein powder- so look for one thats lower in carbohydrates. the isopure vanilla is delicious and so is the strawberry! either would work in this bowl. I picked up some optimum gold standard whey from Costco because it was on super sale and have been using that and love it, too. none of these people know who I am, but after lots of tasting of protein powder these are the ones I love the most!

  

dinner // if you can find the single serve pouches of quinoa in the frozen food section of your grocery- thats your best bet for making this a quick and easy meal.  you can also make a large serving of quinoa on the stove top ahead of time and keep it in the fridge when you need it!  you can use any hummus you love- I really love white bean hummus (they have no idea who I am either..) because it has less tahini flavor than most hummus I have had.  I found this chicken sausage at Costco last weekend, and I'm so thankful!  before now I've been making this bowl with Baker's chicken meatballs, so finally I can stop dipping into her (rather expensive) meatball stash.  lastly, stir in the baby kale when you are cooking the quinoa OR right after its come out of the microwave while its still hot.  the kale will wilt down an make it softer and easier to eat and blend in with this bowl.

what are your go-to fixes for getting in protein and energy while pregnant? I would love to hear!!

for more info like this.. check out my pregnancy food journal HERE.

We Eat | crock pot beer chili

there is nothing more that I love about fall than warm soup on a cool evening.  well, this weekend we had a taste of cool weather (82 degrees!!!) and I was excited to whip out my favorite recipe for beer chili, dump it all in the crock pot after getting home from church and lounge the afternoon away while watching Sunday's football lineup.

best part is that this recipe is HA-UGE and we had dinner for Monday night, too:)  

I'm a big fan of chicken sausage, and if you happen to go back through my recipes you'll see that its basically the only kind of sausage I'll buy.  my local specialty grocery store (market street) makes their sausage in house and it is YUMMY.  I made a stop through their after church (because the weather made me do it) and they had this chipotle chicken sausage- yes!  its like they knew I was coming!!  I bought six links because I was being overzealous and prefer this to ground beef..so.. this chili ended up quite meaty!

all the veggies!  smelled like a great big bowl of fresh pico de gallo. again- being overzealous with the garlic.  I freaking love garlic.  so I always add much more than a recipe calls for, even if it does suck to mince garlic. nothing more tedious that mincing garlic, but its worth it.  

so worth it..

da beer.  

I used a pale ale called revolver which is made by the same company that makes blood and honey (which is my faaaav right now).  just before I added the beer I stirred in the seasonings and veggies- which included a dry packet of spicy ranch dressing.  I didn't have onion powder, as called for in the original recipe, but I had that hanging out on my shelf.. so I figured it might only make it better?

it did.

top it with lots of cheese, sour cream, and more peppers!

crock pot beer chili 

adapted from home made interest

2 lbs lean ground beef

1 lbs ground sausage (remove from casing)

I used chipotle chicken sausage

2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced

5 garlic cloves, finely minced

you can use more or less, but we looooove garlic!

1 white onion, diced

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

1 poblano pepper, seeded and diced

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin powder

2 teaspoons smoked paprika powder

1 packet spicy ranch dressing

like the hidden valley brand

12 oz pale ale beer

2 (15oz) cans of diced tomatoes

2 (15oz) cans tomato sauce

1 tablespoons olive oil

Garnish with Cheddar cheese, sour cream & green onions

--

brown the beef and sausage over medium heat in a large pot. drain.

add olive oil, onions, garlic, bell peppers, jalapeño, poblano pepper to your crock pot stirring to combine.  add drained meat, pale ale, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, ranch packet, and paprika to the pot and cover.  set to LOW for 4 hours or HI for 2 hours.  
top with cheddar cheese, sour cream and green onions!

we loved this with broccoli cornbread- I've been making it for years from my mother in law's recipe and I did a quick search on pinterest and found the exact ingredients HERE!  its so delicious, my friends:)

happy crock potting!!! 

we eat | sausage + ricotta stuffed shells + spinach

lately we have been going with the same staple items every week- meal rotations that I know are easy to please the family, but also ones that are E A S Y in general.  I try to add in some fun recipes here and there, but when I find one that was quick to whip together in the busy-ness of the evening AND it tastes good?  this is one of those recipes that as I was taking my last bite of the plate in front of me I was already thinking about how good the leftovers were going to be!  I usually change a recipe up quite a bit when I pull it out of a magazine or Pinterest, but this one was a winner all around and didn't need too much tweaking at all whatsoever.  it makes A TON of filling and in turn a ton of shells, so I made an extra pan and threw it in the freezer to eat later (like next week?!).  Just make the entire recipe as is before baking and wrap in plastic wrap and then foil before putting in the freezer.  when you are ready to eat, just allow it to sit in the refrigerator overnight before cooking. 

chicken sausage, ricotta + spinach stuffed shells

adapted from: craving some creativity

1 (16oz) package of jumbo pasta shells

4 cups part skim ricotta

12 oz shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon garlic powder 

1 tablespoon fresh or 1 tsp dried oregano

3/4 cup parmesan cheese

16 oz jar of pasta sauce

4 packed, heaping cups of fresh spinach

1 pound  sausage (I used chicken sausage)

dried parsley for garnish

--

in a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble the sausage. drain any excess fat and remove from heat. In the same pan, cook spinach until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. while the sausage is growing  cook the shells according to package directions.  

I cooked them until they were just under al dente so they don't fall apart while I'm filling them.  you wouldnt want to eat them straight out of the pot, but they'll finish cooking and get softer in the oven- cooking them this way will also allow them to hold their shape after cooking.

in a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, 8oz of mozzarella, 1/2 cup of parmesan, eggs, oregano, and garlic powder. fold in the spinach and about 1/2 of the crumbled sausage. 
add in salt and pepper as needed.  I added just a couple cracks of pepper.

coat the bottom of a 9x13in pan with the entire jar of pasta sauce. spoon the cheese mixture into the shells and place shells open side up, very close together in the dish. 

this will make more than one pan- I made a second smaller pan and put it in the freezer for a later date!

sprinkle the remaining sausage over the top of the shells. then sprinkle with the remaining 4oz of mozzarella and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese.

cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-35 minutes (I baked for 25 minutes in my oven) or until the cheese is bubbly. remove foil and switch the oven to broil for about 4 minutes (watch closely) to brown the cheese a little. let stand 10 minutes before serving. 

such a hit!  I know your family will love it, too!

we eat | chicken sausage + feta alfredo spaghetti squash

after a week's worth of cooking, I'm feeling motivated to do it all over again next week!

we shall see.  one thing is for sure that its been awhile since I've shared a fantastic dinner meal for serving the family, but this one was worth waiting for!  I came across this recipe  on pinterest and have been looking forward to making it all week!  It was SO easy, and dinner was on the table in less than one hour (45 minutes of that the squash is in the oven!)  

this recipe uses heavy cream, but I decided to lighten it up a bit and add in chicken sausage for more flavor and protein.  plus.  Jolie could eat (chicken) sausage and bacon all day long- Baker LOVES it, too!  and.. feta is just delicious.  and I had some in the fridge and threw it in their on a whim.

for my preggo mama friends- flip over the package to make sure your feta is pasteurized before including it in the recipe:)  I made this for the whole family, so I used two large squash- its easily cut in half or doubled!

 chicken sausage + feta alfredo spaghetti squash

adapted from eat well 101

4 links (about 1lb) chicken sausage, casing removed, cooked + crumbled 

I used feta + spinach chicken sausage

2 large spaghetti squash

8 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

2 cups half + half

3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

fresh thyme

fresh ground black pepper + kosher salt

chives or green onions

2 cups Italian Blend cheese

--

preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  firmly cut the squash in half lengthwise and remove the innards and seeds.  place the halves on 2 large baking sheets, maintained by a foil ring to hold the balance. season with salt and pepper.  

in a large bowl, combine the garlic, chicken broth, half + half, feta, thyme, chives, and chicken sausage- stirring to combine well.  sprinkle the squash halves with the italian cheese.  divide the cream sauce mixture among the four squash boats, then top with additional cheese.  

cover each tray with a foil tent, and then roast in the oven for 20 minutes.  remove tent, and continue roasting for another 25-30 minutes, uncovered, or until the squash is fork tender and the cheese is golden.  

remove from the oven and shred- carefully stirring to combine.  

serve!  

after I pulled the squash from the oven, I allowed it to rest for about 15-30 minutes.. letting the sauce thicken and the liquid of the vegetable to redistribute.  I really think this made all the difference for a really yummy and creamy sauce coating the 'noodles'.

it was a big hit in our house!  I hope you find it equally delicious:) 

15 easy ideas for post workout nutrition

though some women look at working out as a chore on the “to-do list” and something that wears them out, working out actually can give you more energy throughout the day to chase kids, grocery shop, clean, work or whatever your day consists of.  waking up at 5am to get in my workout is what works for me right now.. some days I absolutely hit a brick wall around 10am, and I can always tell why thats the case.. 

working out causes muscle breakdown and thus you have to be diligent with your nutrition to help repair the muscle so you get stronger and don’t feel beat all day.

if I'm not keeping up with what I'm eating, how much I'm eating, and when I'm eating it.. I can really tell a difference!

ideally, you need to eat within the 45 minutes after a workout to start the recovery process.  most of the time I am absolutely not interested in food post workout, so I get in a quick snack instead of meal.  

a good post-workout snack or meal consists of carbohydrate (grain, fruit, honey, etc.), protein (milk, yogurt, egg, lean meat) and little to no fat.  

fat slows down digestion so you don’t want to load up on it immediately post-workout as that delays how fast everything digests and thus how fast you start the recovery process.  if you are having a meal with some fat it’s fine, but keep it a small amount.  if you are just grabbing a post-workout snack, then try to keep it to just carbs and protein.  

five post-workout snacks 

(eat right after you workout)

6 oz low-fat Greek yogurt with 1 Tbs. honey and ½ - 1 cup berries

8-12 oz low-fat chocolate milk

8-12 oz low-fat milk and a fruit

Smoothie with low-fat milk, ½ cup Greek yogurt and 1 cup fruit

Running out the door: Energy/protein bar with 10-20 grams of protein and at least 20 grams of carbohydrates

five easy post-workout breakfast meals

(eat right after you workout or follow your snack an hour or two later)

bacon + eggs: 1 egg, 2-3 slices turkey bacon, 1 slice whole wheat toast with 100% fruit jam OR 1 cup fruit, 8 oz low-fat milk
make it light: 1 slice whole wheat toast with 1 Tbs. peanut butter and a sliced banana with 6 oz low-fat Greek yogurt
drive thru delight: whole wheat English muffin with 1 egg, 1 slice 2% cheese, 1 slice turkey and a fruit
the continental breakfast: ½ cup oatmeal (or an instant oatmeal packet) with 1 Tbs. honey and ½ cup berries, 2 links turkey or chicken sausage and 8 oz low-fat milk
running out the door: 2 low-fat string cheeses, whole grain granola bar and a fruit

five easy lunch + dinner post-workout meals 

(for those that workout later in the day!) 

stack it up: sandwich on 100% whole wheat bread with 2 oz lean meat, 1 slice low-fat cheese and veggies paired with 1 cup chopped fruit
a balanced plate: 3-4 oz lean protein (chicken, beef, fish, turkey), 1 cup carbohydrate (sweet potato, potato, brown rice, quinoa, couscous, pasta, fruit, etc.) and 1-2 cups veggies
easy peasy: 2 oz turkey/ham rolled up with 2 slices low-fat cheese, fresh spinach and sliced veggies of choice and 2 Tbs. hummus paired with 15 whole grain crackers
no meat? no problem! whole wheat tortilla with ½ cup black beans, 1.5 oz low-fat cheese, ½ cup quinoa, ¼ large avocado paired with 6 oz low-fat Greek yogurt with ¼ cup berries
running out the door: P3 protein pack (in deli section of store) paired with a banana, 2 Baby Bell cheese rounds and a baggie of baby carrots

HUGE thank you to my dear friend and Dallas Cowboys sports dietitian, Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD for helping me put these easy meals together!  

a dietitian's food journal | that mama life

I did one of these 'food journals' a year ago, give or take a couple days.

I was 6 months pregnant with Baker Bree and feeling the need to switch up my day to day because I was eating the same food stuffs over and over.  

right now, in this new stage of life with a 9 month old and two very busy three year olds, I am looking for not only convenience but also foods that give me energy and are healthy to feed my entire family.  right now our days and evenings are really full- making meal times occasionally on the go and a random hodgepodge of food thrown together.  I know I'm not the only one in this boat.

b r e a k f a s t 

I am a creature of habit.  I've been eating the same breakfast rotation for the last three years (at least!) and I don't see the end in site.  I'm a breakfast+brunch person- easily making this my favorite meal of the day and I would eat am omelet or roasted breakfast potatoes every.single.day if time permitted.

overnight oats!  

type in those two words in your search box or pinterest and hundreds of recipes will be at your disposal.  I just pinned this recipe post about overnight oats and it explains it perfectly!

greek yogurt + oats + almond butter + skim milk + chia seeds 

 I got hooked on pb+banana toast when I was pregnant with with twins and my love has yet to cease.  

I have been known to eat this twice a day.  

I also drink 1-2 cups of coffee in the morning (half-caf) with creamer.  I use a little measuring cup to measure out my creamer because I can really go overboard!  its a habit I instilled in Jordan a couple years ago and we just stuck with it. we also heat up our creamer in the microwave in this little measuring cup so it doesn't make the coffee cold.

 my coffee is brewed into a 12 ounce cup and I have figured out that 3 tablespoons of regular coffee creamer is just the right amount to make it perfect.

 l u n c h 

lunch is where it gets a little wonky.  I always eat lunch.. but sometimes its at 11am and sometimes its at 2pm. it depends on my meetings for work or if the babes nap at the same time or if I am in the middle of a project and would rather finish than eat.  

salad is often my go-to if I am at home.  we buy these mini salad bags from SAMS that I can add in a little chicken breast or fish and I'm good to go!

other lunchtime favorites:

cheese + fruit + nuts

deli sandwich with fruit

greek yogurt chicken salad or this kale pesto egg salad (OMG its so delicious!) with whole grain crackers (wheat thins or something similar) 

veggie + grain salads.  I will make a random compilation of veggies and grains (usually quinoa) and drizzle it with balsamic and olive oil.  feta or goat cheese usually makes it way in there, too!  this salad will keep in the fridge for 3 days or so.  

this greek farro salad is one of our favs!

 s n a c k s

I am notoriously a snacker.  often times the first thing I do when I come home from a meeting or a full work day the first place you can find me is in the pantry.. looking for something to snack on to carry me over to the dinner meal.  snacks are SO important in my diet- gets me through to the next meal time, but eating on a regular basis keeps my energy up, my metabolism moving and allows me to be ready to make it through witching hour with three baby girls. 

witching hour is real.  SOS. 

carb + protein = the perfect snack combination 

our body runs on glucose (carbs).. so when you eat a carbohydrate by itself your body (particularly your brain) uses it up really quickly.  

have you ever eaten an apple by itself?  thinking- hey.  its an apple.  its really healthy.  and should keep me full.

not.

I eat an apple and 30 minutes later I'm searching for something else.  but pair it with a string cheese or a tablespoon of peanut butter and the protein/healthy fat will slow down digestion and keeps those carbs in your tummy a little longer than it would if eaten solo. 

there. your biochemistry lesson for the day. 

some of my favorite snacks?

I love goldfish.  more than my toddlers, probably.  there are all those pinterest recipes for homemade cheese crackers.. organic something or other- but you guys.  there is nothing like the original.  I also will eat greek yogurt or fruit and dry roasted almonds.  stick with protein bars that are less than 200 calories and 5-6 grams of fat (no saturated fats!) occasionally - okay probably more often than not I repeat breakfast.. peanut butter toast.  I cannot get enough.  

notice my protein/fat + carbohydrate combos?

its also important to keep your portion control in check.  depending upon your specific calorie needs snacks should stay between 150-250 calories.   

 post-workout protein

over the last couple months we have really been making an effort to get outside and move almost everyday.  we live in a really large neighborhood with hiking trails and ponds with large side walks to where we can push two strollers with ease. in the evenings we walk 4-5 miles - and according to my fitbit thats usually 8000+ steps!  the twins love it and an evening walk really helps get their energy out before dinner. 

if schedules work out and we are able to go in the morning we will often times drink a protein shake for lunch- or have a smaller one for a mid-day snack.

2/3 cup almond milk + 1 banana + 1 scoop of vanilla protein + 1-2 tablespoon of almond butter 

its banana pudding in a glass! 

you can use regular milk (we drink organic skim milk) and its just as delicious, but since Baker was born if I have too much dairy I'm regretting it later.  so I opt for the plain almond milk while Jordan drinks the regular.  there are about a million options for protein powder on the market.  personally I stick to the whey protein and look for something that is lower in carbohydrates because I'm usually adding in milk or fruit to get my carb fix.  right now we are using optimum nutrition gold standard whey- we got it from costco for a great price on sale.  and it tastes delicious!

I've also used isopure zero-carb and like it well enough, but has a little more of a protein taste than the gold standard.     

 d i n n e r

I cook about three or four days a week.  Jordan is usually at the fire station about 2 of the other days.   definitely one night a week we just 'fend for ourselves' which usually looks like a salad or cereal or breakfast for dinner.  I take to pinterest or my favorite blogs for inspiration because its rare that I write my own recipes these days.  there was a time in my life when creating recipes was my favorite hobby on the planet, but three kids later thats just not the case for our life stage anymore.  

often we eat separate.  big girls and Baker will eat dinner first- mainly because Baker is still at the age when I am up helping her over and over, so sitting down together just isn't happening right now.  and then we eat after everyone is in bed between 7:30-8pm.  I know we will eventually get back to eating all together as a family, but just not right now.

for dinner its always 

protein + carbohydrate + vegetable

I grew up eating dinner like this.  so it carried over to how I prepare things for my family.  we always have to have a veggie!  

a salad (mostly when we are eating pasta) brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, squash, + potatoes  

this is what dinner looked like this week 

breakfast burrito bowls with spiced butternut squash

+ I added quinoa 

Baker ate the leftover quinoa and butternut squash the next day for dinner.

 slow cooker cheesy chicken + frito casserole.  

+ I added pinto beans and white cheddar cheese.

its like a Mexican frito pie!  definitely will be added to the rotation.  so good!

I also reminds me of my go-to make ahead Mexican chicken casserole.  I make this all the time!  and if you just had a baby and I'm bringing you a meal- thats what you get. 

the crock pot, no matter what time of year it is, is always my go to.  I have an entire pinterest board dedicated to my slow cooker:)

we also ate these oven baked chicken tacos.. chicken was on sale last weekend when I made my grocery list, so I stretched the dollar on our protein this week!  I cooked the chicken in the crock pot on LOW for 5 hours, seasoned with salt and pepper.  

the twin gobbled these up!

so there it is!  its not perfect.  its far from fancy.

but its relatively balanced and for the effort it takes, its working for our family! 

what are your go-to meals or favorite recipes?  I am always looking for delicious variety!

we eat: 9 months | nuby giveaway

feeding your infant table food can be one of those really fun things and really stressful things simultaneously happening at the same time.  I mentioned a little about out mealtime routine in Baker's 9 month update.  

she is such a hot mess. as much that gets to her mouth goes into her hair, too.  

which means that bathtime is required every night!

at nine months Baker's most favorite meal is probably nut butter toast + sliced banana.  her mama eats this breakfast every single morning and she will all but tackle me for a bite!  last summer the american academy of pediatrics endorsed that it was acceptable and even recommended that the introduction of peanuts be done sooner rather than later in infants (ages 4-11 months).  SO- that being said, Baker has indeed had peanut butter as well almond butter.  

definitely talk to your pediatrician and use your own parental judgement! 

the only food we really steer clear from is honey.

I'm not a huge meat eater and neither are my big girls.  they will eat grilled chicken and of course chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs, but other than that they stick to the veggie and legume proteins. this habit has spilled over into Baker's mealtime, too!  lots of vegetable and grain proteins- chickpeas, lentils, beans, quinoa, brown rice.

she's got a texture thing with avocado, but I continue to offer it several times every week in hopes she will eventually accept it- we are making progress!  babies and even big kids (ahem, adults, too!) can show aversion to a food for up to 10 times before they finally decide that yes I like it!

she LOVES chicken meatballs (I buy them at Target) and I've made black bean cakes and homemade turkey meatballs a time or two.  the best part about that is the big girls eat, too!  so I am not always prepping three different dinners for everyone in this house.  

Baker loves most veggies and fruit!

broccoli + brussels sprouts + asparagus + green beans + butternut squash + sweet potato

strawberries + watermelon + grapes + bananas + blueberries + mandarin oranges + apples + honeydew melon + cantaloupe 

whole milk yogurt mixed with a couple tablespoons of almond butter is on the menu at least once a day.  I usually buy the large 32oz containers of whole milk greek yogurt - again I get this at Target.  I do usually keep the individual baby yogurts on hand just for ease of taking it on the go or when her BB or a sitter is feeding her.

feeding essentials 

the chair.  we love our boon highchair!  we bought a couple of graco highchairs for the twins- we liked them okay but my one complaint was that they got SO messy.  smooshed food in all crevices.. and we basically disassembled the chair to clean it.. and I'm embarrassed to say that the effort to clean it was far outweighed by 'just cleaning it up after breakfast tomorrow' 

which turned into lunch.  then dinner.

you get the point.  it was a nasty mess of a cycle and I'm so glad we don't have to deal with it this time around. 

the bibs.  we wear a bib about half the time.  sometimes its just easier to let her just make a huge mess.  maybe its third child problems but I think I bought like two or three new bibs for Baker and I can count on one hand how many times she's worn them.  

table wear.  following a loosely termed baby-led-weaning routine we don't use utensils except when I am feeding Baker yogurt.  everything else she uses her hands or sucks down purees from a food 

pouch. I love these spoons and I have had a set of these bowls since the twins were tiny.

we were so excited to try out nuby's most recent addition to their tremendous line of baby and toddler feeding tools.  I mentioned this mat in our 9 month favorites post, and it is true. the nuby sure grip miracle mat has quickly become our favorite at meal times.    

 chicken meatballs + avocado + watermelon

 quinoa + roasted butternut squash with cumin 

 the mat suctions to the tray so that is doesnt move around or is easy for Baker to just pick up and toss her entire plate of food to the ground.  

oh, but that doesnt stop her from trying.

I've teamed up with one of my favorite baby brands to offer not just one but TWO lucky winners a chance to win their every own nuby sure grip miracle mat before its even available in stores and online!  these mats will be available at babies r us in June and on Amazon in July. I'm always on the lookout to making the lives of fellow mama friends a little easier:)

Enter for your chance to win in the rafflecopter giveaway below.
giveaway runs from Wednesday April 20th through Saturday April 23rd.  Winner will be selected Monday morning!

GOOD LUCK:)
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