K: Brandon and I actually began our resolution to eat healthier when we returned home after Christmas. We both knew it was time and there was no reason to wait until January 1st. I’ve tried an overwhelming number of diets: Whole 30, Paleo, My Fitness Pal calorie counting, and everything in between. For me, it’s not even about losing weight, but rather, feeling good. So, we decided that for our resolution, we just want to feel better and that comes with eating right: lots of veggies, healthy grains, lean proteins, minimal sugar. The meal plan that I created is essentially just healthy recipes that you can easily cook. I don’t like the idea of restricting any one food group so you’ll find that carbs are in there, and we’re even allowing a cheat meal once in a while. Unrealistic expectations like no sugar, no carbs, no fat, lead to ended resolutions and disappointment. Trust me, I’ve been there. The hope with this is to create a lifestyle change that contributes to us feeling better and looking better.
B: We reached out for healthy recipes on Instagram and on the blog and you guys delivered! What makes this so fun is having a variety of recipes, coming from real people who have tried them and cook them on a regular basis. We asked for favorites and didn’t request any restrictions, so if there’s a recipe that won’t work for you, feel free to just substitute with another one from our list of ideas. You can also check out our Pinterest board, “Our Recipes” to find these listed there, along with a few others.
Healthy Recipe Ideas:
Breakfast
(Pictured: My friend Anna’s Almond Butter Banana Muffins)
Paleo Breakfast Casserole (Whole 30)
Easy Banana Almond Butter Muffins
Gluten-Free Baked Oatmeal Casserole
Lunch
(Pictured: Roasted Garlic and Tomato Soup)
Roasted Garlic and Tomato Soup
Dinner
(Pictured: Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice)
Baked Turkey Meatballs with Spinach
Sausage and Kale Whole Wheat Pizza
Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken w/ Creamy Guacamole Sauce
Healthy Meal Plan:
K: For the meal plan, I mapped everything out with breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. I’ve found that eggs are the best choice for me in the morning, so you’ll notice that most days just say something like “toast w/ avocado and egg” or “egg scramble”. These recipes aren’t really posted anywhere but I just whip up egg whites and put it on toast or add veggies to make a scramble. The protein really helps me to not get hungry later on, an essential since my lunch for teaching isn’t until 1:30.
Additionally, Brandon and I aren’t huge snackers. If you need another snack added in there, don’t feel too bad about that. I feel best when I’m snacking on veggies or a small portion of fruit/nuts. The biggest change for me will be minimal sugar. It is my one weakness and I have the hardest time saying no to dessert. I’m really trying to minimize desserts to just one cheat per week, but still allowing myself to have fruit.
B: For me, my biggest challenge will be portion control. I’m no stranger to seconds and often find that my plate is loaded up with every meal. We both want to try and eat out less as one of our goals for 2018, and since the majority of restaurants serve as a temptation, and we’re also hoping that it will save money as well. We’ve found that if we actually plan out our grocery lists and what we’re going to eat, we don’t have trouble saying no to restaurants. It’s when we’re hungry and out of food that causes the problems, leading us to the nearest restaurant in our area.
Click HERE to download our meal plan. If you’re already subscribed to our email list, you’ll be sent the meal plan automatically! Be sure to pin the image below for easy access back to this blog post with all of the recipes.
