Why Moms Should Try Exercise

You know the drill, you've seen the research... exercise is GOOD for you. We have been taught that for a very long time. You have heard me say bits and pieces as to why I do it. It's for my anxiety, sanity, mental well-being...it just makes me better, so I make it a priority. My hope is that no matter your lifestyle, you fit it in so you can feel so much better - more inside than out.

I wanted to share my reasons for doing what I do - especially as a busy mom. Don't find time, MAKE time. And I hope these reasons motivate you to make that time soon!

Mommy Brain

Raise your hand if you know what I'm sayin'. I can remember many times being on the phone then telling the person to hold because I can't find my phone. For reals. Or, do you call your kids the wrong names? #raiseshand. Exercise improves brain function. I completely believe it. When I am able to work out in the morning, for just 30 minutes, I am more focused for the day. And I need focus when my toddler is climbing all the live long day.

Be a Good Example

My toddler sees me grab my tennis shoes and says "Mommy work out?" Or my son asks to workout with me because he knows he can get stronger. That makes my heart soar. When they see me moving, they want to move too. Just yesterday, my TV-lovin' son says he needs to stop being lazy and move more. Proud moment for sure. They are watching.

Be a Nicer Mommy

When I get my 30 minutes in or I am able to attend my boot camp class, I feel awesome. That time makes me nicer - to everyone. I know in that time I am making myself better which gives me a boost - something that makes the world look different. Cheesy? Yes. True? Absolutely.  Honestly, try 30 minutes of alone time for anything - pray, get up earlier and drink your coffee, head to the store alone, escape to read a book. Just get that time in for you and do something to recharge.

Sleep Better

When I would lie in bed at night, my mind would race with worries and to-do lists. Since I have made a commitment to working out 5-6 days a week, I honestly can tell you I sleep soundly. And, we all know sleep is critical to our health but even more so when you have toddlers to wrangle all day long. 

Improve Body Image

You know what you feel like after having a baby, and it's not Miss America. Your body takes a beating due to birth, nursing, carrying a human being, and just being so damn tired. It took me almost 15 months to gain stamina and settle into a routine. These journeys aren't easy and they don't happen over night, but once you feel better because of your hard work - you see just how beautiful you are after becoming a mom. 

Get Therapy

I am no stranger to anxiety - I've dealt with it all my life, especially after my dad died. When I first started having panic attacks, I sought the help of my doctor. He encouraged exercise. And guess what? Doc was right. It's therapeutic for me - toss in some fit friends to push and encourage me, it's like free counseling. Weirdly enough, when I feel anxiety coming on, I don't retreat into my hole like I use to, I move. And that has made all the difference.

I am in the process of getting certified so I can learn even more specifics about the benefits of exercise and nutrition. But for now...these reasons best describe why I, as a busy mom, need to keep active. Yes, it's not easy in our lives, but I promise that when you make this time for yourself, you will greatly reap the benefits.

If I can help you in any way or share more of my story, email me. I am here to help. 

With Love,
Kim

Weekly Meal Plan - Snack Planning

Mingle Monday - see where I'm linking up today! Click HERE

When I do my weekly meal plans, I often overlook snack time. Well, the kids are easy - fruit, yogurts, goldfish - we are always lock and loaded for them. But, I am so crazy during the day, I have to remind myself to stop and get a snack for myself. 

I am learning so much about nutrition in my fitness journey. In the past, I would work out then go eat whatever I wanted - in my mind, I worked out so I could eat it all. It took me some time to realize that is not how it works; every meal needs to be thought out and planned - even my snacks. 

I try to eat two snacks a day - one in between breakfast and lunch; another between lunch and dinner. I wanted to share some snack ideas that work for me and that I include in my weekly plans.

Nuts

I do love all those flavored nuts - especially the smokehouse Almonds #yum - but, I now buy the unsalted version of most nuts. On our Costco run this week, I bought these babies. Between the hubs and myself, we will easily take these down within a week. Just grab a handful for your snack and you're good to go. 

Fruit

My favorite snack especially in the summer. We always keep grapes, berries, apples, peaches, and bananas close by, and they go quickly because we are all fans. I LOVE to slice apples and dip them in peanut butter. Currently, this pb is our favorite for dipping. 

Our favorite peanut butter - perfect for a snack!

Yogurt

The kids love the yogurt tubes - Siggi's is our choice - and the littlest loves when I freeze them and slice them up for her. Less of a mess with that one! For me, I get the plain Greek yogurt. And honestly, I don't like it plain so I scoop in some peanut butter or drizzle with our local honey and top with fruits and or granola (like this one mentioned HERE.)

Shakes

You know I love my shakes. However, it has taken me a while to perfect MY most enjoyable shake. I noticed that the ice makes mine so thick, and I don't like it that way so I have been leaving out the ice. Something was missing so I tried frozen fruits, and boom. So far, my favorite is to add frozen blueberries to my morning shakes, and they give the shake the perfect icy texture I like.

Shakeology fans - try this one:
1 scoop of Chocolate Shakeology
1 scoop of PB2
1 handful frozen blueberries
10 oz unsweetened almond milk
Blend and ENJOY!

Eggs

We always boil a bunch of eggs on Sunday and keep them on hand for the week. For a snack one day, I may have 2 eggs with some fruit. The kids LOVE them too. They are filling and make it easy to transition to the next meal without being super hungry.

Deli Meat

I also like to take 1 or 2 slices of my deli meat (Applegate brand is great) in addition to my fruits for a quick snack. The slices are so easy to grab and go. 

The key to your snack is to prepare. Before, I would just open the pantry and grab chips or Oreos (and whatever you do, DO NOT buy the thins. Sweet bad tempation) to hold me over to the next big meal. And, they never took me far. I really think clean snacking has been key in my change so far. I try not to keep certain temptations in my house because if they are here, chances are I am going for it.

I challenge you to think about your snacks when making your grocery list. Look ahead at your schedule and see if you have time to prepare a good snack or if you have to grab it and go. Healthy snacking makes a big difference, and you will not be starving at your next meal if you had something good to hold you over until then.

If you have any other great snack ideas, I would love to hear them. I am always looking to add delish treats to my plans. Have a great week!

Remember - you can learn more about clean eating through the 1 Week Food Fix I just completed. This last week helped me understand how important clean snacks are in your daily meals. Check it out HERE.

Friday Finds {Vol. 8} - Anniversary Edition

**See where I am linking up HERE for some Friday Favorites**

Today is our 11th wedding anniversary. Wowza. We have had a crazy, beautiful ride since the big party in 2004. Each year, we love to look at our wedding album and relive that night - our son thinks it's amazing and wants to know why he wasn't there. It's good thing he wasn't because it got a bit wild - the party went on into the night, people ended up swimming in their tuxes/dresses, a certain usher may or may not have had a concussion, and a friend had her baby a bit early after watching my husband dance (she pretty much laughed herself into labor). As a guest and good friend said, "that was the best spring break ever." (We got married in July).

Since that crazy, fun night, we have had quite the ride - up and down, down and up - but, it's overall been an awesome gift. When you make those vows on your wedding day, it's hard to see how important they are at that moment. You don't realize the importance of those promises on the day you make them. You definitely don't realize it until you have children, job worries, and unexpected life changes. Then, "to have and to hold" and "for better and for worse" really come into play. I don't have wise marriage advice, I just know you have to push when these crazy times are upon you. When kids are sick, when your job is too much and you're not happy, or when one spouse is struggling internally, you may have to dig deep when you really want to run away. 

My late daddy's fishing fly and my late grandmother's rosary on my bouquet.
One of my favorite wedding details.

For me, I am a worrier. I am a planner. I like control. For my husband, he is not any of these things. And it works for me. Don't get me wrong, when I panic, he may not always know the right thing to say (#men), but just knowing he is there and KNOWS me and what I need is enough. "Love Song" by Miranda Lambert perfectly explains how life and marriage go hand in hand. We know each other well; we know when to give space; and we know when to just hug it out. 

To my husband, we've made it far. We've made a pretty rad family. It's not easy, it's not always rainbows, but we work; we fix; we try. That's why I love you and that's what I wish for any marriage. Happy 11th Anniversary, Pocket. Alligator food. 

I was standing there crying in the kitchen
It's been one of those mornings that's gonna last all day
And he comes in, wraps his arms around me
And I don't even have to say a thing

That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song

He comes in, slams the door behind him
And he can't hide the worry on his face
Even though I got a million things to tell him
I know right now he just needs some space

That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song

Everybody always sings about it
How they're never gonna live without it
We don't even have to talk about it
'Cuz We're livin it out

That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song
That's what makes it love
That's what makes it a love song

More Than a Workout

I am so excited to guest blog over at Cleaneating Mommy. I am sharing how working out and fitness are more than just sweat and physical changes. Thanks so much for letting me share my story. 

Click HERE to see my guest post.

The "Brutiful" Mommy Life

I am also guest posting HERE - thanks so much, Clean Eating Mommy, for having me!

____________________________________

“If it’s easy and shiny - beware. If it stings a little - sit tight, get curious, then lean in.” Glennon, at Momastery, gets it; she just GETS it. She often says life is “brutiful” - the brutal ALWAYS transforms into the beautiful. I’ve had the brutal, sometimes I still feel the brutal leftovers, but she is right. It always turns to beauty.

After working for 13 years as a teacher/counselor, I decided to make a change for our family and stay at home. I really did love my job, but I knew I needed to stop. I was happy, but I felt like there was more for me, and people even questioned why I gave up what I worked so hard to complete. At times, the change was brutal - lonely, confusing, scary, and sometimes sad. I was in a different world, a completely different realm from where I lived comfortably for so long. I waited. I searched. I wanted the beautiful to come with my change.

When this last year started, I wrote down some goals because I wanted to eliminate the wonder and loneliness of my stay at home job. I wanted to write, to share my fitness goals, to become a teacher of another kind. I hesitated often because I was scared again - would it be too brutal to make all these things happen? I knew I gave up my previous career for my kids, but I wanted something for me again - something that gave ME a purpose. And I jumped in - a blogger, a fitness coach, and training to be a fitness instructor. It’s all happening after a lot of wondering.

The fear, the giving up of an old happiness, the goals - I did it. I felt like as a mom, I was okay with just being a mom. And don’t get me wrong, I am so happy. But, I am also thrilled with finding a new happiness - something that is for me, something I am sure will be brutal in the process, but so awesome in the end.

If you are a mom who is unhappy, find something for YOU. If you are working mom, find time for you and do your research. Maybe there is something more out there. And from my perspective, it doesn’t happen overnight. It may take a while and be rough, bumpy, and tiring, but just think about how beautiful it can be at the end. Moms deserve dreams too; we deserve the time to reach our goals; and we deserve to be an amazing role model for our beautiful kids.

Seek out those who can help you; reach out to someone who is in the role you want to be in one day. That’s exactly what I did, and I found the foundation to do more. Life isn’t always brutal; it isn’t always beautiful. But, it can be anything you make of it - we don’t have to be young and carefree to have goals.

I think if anyone knows how “brutiful” life can be, it’s the busy mom. Let it sting a little, it’s suppose to; just lean in and go.

Weekly Meal Plan - 1 Week Food Fix

This week, I am being a bit more structured with our meals - which means EVERY meal is planned out for us. I've shopped, prepped, and cooked; we are ready for the 1 Week Food Fix.

I am so excited to partner with Christy (aka The Tiny Little Chef) and focus on healthy eating. I make working out a habit most days of the week, but I often fail with nutrition. Mama likes queso, margaritas, chips, and salsa. A lot. Focusing on nutrition has been a goal for me for quite a while. However, when the mom life (or life is general) gets stressful, I make bad choices. Everything in moderation should be a motto for all of us to follow because that's what life allows. We are social, and food is often the center of our get togethers, and I LOVE that. But, I need to focus on better choices the majority of the time - for me and my family. 

My food prep and calendar for the week - I even made fresh hummus, and it's delish! Thanks, Christy!

Here are Christy's words about the 1 Week Food Fix -

Are eating and nutrition your downfall? Are you not sure how much to eat? When to eat it? How to pair your foods together? Are you looking to kickstart your metabolism, and reduce the toxins in your body? Would you like to lose the bloating and fatigue? Look no further! I have designed a 1 week food roadmap for you, with no stone left unturned.

After working with many Nutrition clients, I have created this very specific, 1 Week Food Fix™. Many of my clients have done my 2, 4, and 6 week meal plans, but I found that most people wanted, and needed, a foolproof 1 week weight loss kickstart. I will tell you what to eat, 5 times a day, for 7 days. I will teach you new, healthy, delicious, Chef created recipes, and I will help you set a foundation for healthy eating for the rest of your life.

What does the 1 Week Food Fix™ Include?

This 35 page booklet includes the following sections:

Welcome

About Tiny Little Chef

Guidelines for Success and Additional Tips, including modifications for nursing moms, athletes in training, and very active men

The Importance of your Mindset

Portion Sizes and Permitted Substitutions (in every category!)

Food Photos (see below!)

Daily Meal Plan (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and 2 snacks a day with option for a third snack)

Cookbook with all the recipes in the Meal Plan

Shopping List

BONUS: In addition, you will also receive Tiny Little Chef's Clean Eating Grocery List, to help guide you after you have finished the program.

What can you expect from the 1 Week Food Fix™?

If you stick to the plan as outlined, you can expect;

An elimination of excess water weight.

Weight loss (the rate depends on how much you initially have to lose, but usually between 2-5 lbs)

Reduction of sugar, and processed food, cravings.

Better understanding of what, and how much you should be eating to fuel your body for weight loss, and more!

Take a look at just some of the recipes that are included in the meal plan:

BREAKFAST

Spinach and Feta Fritatta
Mixed Berry Overnight Oats
Protein Pancakes

LUNCH/SNACKS

BLT Salad
Turkey Taco Salad
Tuna Stuffed Avocado
Lemon and Garlic Hummus

DINNER

Grilled Chicken Parmesan
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
and much more! (see storefront gallery photos)

Please visit www.tinylittlechef.com/store to purchase your copy, and remember to please select my name from the drop down menu at checkout. 

I can't wait to see how I feel after these 7 days. If you have questions, please visit Christy's site or send me a note. If you join us, you will be added to a support group of some awesome folks. 

Happy, healthy eating!

See where I'm linking up this week :) Click HERE.

Friday Finds {Vol. 7}

It's Friday, friends. I am finding this Friday more spectacular than most. Since the stomach bug ended our 4th with a bang, this week has been tough to catch up and recover. In fact, we were suppose to head out of town this weekend, but I am too traumatized to leave again. So, this weekend...we rest.

Just a quick list of my Friday finds for you today -

Love Crunch. Go get it and you're welcome. This week, I just grabbed a handful and BOOM...dessert. Put it on top of your yogurt too. Delish, my friends. It comes in many flavors, and I got mine at Whole Foods.

Spa Water. Speaking of Whole Foods, this water was such a nice treat on our latest shopping trip. I am inspired to make my own ASAP. And, as luck has it. my friend Kristy at Seven Graces posted some great spa water recipes. Go check it out HERE. I can bet you I will make some next week. (This water has strawberries, lemon, and basil. I had another with lemon and ginger. Refreshing.).

Margaritas. Since we are talking refreshing drinks, let's discuss this goodness I found via Pinterest. Squeezing the limes can give you a workout, but the end result is WORTH. IT. We plan on having neighbors over for fajitas this weekend, so this will be a very nice addition. Click HERE for the recipe. 

This girl. She alternates between cracking me up and making me drink those margaritas mentioned above :) The cracking up part definitely revolves around her talking and expanding vocabulary - especially when she mentions a certain Houston Texan. 

TGIF! I hope it's relaxing and refreshing! Chat soon!

When Mommy Needs a Time-Out

My son had a chair in our dining room where he would go to “time-out” as needed. And, let me assure you, between ages 3 and 4, he frequented that chair quite a bit. Now, his little sister is starting to follow in his footsteps - it’s about to get fun, folks. 

But what about you? Moms need a time-out too.

I know they say to leave the littles for one minute per age - so my son would spend 3-4 minutes there. Wouldn’t it be great if moms could go sit in a corner, alone and quiet, following that same rule? I’d be in my thinking chair for almost 40 minutes. SIGN ME UP, PEOPLE.

There are so many things coming at us from different directions - from the physical challenge that comes with kids (do they ever SIT DOWN?) to the mental (please let me leave this store calmly while my cute, precious child throws her fit). WE ARE EXHAUSTED. So, in our case, time out is a good thing, one I encourage every mom to start stat.

How in the world do we do this as moms? How do we sneak away for our own quiet time? I thought I had it figured out when I had just one little love muffin, but now that there’s two, it took some planning, patience, and determination. Here’s how I take my time-outs:

Get a calendar. AND USE IT. Not just for the kid’s classes, play dates, and dentist appointments, but call/text a friend and put a plan in motion. I am so excited that I have a dinner date with some dear friends in 2 weeks. It’s on that calendar, and it’s not moving. Now, the hubs knows he’s in charge, and you get to look forward to alone time. With wine. Or ice cream.

Find your quiet time. I like to get up earlier than the kids. Sure, I could sleep in and let them wake me up, but there is nothing quite like the morning when I feel like I am the only one in the world. Get your workout on, drink your coffee in one sitting, watch the Today show instead of Dora. Maybe at first you can do it once or twice a week. I bet you will like that stillness that you do it more often. Another great idea - do a devotional and journal. I love hearing peaceful words before a busy day. If mornings don’t work, try nap time. When the littlest is napping, the biggest watches Netflix for a bit. Quiet time for everyone. Win-win.

Pick one night a week. And as Elsa says, LET IT GO. Hubs can get dinner or maybe do the bedtime routine while you take a bath. Or sit outside and enjoy a good book. I know - this one may be hard if you’re doing most of the work or if you are Type A like me. Sometimes, I will go to Target alone and just walk around and see what that quiet shopping thing is like (bonus points if you grab a Starbucks while browsing. A little piece of Heaven right there). Look at your calendars each week and pick your day - let everyone know that is mommy time and go hide away for a bit.

See? Time outs don’t sound so daunting now, do they? Don’t find time - MAKE TIME. We have so much on our plate, we need time to unwind and recharge. I HAVE to make time for this recharging, and I am grateful for my mommy friends who understand how dire alone time can be. Now, go get your calendars, look at your week ahead - what are you going to do for yourself? Trust me, everyone will thank you for it. Everyone loves a happy mommy.

Weekly Meal Plan - Post Holiday Edition

We traveled out of town for the 4th and had a great time with family. Unfortunately, on our last night, the little one got a tummy bug that she graciously passed to big brother. The ride home was FUN #notatall. So, our post 4th recovery involves lots of rest, water, and healthy eats. 

Due to the holiday weekend and said tummy troubles, we shopped on Monday for our weekly goods. To make it even better, I drove a bit to find our nearest Whole Foods for our goodies. There will not be anything fancy on the menu - I am going simple and nutritious. We need it.

Here's our weekly menu for our post-holiday fun -

Monday - Spaghetti with whole wheat pasta (kid favorite). I will use ground turkey and add in some pureed veggies to the sauce (spinach, carrots, celery). I am trying to limit carbs after 6 pm, so I will serve mine over zucchini. Speaking of, I need one of those gadgets that makes the zoodles. Hold please while I search Amazon. 

Tuesday - Tilapia with cauliflower mashed potatoes. I will most likely make a cucumber salad for the side since our cucumbers for the garden are huge!

Cauliflower Potatoes

1 head of cauliflower
sea salt and pepper
4-6 cloves of garlic
1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/3 c. skim milk
Parmesan cheese

1. Clean cauliflower and break into large pieces. 
2. In a large piece of aluminum foil, tightly wrap cauliflower and peeled garlic cloves that have been seasoned with salt and pepper.
3. Place in 350°F oven and bake for 45-55 minutes or until tender. 
4. Put into casserole dish and mash to desired consistency. 
5. Add EVOO and milk and mix in well. 
6. Add cheese and season with salt and pepper as desired. 

Tilapia

3 fillets tilapia - thawed
1½ Tbl chili powder
½ tsp cayenne
1½ tsp black pepper
1 Tbl smoked paprika
½ Tbl onion powder
½ Tbl garlic salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp ground thyme
2 tsp brown sugar
1 to 2 Tbl olive oil for cooking

1. Put all the spices and herbs together in 1 small bowl and mix to combine.
2. Place your thawed tilapia on a plate.
3. Take ½ your spice mix and rub into each piece of tilapia.
4. Turn your tilapia over and rub the other half of the spices into the tilapia.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and put into your fridge 1 hour or longer.
6. Remove tilapia from fridge while heating 1 to 2 Tbl olive oil in a large frying pan on medium high heat.
7. Place your tilapia in pan and fry 4 minutes on 1 side.
8. Turn over and fry 2 to 4 more minutes until fish is cooked throughout, it should flake apart easily.

Wednesday - Chicken taco salad. I love this taco seasoning my friend Kristy shares over at Seven Graces. Top this chicken delicousness on some chopped romaine with black beans, avocado, and salsa for the dressing. The kids will make tacos with all these fixins!

Thursday - I never got around to my salmon from last week so I am adding that back to the plan for this week. On Thursday of last week, we visited some friends, and our commute home was 2 hours instead of 30 minutes. Thanks, Houston. So, I stopped at the nearest kid-friendly restaurant and celebrated car freedom with this treat. Oops. 

Friday - We will head to a local Mexican favorite and celebrate a cheat meal and surviving a stomach bug. The worst, y'all. That alone deserves a margarita.

Whatcha got cookin' this week?? Hope you are making good choices this week! July is in full swing now. 

See where I'm linking up here :)

Friday Finds {Vol. 6}

Happy July 4th weekend! If you are like us, you will be hitting the road this holiday weekend. I can tell you that there will be eating. I mean...GOOD eating since we are headed to Cajun country to see the family. To me, it's my second favorite vacation behind Disney World. I simply cannot wait.

Here's what I'm finding pretty awesome on this Friday...

Summer Viewing

We all know summer is a sad time for the avid TV watcher. Thank goodness for Netflix and good reality shows. I just completed season three of Orange is the New Black. Any fans out there?? It's hilarious, sad, scary, and yes...graphic, but I love these characters. My favorite is Taystee - she cracks me up every single episode. And no matter what, you always start to feel sad for these women, I root for most of them - unless they're meanies. I hope I don't have to wait too long for season four...

We also LOVE American Ninja Warrior. My son said it's his dream to be on that show. In fact, we made our own course in the living room.

My favorites are all the tough women who compete - no matter how far they go, I am inspired. Each episode makes me want to hit the gym. A local competitor has his own gym here in Texas, and my son wants to have his birthday party there - and this mom may try the course.

Page-turners

I am thankful for my book club and our commitment to reading. We have been together for over 10 years, and we love meeting, drinking wine, and maybe discussing the book - ha. This past time, we read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Holy suspense, Batman! I could NOT put this book down, and most friends feel the same. We had a great time discussing the main character, Rachel, and what drove her into this crazy life - and into the lives of those around her. Read it, stat! 

Next up, The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. We wanted to go with suspense again so this book, it is! Anyone read it??

Kid Fun

Imagine that - my son gets so bored in the summer, and there's NEVER anything to do. So, we woke up one day this week, and I declared it adventure day. I made him a quick scavenger hunt list and off we went to a shaded park nearby (Hi, Houston heat. Sheesh). He had to check out certain items as he found them. Once his list was complete, he deserved a reward. Little sister did her best to tag along - she copies his every move!

And, I even threw my OCD to the wind and let them run in the rain one day this week. My son declared it "the best day ever." Honestly, it was so sweet and perfect watching them laugh and run without a care in the world. We could learn quite a bit from kids, wouldn't you agree??

Challenges

I am SO excited to start my teacher challenge next week! After a holiday weekend, we will all need to get ourselves straight. These awesome teachers are committing to a great program, and I can't wait as we support each other as we try something new. Accountability, people. I couldn't do my job or live my life without it.

Be blessed this weekend. Happy 4th, friends!

See where I am linking up here and here today :)

Meal Planning and a Challenge!

The best thing you can do when making healthy choices is to be prepared! I honestly don't do this prep enough, and I am trying harder to get organized when it comes to eating. This past Sunday, I spent time getting all my goodies in order to set us up for a healthy week. Here are some tips for meal planning:

Grocery Lists

Did I mentioned I have OCD? Oh, and I use to be an English teacher, so I like my drafts and final copies of my grocery list :) I use my planner to make my meal list - I like to see what events we have each day and determine our meals by these plans. For example, on the days my son has Tae Kwon Do in the evenings, we keep it simple. If we are all home with nothing on the agenda, I may make something bigger and more involved.

Lately, I make one recipe-driven meal a week then buy our staples. Our staples include eggs, ground turkey, chicken breasts, almond milk, deli meat, fresh fruits, and veggies. It makes the grocery bill cheaper too when I am not buying outrageous ingredients I will only use on one meal.

This week, we had grilled some fajitas with all of the fixings. We have plenty of grilled chicken left so it will be great on salads or in a taco with warm corn tortillas.

I then take a look at my meal plan and list all I need for the week. Since I go to the grocery store with two crazy kids, I need to get in and out without tantrums and items thrown from the shelves. Because of this craziness, I like to list my items by the map of the store #OCDprobs. I can navigate easier and don't have to turn around over and over to get what we need.

Meal Prep Made Easy

Sundays are my days to map out our food. This time, we cooked ground turkey (mixed with minced garlic and onions), put some pork on the smoker, baked some sweet potatoes, and boiled some eggs. I then placed it all in individual containers. For example, for lunch I will have half a sweet potato, turkey, and some brown rice. For dinner, we will do a veggie and a protein (maybe the pork or chicken).

Via

I also cut and wash fruit so it can be accessible for my shakes and for a quick snack. I just grab it all freshly washed and put it in our shakes or toss some to the kids!

Relax and Enjoy

I feel less tempted to grab some chips or cookies when I have all the food ready at my fingertips. And, it makes dinner time less chaotic when I am reheating what we've prepared.  I will take it out and make portions for us then warm in the oven. Easy stuff!

The 21 Day Fix is another great program that takes the guessing out of the portioning. In fact, we are about to start a summer challenge with this great program. It's the first workout I used after baby, and I credit this program with getting me going on this journey.

Right now, we are enrolling for our BACK TO SCHOOL challenge with the 21 Day Fix (or Fix Extreme). We are looking for teachers who are ready to take care of themselves before the busy school year starts. Can I help you get your school year off to the right track?? Contact me! 

Happy Wednesday!