Meal Plans Week of 8-4-13

August is in full swing.  And this week will feel more like our fall routine than summer.  It was nice to have some down time last week (especially since both kids had colds).  And the kids had fun just being silly.  But it's time to get going now.

I have an appointment with my psychologist.  Definitely NEED that :P  Rebecca has Spanish camp every morning this week.  She also has gymnastics/dance camp a couple afternoons.  We have our usual trip to the farmer's market and a trip to the grocery store.  And Justin and I FINALLY get to go on a date and celebrate our 10th anniversary.  We have no idea what we're doing yet, but at least we were able to find a baby-sitter.  If time allows I need to stop over to see my grandparents.  I might also finally do my blood work for hormones and thyroid.

I think I have about 50 things I want to do in the kitchen this week.  It seems that all of our homemade gluten free snacks have been used up at the same time.  The fresh produce keeps coming as well.  I have another (yes another...we ate the last one in 2 days :P) blueberry pie in the oven right now.  And we picked about 11 lbs. of blueberries yesterday that I have to deal with.  I'd like to make ice cream, gluten free graham crackers, gluten free crackers/wheat thins, pesto (we've got lots of basil to use), zucchini bread, mayo, muesli and some gluten free bars for myself.  I might be freezing beans, peppers and zucchini as well.  Maybe the golden grahams and goldfish will have to wait until next week.

I think I'm FINALLY starting to recover physically.  Now I need my body to get back in balance.  I still have a lot of aches and pains and odd things going on as hormones fluctuate and my body heals.  I might do a liver cleanse this week (was going to do it last week, but my body wasn't ready) after my blood work.

I'm so excited to be able to exercise a bit more again.  It's nothing major since I'm pretty out of shape now.  10 years ago I could run 5 miles no problem.  Right now it's a hard workout if I make it one mile at a fairly slow pace :P  But that's ok.  It feels good just to be using my muscles again.  I'm taking the slow and steady approach to fitness and health now.  I don't need to go from nothing to running a marathon over night.  I'm trying to do some stretching/yoga and some weights.  Keep things balanced.  And make sure I'm eating enough to compensate.

I'm also starting a little exposure therapy for my OCD.  I HATE it.  But I know it's what I need to keep healing mentally...and it will also impact my physical health.  So yesterday I slept in an extra  hour.  My goal is to sleep a little later each Saturday and work my way out of my comfort zone.  For the last couple years I got up at 4 am every day.  For the last 6 months I've changed that to 5 am.  Yesterday I pushed it to 6 am.  It was nice to get a full 8 hours of sleep.  Although it was actually tough to sleep until 6 since my body is not used to it.  We'll see how far I go this Saturday.  I'll probably start with just 10 or 15 minute increments.

So, that's where I'm at.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  I'm trying not to be too impatient.  I just want to feel "normal" again.  But I know I can't go to extremes anymore.  So I'm trying to be gracious with myself and accept where I'm at each day and love myself.  I'm taking little steps each day that will hopefully bring long term success and healing.

On to the menu.  We need a lot of prep ahead meals this week with our busy schedule.  I hope it's a fun week.  Eet smakelijk!

***MENU***

S (prep lunch, bake pie, church, prep smoothies, make mayo, make gummies, soak flour)
  B - peach yogurt, granola
  L - cp salsa chicken, rice
  D - fried eggs, toast w/ jam, peas, fresh fruit

M (make zucchini bread, prep casserole, SC, BW?, Dr. V, soak flour)
  B - smoothie, zucchini bread
  D - (prep ahead) - TBD casserole

T (prep breakfast, make graham crackers, SC, FM, prep dinner, D/G)
  B - baked apples, yogurt, nuts
  D - (prep ahead) - cp meatloaf, baked potatoes, carrots

W (make gf crackers, SC, Meijer, freeze blueberries)
  B - smoothie, zucchini bread
  D - salmon cakes, buttered gf noodles, squash

Th (skim cream, freeze beans, make ice cream, SC, prep dinner, D/G, make muesli, soak flour)
  B - zucchini bread, peach, almonds
  D - (prep ahead) - cp roasted chicken legs, rice, broccoli

F (make bars, SC, DN)
  B - muesli w/ milk
  D - out to eat / TBD simple foods for kids

S (sleep)
  B - TBD
  D - pancakes, bacon, peas, fruit