Monthly Food Calendar! :-)

Look at me....2 post in two days!!! :-P

So today I wanted to share the family calendar for this month. I am working on my calendar for next month and I will make sure to share with you before June!

I really love the idea of a food calendar because it helps you stay focused, you plan ahead, and you get to try new exciting foods. I have time to research new foods and ways of tailoring them to my lifestyle needs. So without further ado, here is the menu!

 So here are some of my pictures from my tasty meals :-)

1. Red Beans and Rice
-I live in New Orleans and Red Beans are a staple. I decided to look at ways of making this typically heavy dish healthier. I used a pack of dry red beans, turkey sausage, birds eye seasoning mix (or onion, green pepper, celery), bay leaves, pinch of thyme. I put it all in a crockpot and went to work. Mixed it with some medley minute rice. Delish!







  
2. Chicken, Mushroom, and Spinach Alfredo
-I love pasta but have struggled to find a recipe that is healthy and doesn't upset my stomach. This recipe was so fast and simple. I created it with a co-worker, so this is a Cassie Original!
Recipe:
-Chicken (diced)
-Frozen Spinach
-1/2 pack of mushrooms (really however much you want)
-1/2 reduced fat cream cheese
-1/2-1 cup of chicken broth
-Italian cheese (shredded)
-garlic, onion
1. In a skillet cook diced chicken
2. In a dutch oven, saute garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning
3. In dutch oven add in 1/2 cream cheese and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Mix under you create a cream. You can add more broth as you go so that you have a creamy sauce and not a paste.
4. Add spinach (I used 1/2 pack) and mushrooms to sauce, stir. Add broth as needed.
5. In another pot boil water, cook noodles.
6. Mix chicken in with sauce.
7. Serve over noodles.
Enjoy!!

On the menu I have dessert nights. I absolutely love Skinny Cow desserts. I have a couple different types, they are all between 100-150 calories. It is the perfect little indulgence after dinner.

Hope you all enjoy the menu and you all will be in for a treat June's calendar!

March Food Calendar

So I am unsure about what to write sometimes on here...so I try workouts, random motivational thoughts, and food.

I recently put together a food calendar for my family and I was so impressed with my work that I decided to use it at my house! hahahah. It is so easy to get caught in the same old routine because my boyfriend and I both work and both spend a fair amount of time in the gym. For this reason it is nice to have a schedule of what we are doing.

So over the next couple months I am going to work on taking better pics of the food and the process. I am going to be a pro. But we all start somewhere so here are the first set of meals from March. I'll try to update as I go along!

-One little side note. 1.) I try to be as healthy as possible, but I'm not perfect. I like putting cheese on my tacos, I like having a piece of bread at dinner sometimes. I try to watch portions and get the healthiest possible options available. Its not about being perfect, its about being healthier. 2.) Most of these things can be swapped out for other similar things that you like. (for example I eat ground turkey like its going out of style! But you can use lean ground chicken or beef/ If you don't like shellfish ((HELLO I LIVE IN LOUISIANA I LIVE ON SEAFOOD!!!))/ any veggie you can swap out). 3.) Its about being healthy, not crazy. You want to use quality ingredients and eat things you like. I love tacos, so I get shells that are healthy and yummy! I like cheese so I buy quality cheese. I use food as fuel, and I treat myself like a Ferrari! You should too!


Chicken Enchiladas: Healthy Style

-3-4 chicken breast

-1 can of red enchiladas sauce

-2 bell peppers, 1 onion

-1 low sodium taco seasoning

-whole wheat small soft taco shells

-Mexican cheese – low fat

1.) Cook chicken, whatever way is easiest.

2.) Saute bell pepper, onion, and ½ taco packet

3.) Mix pepper mix, chicken, and rest of taco packet together

4.) Stuff mixture into taco shells, put small amount of cheese and picante sauce inside taco, roll up and place in pan.

**Enjoy**

 


Baked Fish with Cabbage and Garlic Knot
-6 Fillets of fish (pictured tilapia)
-1 head of cabbage
-New York Garlic Knots
1. Wash fillets, dry, season with Mrs. Dash ( I used Garlic and Herb)
2. Cut cabbage, sprinkle with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
3. Garlic Knots - cook as directed.
(I like garlic knots, I plan for garlic knots to be in my day so I set up my macros accordingly. You could replace with a piece of whole wheat toast with garlic/garlic powder)
**Enjoy**

Here is the calendar that I made. The recipes above are the exact same ones that I use. Being healthy is about balance. It's about finding things that you like and making them healthier. I always look at cooking as a journey to take and try to challenge myself to make new and exciting food.