Meal plan for July 6-13th

Anyone want to join me in a cleanse this week?

No, not a weird kind where you drink juice with cayenne pepper or some weird shit like that.

This is a cleanse for people who like food, and enjoy eating it.  Nary a disgusting egg white will be required.  Egg whites are good for making meringues, and for mixing well with the delicious yolks, but on their own they make me sad for people.

I’ve been eating kind of crappy of late, with the big holiday weekend, and some L-O-N-G days at work, which lead to snacking.  Every July, I take two weeks off, and go back to work with my pants falling off of my butt. Not sitting around all day has multiple benefits: I am moving and burning calories, and I’m not eating constantly to stay alert and engaged.  But I still have to work this next week, so I’m going to double down on the healthy stuff, and keep a lid on the snacking.

Here are the rules:

– You do your best

That’s it.  Everyone gets a trophy. 🙂

To prep for this “cleanse”, I stocked up on a ton of fruit and veg.  I pre-cut celery, carrots, and Persian cucumbers (vegetable crack!), and made some Lara Balls for when I am craving some chocolate, and some of these bars.  I cut up a bunch of watermelon for meal additions, and easy to grab snacks.  Have you ever noticed that when you’re super hungry, a healthy snack might be a viable option, but if it isn’t ready that instant, you find yourself eating fistfuls of chocolate chips?  If I can grab and go, I’m much more likely to choose the smart choices.

How was your Fourth of July?  For you Americans, I trust you had a lovely time and were able to shoot off some fireworks.  For everyone else, I hope you had a nice um…Friday.  Back in 2005, when I was working at a firm in Los Angeles, I was talking with one of my cube mates about his plans for the long holiday.  I asked how he was going to celebrate the fourth, and before I even finished my sentence, I starting laughing.

For you see, he was British.

I then said “I take it you guys don’t celebrate the day we celebrate separating ourselves from you, right…?”  I was correct.  For the record.

We had a huge BBQ at my in-laws, who live in the coolest house ever.  It’s an old school house.  Not like “old” school like it’s stuck in the 70’s, but old SCHOOLHOUSE as in kids used to learn there with their pails and stuff.  They have a drinking fountain in the entry way, a boy’s bathroom downstairs, and their bedroom has a loft that used to be the library.  It’s a really cool place, and the open floor plan is fabulous for entertaining.  There are steps up to all the entrances, so they lovingly rent a ramp for my mom to be able to access the house.  This year, my mom had to cancel at the last minute, but let me tell you, my in-laws are going to rent that ramp for EVERY party in the future.  There were thousands of toys to play with, a whole acre of lawn to play on, a slip and slide, and a kiddie pool.

Every kid at that party was on the ramp for the majority of the day.  One little dude thought it was a slide (covered with sand paper), and spent his time scooting down it.  Jack and a few cousins used it for car racing, and others found it was fabulous for rolling bouncing balls down.

$35,981 worth of toys, and they played with the gimp ramp!

Saturday morning, Jack and I went and signed him up for karate later this month.  I see one of two things happening.  Either he’ll learn discipline and be wonderful, or he’ll become a bully with tools.

We’re doing a special where you get 12 classes for $39.  I figure if he hates it, I’m out $40.  The gi (karate outfit thingy) is $40, but I’m scouring Craigslist, Goodwill, garage sales, and Freecycle for one that might fit it.  I’m not spending $40 for something he’ll wear for six weeks.  Pfft!

Saturday afternoon, I was making strawberry ice cream, and went out to collect the eggs from the coop.  I came back in to see this.

How do we make ice cream in our house?  With rapt attention being paid to it!

Meal plan time!  Reminder, I only plan dinners.  My breakfast of choice is homemade Greek yogurt with tons of cut up fresh fruit (or fruit I froze in the summer), and a homemade granola bar crumbled on top.  It’s delicious and keeps me completely full and satisfied until lunch. Lunches are always leftovers.  We rarely eat dessert during the week, and our dinner drink of choice is water kefir soda.

Monday:: I am working late, but the boys will have leftover mini quiches from the freezer, chopped salad, and fruit.

Tuesday:: I’m having Troy grill his fabulous chicken to serve on top of leftover chopped salad.  We’ll serve it with fruit.

Wednesday:: I am working late again, but will have Troy BBQ chicken breasts using this recipe.  I’m thinking he should probably grill it in a pan on the BBQ?  We’ll pair the chicken with grilled veg, and fruit.

Thursday:: Eating at the in-laws!!!

Friday:: Popcorn and movie night.  Fave night of the week.

Saturday:: I’m making a small batch of Kalua pig, to make taco salads.

Sunday::  Dinner at my parent’s.  My dad is making salmon!

This week I spent $3.50 at the farm for raw milk, $13 at the local produce stand for veg and organic cherries, $51 at the grocery store, and $11 at Costco.

What are you having this week?