Happy Friday! Today marks two full weeks of me successfully sending my husband off to work with a healthy lunch packed in a neat container. The thing is, I go through phases. Ask my family. I get ideas and jump in headfirst. And then something happens, and that's that. Now, however, my husband is on a healthy living journey, and I realize his chances of being successful will improve drastically if I lend support. And let's be honest, I am on the same journey. Middle age lends itself to rethinking one's habits.
I have always been a meal planner of some sort. Sometimes it was with a rigid schedule written out and posted on the bulletin board. Other times it floated around in my already cluttered mind stopping long enough for one meal idea to jump out at me. Now, I sit down, plan our meals carefully, and make the grocery list accordingly. Now, I also plan lunches for Steve to take to work and find it so much easier for us. The internet has many awesome meal prep/plan ideas that I adapt to our needs. I pick one main thing weekly, like turkey wraps or tuna salad. Then I serve that in different ways each day. This week I made a tuna and egg salad with greek yogurt and did it differently each day.
Last week I made turkey and cheese wraps with low-carb tortillas. Steve loved them! It is easier to put lunch together in the mornings than to search haphazardly for something to send with him. And it is much better than him getting takeout! So I throw it together while my coffee is brewing. That is a win-win. I also meal plan our dinners. I don't necessarily assign a meal to a night because things constantly change, but I plan and shop for five meals weekly. Each week, I include a Mexican, pasta, fish, casserole, and pizza night! This week our meals included Stuffed Peppers, Homemade Pizza, Baked Ziti, Taco Chicken Bowls, and Baked Tilapia. I will link the recipes down below.
The chicken bowls we had last night are a huge favorite. I like them because they are easy, healthy, and use up many extra things from the refrigerator. I put some boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crockpot and poured some of our favorite salsa over them. That cooks on low all afternoon. Then right before dinner, I shred it and make some rice. Madison is a pro at making the best cilantro lime rice! She adds freshly squeezed lime juice and chopped fresh cilantro to the cooked rice. Then I chop up any toppings, herbs, and sauces I have left from the week.
Last night we had shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, avocado, green onions, cheese, corn, pico, cilantro, sour cream, and ranch dressings. Madison was kind enough to snap a picture of two of her beautiful bowl so I could share them with you!
So good! And easy! Well, I need to pour another cup of coffee and get on with my day. I hope you have a wonderful, happy, healthy weekend, my friends!
As do my Flynn, Kirby, Mocha, and visiting pup Draper!
Billie Jo
I love the way you're making your husbands healthy lunches and your meal planning. I used to meal plan but in the chaos of the past three years of moving three times and Mom's care, I've let it go. Inevitably, around 4:00 in the afternoon I feel a mild sense of panic when I have NO IDEA what to fix for dinner. I really need to buckle down when I get home and take care of that. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
His lunches all looks awesome!! I know he must really appreciate this. I always have in my mind what we have on hand and tend to plan the day before what I will make. I don't do well with a set in stone plan because what I'm craving changes from day to day. Have a wonderful Friday and a relaxing weekend Billie Jo!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I LOVE your new blog header :) Your lunches look delicious. It's so nice to get new ideas for menu ideas, and for prepping meals ahead of time. I was catching up with your last few posts, and had to smile. I used to be quite scheduled in how I planned menus, cleaned house, etc. Maybe with everything else going on each day, I had to fit it all in between my kids schedules. Now, like you, I do things when I'm inclined to, especially cleaning (probably should be more frequently though!) If I see something that needs to be done, I do that thing. Only downside is that my house is rarely all clean at one time. Not such a big deal anymore, though. Have a good weekend, BIllie Jo.
ReplyDeleteI can see the benefits of packing lunches for my husband and me. We both need to focus on our health.
ReplyDeleteIt really does make such a huge difference when we help each other and make those lunches. I'm soon to return to the outside-of-the-home work shlubs and I want to do this right and make our lunches. Also, get better at meal planning. My hand is forced now and that does help.
ReplyDeleteI love that you're good at this and even with phases, sounds like the eye is on the prize of healthier living. LOOOVE that.
Love the wraps. I bought ingredients to make wraps for us to take too work again. Hubby enjoys peanut butter in his! Too funny. Like a big kid.
Great ending photo! Food photos look fresh and happy. Love that. Here's to lots of good food ahead and fun menus to boot.
Cheers, Ivy.
Sitting down here at the computer after having just finished my lunch - which did not look nearly as yummy as these lunches. Sure, I eat at home but a well thought lunch - and one that looks so tasty - is good for all of us. I (semi) plan our dinners but I need to think more about lunch!! Here's to plenty of yummy eating this weekend:)
ReplyDeleteI love both lime and cilantro. I must do that rice! :-)
ReplyDeleteThose lunches look wonderful!!! I need to be better about making my school lunches the night before. I am too scattered getting myself and 3 kids out the door for school to pack anything healthy for myself. Yours photographed beautifully. Happy Friday! Love, Val
ReplyDeleteThose lunches look wonderful! Diners I can do, with a bit of planning and a lot of fantasy, but I struggle with lunches. This is giving me some ideas though.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I love your planning. I am always looking for ways to eat healthier and this might be just the answer.
ReplyDeleteSounds so familiar! I'm always on some kind of "project" and meal planning is big on this list. I have recently gotten overwhelmed with dinner. I spend an hour in the kitchen, we eat it in less than ten minutes, and it's like another 15 minutes of cleanup! So my latest project is researching healthy lunches that can pass as a dinner. Usually lunches don't take as much time to make lol. That's the goal anyways. Great job on being consistent! I know how challenging that can be!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific post with great ideas! I love how you used the turkey salad in a variety of ways and served it with different things, always including fruit. Your dinners sound good, too. Being retired, we eat our large meal at lunch, and I plan to use some of your recipes. Thanks for sharing the ideas and pictures, too. Blessings . . .
ReplyDeleteSuch great ideas & recipes! I am also trying to do better to avoid having this herniated disc issue again. Some weight off of my hips and spine will definitely help. I love those bento type boxes too. Make it easier to pack a nice variety. ;) Thank you for sharing! If you get a chance pop over and join the blogaversary giveaway I just posted. I love sharing this space in blogland with you dear Friend - and wanted to do some giveaways as appreciation. I hope you have a very blessed weekend ahead.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Those lunches look delicious. I am on a healthy habits journey as well! Middle age definitely gets you rethinking habits.
ReplyDeleteYour food looks delicious. I did get a recipe for baked ziti. Possibly make the fish 🐟 recipe too. I don't buy fish from China. I need to get a recipe for rockfish that I bought 2 weeks ago. It's still frozen. I had thoughts early January I couldn't figure out where they came and finally got out of it. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteHealthy eating is easier when the whole family is on board!
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed! Those are good looking lunches.
ReplyDeleteI've been meal planning for years and it really helps. We are also trying to eat healthier and I'm keeping better snacks around the house.
Yum! All of this looks so good!!
ReplyDeleteThose lunches look amazing. I really do love meal planning. It makes life so much easier. But I'm not very good at keeping up with it. Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteI like the way your plan consists of certain categories (Mexican, fish, etc.). This makes planning so much easier! I used to be so good at meal planning, but as I got older and the mind got cluttered, I don't have the brain power to make a detailed plan. I might think of a few specific meals I want and then I go shopping and add some things as I go along. When I get home I will write down all the ideas and list them on the fridge. That way I can choose each day what we're in the mood for.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe links, I'm always looking for something new that's quick, easy, and yummy! Lunch looks amazing....ahhhh
ReplyDeleteHi Billie Jo~ Kudos to you my friend for making healthy lunches! I think most of us need to get on the healthy eating bandwagon, especially myself. I really like the categories that you chose for each day of the week, very easy to change up and make fun and delicious meals with. I also love the recipes you listed, I'm anxious to make some of them, especially the chicken taco bowl! Enjoy your week-end! Hugs, Barb
ReplyDeleteOh, that all looks so good!
ReplyDeleteMary
What beautiful lunches and meals you are preparing Billie Jo! You have me drooling! I am going to give the chicken taco bowl a try this week!
ReplyDeleteThese meals look delicious, Billie Jo, and the pictures are lovely! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYour meals look so delicious. You're eating the rainbow! I've been doing the same this last week, as I had been snacking on cheese sandwiches at lunchtime for far too long. I juts hope I can keep it up. Xx
ReplyDeleteThose bowls look yummilicious! I love planning ahead and you are doing great sending the hubby to work with healthy foods. I am not a fan of fast food and would love to have your healthy lunches:) We had Copy Cat Olive Garden salad last night, it was SO good!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day dear friend, thanks for the links. HUGS!
So good of you to help and prepare your husband's lunches for the day. And these look so delicious! That salad spread looks really good....and healthy. LOVE that photo of Flynn sitting there so relaxed by the Christmas tree with the dogs. What a sweet photo.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed week, Billie Jo.
~Sheri