Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail!

Last week I had my wisdom tooth taken out, which I thought was going to result in a liquid diet week...but I recovered pretty well and was eating solid foods by the next day!  The problem? I wasn't PREPARED!  I did not go grocery shopping or create any sort of weekly structure for myself.  My choices were ok, but they weren't great (lots of random lunch purchases at work, coffees out, a gluten free muffin splurge as I drove by the bakery on my way home from the gym).  None of these choices were horrible on their own, but add them up over 5 or 6 days, and they result in a lethargic, moody, bloated Laura.  So, I will NOT fail to plan this week! 

Recipes for the week are simple and easy to prepare on the spot.  There is not much time for food prep this Sunday, so I will rely on dinners that take 30 minutes or less to prepare and have little clean up! I always go to Clean Eating Magazine's Website when I am looking for quick and easy, because there are two awesome categories to accommodate that goal: 20 minutes or less meals and 5 ingredients or less meals!

Turkey Black Bean Soft Tacos (I use coconut paleo wraps from Julian Bakery instead of corn tortillas)
Greek Style Fish with Mint Cucumber Sauce
Chicken and Lentils

Breakfast Choices:
2 days: Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp. flax seed, 2 Tbsp. walnuts and 1 banana
2 days: Smoothie made with 1 cup cherries, 1 cup almond milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1 cup spinach
1 day: breakfast sandwich: 2 eggs, 1 slice cheddar cheese, 2 slices gluten free bread with 1/2 cup spinach and slice of tomato mixed in sandwich

Lunch Choices:
"The usual" 3 days: Paleo sandwich with 3 ounces turkey or ham, lettuce, tomato, mustard
Baked sweet potato 2 days: (baked in the morning before work) topped with leftover stuffing from tacos and 1 ounce cheddar

Dinners:
Monday: Breakfast for dinner: 2 egg omelet with ham, cheddar, apple with side of greens in oil and vinegar dressing
Tuesday: Turkey Black Bean Soft Tacos
Wednesday: Greek Style Fish with mint and cucumber sauce with side of cauliflower mashed potatoes (see four weeks ago for recipe!)
Thursday: Chicken and Lentils with side of jasmine rice
Friday: Leftover Chicken and Lentils

Snack choices:
Apples or celery with nut butter

Shopping List:

Middle Aisles

• 12 corn tortillas or other tortillas
• 1 15-oz can low-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup salsa
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 1/2 cups dry green lentils
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• oregano
• flax seed
• nut butter
• protein powder
• bread for sandwiches
• vinegar for dressing

Meat

• 4 5-oz cod fillets
• 1 1/4 lb extra-lean ground turkey
• 1 lb deli meat
• 12 ounces chicken breast

Dairy and eggs

• 4 cup 0-2% plain Greek yogurt
• almond milk
• cheddar
• eggs (4 for recipes)

Fruits and veggies

• 3 tbsp finely chopped English cucumber
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• lettuce and tomato for sandwiches and tacos
• 2 bananas
• 5 apples
• 2 cloves garlic, minced1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 lb spinach
• celery