Core De Force Meal Plan Week 3

I used to be so good(like seriously, so freaking good) at meal planning. I had calendar hanging up in my pantry, I would pull it out once a week and plan all our family meals.  If someone made a request during te week, I would just add it on the next available day. I would go grocery shopping from that meal plan on Saturdays....I had everything set! 

Then I had my second son and things just went to poo.

It has been a real struggle for me to get back on the meal planning bandwagon. I've tried so many different things so many different ways to get myself back

up and into meal planning because I know when I'm meal planning

#1 I eat way better 

#2 I save more money because I know what I'm shopping for 

#3 I save myself so much time and stress because I don't have to think last minute about what I have to make for dinner I have a plan it makes things so much easier.

For the last 3 weeks I have been doing this workout program called Core DE Force which is an MMA style workout. If you've been following me for a while you know that I started my entire fitness journey by taking a Taekwondo / self-defense class and so this totally brings me back and gives me all the feels.  I really been enjoying the workout but, before starting I being dedicated to the meal plan has been something that I was really nervous about.  I joined an exclusive test group where I had to sign a contract and everything(let the nail biting ensue). 

Printable link--Core De Force Meal Plan A Week 3

I've just been having a hard time with just figuring out another meal planning strategy that actually works for me.  I've tried my old calendar way, white board, excel, pen and paper meal planning apps(which I am still trying to incorporate) and even sticky notes.

I have been using this specific meal planning strategy for the last 3 weeks and it has been working out great so far.  I have this form on Google docs that I just go in and I have each meal planned out according to time and the actual portions for that meal.  You'll notice in the meal plan that nearly every single breakfast has the same portions of carbs, fruit and protien, every lunch has the same portions and so on.  That just makes it so much easier for me to meal plan not only my family's dinner but each of my own meals and snacks that I have and that totally keeps me on track and not reaching for the cookie dough in the back of my fridge. The colors corespond to the food group(red-protein, grees-veggies, yellow-carb etc).  I'm making a few adjustments to Thursday since it's Thanksgiving but mainly sticking with the meal plan, and I guarantee I will not feel deprived!!  You see the pies are listed on there right??!

You'll have to stay tuned to see my final results over the next few weeks

I hope that this helps you guys in planning your own meals especially for Core DE Force and I would love to help you out with any questions that you have, so comment below or you can message me directly here.

If you want to join me in working on building up your own strengths and weaknesses, I have an online support group starting on November 28th. This is a great time to get a jump start on your New Years goals and feel great about yourself through Christmas, while still eating foods you enjoy!

Fill out the application below and I will contact you to see if this is something that would be a good fit in your life.

Chicken Sausage Veggie bake

Lately at my house, I'm the only one eating dinner.  Little boys are full from snacking(which, I try not to get mad at because I'm a grazer too) and hubby is home late, or ate hours before and sitll isn't hungry.  Honestly, this has been happening a lot and I stopped making dinner.  I would eat a salad or wrap, do something quick for the kids and if my husband would come home hungry he'd be left wonering where the food was at. I started feeling like a slacker and picked myself up off the pity party floor and found my dinner making groove again.

A few apps that have really helped are called

Our Groceries and Food Planner, check them out if you have need of food organization in your life!

Anyways, onto last nights dinner.  Sunday was planning day, I have all the meals planned out and even got some input from the fam so they would WANT to eat.  

One of the two dishes Charlie requested was this.  I wanna say I got the idea off Pinterest(of course) but it has evolved into it's own thing at our house(like most recipes do).  If you thing the mustard and onion combo sounds weird, just try it, IT IS SOO GOOD!!

You can make this with any combo of root vegetables, and squash that you have on hand, so customize away!

Ingredients:

1 medium onion chopped

1 clove garlic minced

2 TBS coconut oil

1 tsp dijon mustard

2 TBS yellow mustard

1 package of Aidells chicken sausage(any flavor--pineapple bacon is our favorite)

1 medium zucchini

1 medium sweet potato

1 large yellow or white potato

freshly shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Sauté the onion and garlic with coconut oil and both mustards in a large skillet over medium heat until the onions are soft and transparent (about 5 minutes).
2. While the onion and garlic are sautéing, slice the zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, and potato thinly (1/4-inch slices). Make sure the potatoes are very thin so that they soften quickly while in the oven.  I used my mandolin.  
3. Coat the inside of an 8x8" casserole dish with non-stick spray. Spread 1/4 of the sautéed onion and garlic mixture in the bottom of the dish. Arrange the other sliced vegetables and sliced sausage(I used whole ones), stacked vertically like dominos, in an alternating pattern. When you run out of room, I shoved any extra little pieces of sausage in any visible empty spaces.  Season the top of the vegetables generously with salt, pepper, and any other spices you really like.  
4. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese(optional), and bake without the foil for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.