Second Week Using The Mommy Meal Planner

Well here we are in week two and I am still following this plan and I am thrilled! This week I was able to do at least two meals a day since I used some meals that I froze from the week before. I also had a cooking day on Monday and made the lasagna and the lentil stew and ate those through the week. My husband did like the stew. I add a side item for him with these meals so they are a starting point for the entire family. I am going to add my healthy snacks to the mix for next week and then maybe desserts the next week. I do feel better. I also have seen the difference when I work out, that I do get hungry faster than I did before. I guess I am running through the good nutrients that I am getting. I did pair this with a workout from my friend that is helping me with personal training. I know that I am on my way to success to a healthier life. I am still using the online shopping from Harris Teeter being that I am still trying new items. After I finish this week I would have used all the recipes from the book and will pick my favorites and start seeing where the best place to get these items for the best value will be. Thanks Ellen~

First Week Using The Mommy Meal Planner

Wow! This is a total lifestyle change for me and my family. I have never been the cook and have no idea how I have gone so long living like I have. Ellen gave me my meal planning guide this week. At first I decided I was going to try to follow this plan for all three meals. Then after a day I realized that maybe aiming for one meal a day would be more realistic. She encourages you to go at your own pace and trust me you will find this fast~ I decided that I would use the Harris Teeter Express Lane to get my grocery list completed that she provided. I have a 2.5 year old and a 4 month old and trying to find 50 new items in the store may be a challenge. If you go to our website you will see a coupon that will allow you to use this service for free. I completed my list and was very pleased when I was unpacking the groceries to see all my new items.

I looked at my weekly meal planner before each meal and decided what I had time to make and went from there. At lunch two days this week, I made full recipes and divided the servings and froze the ones I did not eat. This means two days next week I already have lunches done. One evening I was able to save a serving as well and will eat this for lunch this week. My week was packed with dinners out. Even though I was not eating exactly what was on my list I found myself making such an effort to cut out little things that normally I would not even have noticed on my plate.

Since I am breastfeeding it is very important for me to have access to healthy snacks during the day. A huge bowl of apples was a great way for me to meet this need. I am not a huge breakfast person, but I find I do have time for breakfast in the morning. So I have started eating a good breakfast and find that I am less likely to eat junk for lunch because of the lack of time.

On my list was soy milk and creamer. I thought there is no way. This is one thing I will not do. Well. well. well. I love soy creamer! In her helpful hints for me and my diet she recommends me cutting down from 4 cups of coffee to 2 and then having green tea instead in the afternoons. I am going to aim for this next week. I may surprise myself and get to three meals a day from the planner and then aim to use the meal tracker the next week!

Helpful hint - When using online shopping use few words to get more results. Example instead of whole wheat english muffins, use wheat english muffins.

***My husband has been very impressed with the meals so far and eating them with me:)