Healthy Home Meal Ideas

Let's talk planning.  As the new week approaches, I begin to think about what I want to cook for dinners and what I need to prepare or buy for lunches, snacks, and breakfasts.  I do some recipe research and raid my cupboards, fridge and freezers making an extensive grocery list of things I need.  I usually start this on Saturday and complete it on Sunday with the goal of grocery shopping on Monday morning.  Do what works for you.  If you want to go shopping Sunday, then do your prep on Saturday.  A little planning makes things go so much smoother during the week.  You don't have to think, you just do.

To get your wheels turning, here are a few sites I've found with lots of healthy recipes.  Read through them and see what looks good to you.  Don't be afraid to try something new. 

 90 healthy no-heat lunches
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2012/09/90-healthy-no-heat-lunches-for-work.html

Create a container with 12 - 100 calorie "snacks" and eat them for snacks and lunch (1200 cal over 3 meals at 400 cal each, or spread them over 4 meals if you need to eat 300cal each time).  Then there is hardly any lunch or snack prep  
http://blog.jessicaweible.com/?p=2196

Fitness Magazine's website is great for 300 cal breakfast ideas, 400 cal lunches, 500 cal dinners and 100 cal snacks.  Here is a link to some great breakfast ideas
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/you-can-do-it/fat-fighting-low-calorie-breakfast-recipes/?page=5

Do you like quinoa?  Here are some new recipe ideas for that healthy, high protein grain
http://www.fitfoodiefinds.com/2012/08/10-healthy-quinoa-recipes.html

Skinnytaste.com is an amazing site and great resource for healthy recipes.  In this post she describes how to make a few freezer friendly meals, for those busy nights when you just don't have time to do anything but you still want a healthy meal at home.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/04/how-to-make-your-favorite-meals-freezer.html

73 healthy salad recipes
 http://www.wholeliving.com/136361/our-favorite-salads/@center/144884/healthy-dinners#slide_17

 Cooking Light Magazine's website - another amazing resource!  This link is for 40 meals to make in less than 40 minutes...can't beat that!
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/fast-menus-00412000074311/

Other sites that I find helpful for meal planning are
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/
http://www.shape.com/
http://www.eatingwell.com/
I will post some more ideas in the future as well, but this should be PLENTY to get you started. ;)

Every Sunday I'll post the weekly menu, so visit again tomorrow for more details on what my week will look like along with links to the recipes.

And I should clarify something - you won't get a recipe from me everyday.  In fact, you won't get any recipes from me over the weekend.  Fridays are always family movie night and we order pizza - yesterday was no exception.  On Saturdays we often eat leftovers, eat out on a date night, or order take out.  So needless to say, I did not make the pork loin I originally planned but it can stay in the freezer until I'm in the mood for pork again.  Sundays could go either way depending on the day, but if I do cook I love to cook more complicated things.  Tomorrow with be Pasta Bolognese.  I'll keep you posted on that one...not a light recipe.  It's a "cheat" meal.  Just some good old Italian comfort food.  Plus its Barefoot Contessa's recipe so I know it wont disappoint.