Day 1 @ House of Zen

Challenge day 1!

The day started with the game plan: the menu for the week. We downloaded a menu plan template and typed in our week's eating plan.

I know ... of course the dietitian makes a menu plan. But, it goes beyond simply being a dietitian - it's being motivated and having the support at home to save time, maximize fresh food and get excited about being in the kitchen.

What we've started with:



 

5 pantry items: oil, frozen blueberries, tea, popcorn, greens

Good Food Box (small size)

 

 

 

Food Hamper (Gluten Free)



• No bread or bagels in the celiac box ... but ... a pancake/muffin mix was included

On Today's Menu:

Breakfast:

pancake-crepes + 1/2 cup frozen blueberries + peanut butter

Pancake-crepes: 1/2 cup pancake mix + 1 egg + 1 1/4 cups water

• Inspiration ... how many meals can I use this pancake mix for?
• Good eating ... delightful pancakes with peanut butter and blueberries
• Thinking ahead ... loved the pancake crepes! But ... I don't have 30 minutes to prepare these kind of things every morning ... so, made up a batch of muffins ... quick breakfast for the rest of the week!



Blueberry Muffins

 Amazing muffins (for the rest of the week): 1 cup pancake mix + 1/2 cup pineapple juice (used in place of honey and sugar) + 1/2 cup canned pineapple + 1/2 cup frozen blueberries + grated orange zest (so much flavour!) ... bake 20 minutes at 350F.

• Inspiration: quick, easy, make-ahead breakfast with extra fruit and veggies
• Good eating ... I wish it was breakfast tomorrow!
• Oh no ... Brendine has popped a pineapple into her mouth and is apparently allergic to pineapples ...

Lunch: 

• Brendine's lunch: leftover blueberries + 1/2 banana + peanut butter 
• Ken's lunch: 1 packet instant rice noodles + 1 box juice
• Ken's report back: I was so hungry all afternoon.
• Brendine's afternoon: making blueberry muffins (2nd try - no pineapple)



Mushroom-Onion Omelet

 Supper: 
Omelet (2 eggs for each omelet + 1 onion + 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms + 1 cup greens + 1 clove garlic) + baked potatoes (with 1/2 packet peanut sauce seasoning from the hamper) + 1 stalk broccoli (save the other for another meal!)

 

 

In the news today ... how timely! An article about the benefits of planning what's for dinner:
http://www.canada.com/health/What+dinner+Knowing+answer+reduce+stress+grocery+costs/4457691/story.html

Looking forward to another adventure tomorrow ... and those blueberry muffins!