The menu plan for our vacation week 1 is finished, but I will say that it has been a complete guessing game.  We are going to Kauai early Wednesday morning and spending 2 weeks on this glorious island.  The ‘Ole Buckeye and I will arrive 3 days before the family joins us.  I am going out on a limb with the menu plan because we will be doing a combination of eating in and eating out.  We will have access to a full kitchen from Saturday to Saturday with access to outdoor grills.  We also have access to Costco and with 7 of us to feed, Costco will be a blessing.

I am not going into a lot of detail about the menu.  Please note that I will be attempting to continue the THM eating plan, but I also am striving to keep things simple.  I have a history of going overboard with the menus and spending too much time in the kitchen.  I will try to keep a balance.  It is difficult because being outdoors and active creates some very hearty appetites.  The breakfast menu has a new recipe for overnight breakfast enchiladas, however in my back pocket I also have a recipe for sausage crescent breakfast casserole.  I will make a decision when I make my grocery run.

Overnight Breakfast Enchiladas  THM S (with low carb tortillas)

Overnight Breakfast Enchiladas   THM S (with low carb tortillas)

Giant Blueberry Pancake  THM E  page 261 Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook

Sausage and Crescent Breakfast Casserole   THM S (with low carb tortillas in place of crescent rolls)

Thanks to Costco and their roasted chicken, my lunch menu will be comprised of a variety of ways to use it, both this week and next.  Because of scheduled activities the lunches will be “on the go”.

The dinners for the week need to be hearty and filling.  I have assigned each family to provide one evening meal and we plan one meal out (subject to change).  The entrees aren’t the problem…it is the sides that cause the headaches.  At this point I plan to create meals around chicken breasts, flank steak, and shrimp…once again Costco dependent.

And so we are off.  As the hurricane approaches the islands, we are packing our bags for departure.  This is the first family vacation with all of us for several years.  We are looking forward to celebrating life in a magical place.   Of course as always we will enjoy food and drink in the process.

Bon Appetit!