Week 22, 2019 with Trim Healthy Mama
The menu plan for week 22 continues following the THM eating plan. I am attempting to incorporate at least one E meal each day as well as creating more Deep S meals. I have found that I have gotten into the practice of enjoying S meals that are laden with cheese. Obviously they are more enjoyable, but they are also deterring further weight loss. I have maintained my weight, without further progression. I want to get back on track with additional loss.
Breakfast
The breakfast plan for week 22 incorporates most of the daily E meals. Although the ‘Ole Buckeye enjoys eggs, he is also easily satisfied with oatmeal preparations. In fact many mornings he prepares his own stovetop oatmeal adding a variety of fruit. I tend to eat later, often pulling an individually packaged meal from the freezer. Many of the breakfast meals that I prepare for a week’s plan allow portions to be packaged and frozen for later use. This has proven to be very successful for both S and E meals. I label separate bins in the freezer as to meal types. This provides handy snacks as well.
Lunch
The lunches planned for week 22 include several cook once/eat again meals from previously enjoyed dinners. I have included a new lasagna soup utilizing cabbage rather than pasta. I am also making changes to a quiche recipe utilizing gruyere in the place of cheddar cheese. Broccoli Cheddar Bacon Quiche
Dinner
The dinner plan for week 22 takes several meals from the freezer. Over these past months we have shared dinners with our daughter. Often there are leftovers which will feed 2, but not three. Those remain in the freezer for use when we plan dinners for two. Our daughter will be traveling during week 22 and 23, thus I will be utilizing several meals from the freezer. It will be a week of far less cooking as well as clearing space in the freezer. All of the dinners for the week are repeats with nothing new planned.
There were very few new recipes over the past plan, but the ones that were tried will be reviewed. There were several successful meals.
Recap Breakfast
One new breakfast recipe last week was this casserole. Normally on the initial trial I make the recipe as directed. Since Aldi did not have zucchini and I was not up for multiple grocery stops in this heat, I subbed broccoli for the zucchini and added sliced mushrooms and chopped ham as well. This casserole was quite good and could easily work for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner. Great flavor.
Recap Lunch
I decided to try this oven baked quesadilla due to the use of a technique I have never tried. The filling sounded very good as well. Although these were quite tasty, I will not bake them this way again.
Recap Dinner
I am consistently looking for pizza recipes. On a Keto or Low Carb Diet it is a difficult process. When I saw pictures of this Pizza and read the recipe I decided to give it a try. Since I planned to serve it for three for dinner, I was prepared to make 2 pizzas.
When I made the first pizza I followed the directions exactly. When I took the finished pizza from the oven I tried a little corner. The bottom “crust” was more like cream cheese than crust. I put it back in the oven for another 15 minutes. It was served for dinner with a Caesar Salad. I was not impressed with the finished product, but my daughter and the ‘Ole Buckeye liked it. We ate the entire pizza. Meanwhile I made the second pizza. I baked the initial “crust” for 25 minutes as suggested in the comments section and then added the toppings and completed the bake time. Since we were all full, I popped it into the refrigerator for later in the week. The second pizza was much more flavorful than the first. I will continue the pizza search.
Something New
I learn something new everyday. Sometimes I put it into practice immediately. Sometimes I pin it to a board. Often I forget. I have decided to include at least one “Something Learned” at the completion of each blog.
I have found several methods of storing vegetables contrary to how I normally store them. I normally put cucumbers in the crisper in the refrigerator when I bring them home…not any more. Now I store them on the counter in a cool place away from cooking areas. This has proved to be successful. Personally I think refrigeration is fine as well, however because there are other vegetables within the same crisper drawer, it effects freshness of the cucumber. The countertop prevents proximity to other fruits and vegetables that would effect freshness.
As another week ends and a new plan begins I continue the learning process and following the unique THM eating plan. I have done additional reading on the Keto diet as well as adopting several recipes found on Keto blogs. I continue to feel that combining some healthy carbohydrates is important in a well balanced diet. I will continue to follow THM and the learning process. Bon Appetit!
