F is for Food, new kinds (and a Frugal Friday deal)

First, in the spirit of Frugal Friday check this out: Groupon is offering a great deal on passes to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.  Two adults and 2 kids can get in for only $25. CLICK HERE to get the deal. We went last summer and it was awesome for the kids. I don’t think it’s worth the full ticket price, but definitely worth $25 for the whole fam, especially if you have any marine biology enthusiasts like I do. 🙂

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Second, after writing this post, two questions have surfaced quite a bi:, “What then ARE you eating??”  and “Can I get the link to that article?”  🙂   LOTS and yes. Here we go:

:: I’m eating lots of meat, veggies, beans, nuts, and some fruit and dairy.

It’s actually way easier than it seems at first. Yes, I’ve had to make the switch to being a tad more carnivorous than would be my natural inclination, but actually it’s great. I’m going to include our 10-rotation meal plan. (I recently switched to this to simplify meal planning.)  So for example, sample day:

• Breakfast: Coffee with whole milk along with two scrambled eggs and a slice of turkey bacon (yum! Kids still eat oatmeal but they always steal bites of my eggs and bacon).
• Snacks: Slices of cheese, carrot sticks, a bowl of peas, sometimes an apple, or a big spoonful of peanut butter (or just leftovers, I love leftovers).
• Lunch: Crockpot beans (black, pinto, white or garbanzo) and cheese or leftovers from dinner or roasted chicken with sauteed green beans.
• Dinner: Here are our 10 grain & sugar free dinners.

1. Spaghetti casserole: This is really just spaghetti sauce, lots of added tomatos and veggies, grass-fed beef, onions, garlic, etc. then put it in a casserole dish layered like a lasagna: sauce, and then either mozzerella or ricotta cheese, sprinkle mozzerella or parmesan on top and bake until bubbly. Yum! (I’ll make a bit of whole wheat pasta on the side for the kids if they want)

2. Roasted chicken and veggies: simple, just a whole roasted chicken in the crockpot with sauteed green beans, beans, carrots, whatever veggies I have on hand.  (Let kids have a slice of homemade bread after they eat their protein and veggies)

3. Bacon, onion and lentil skillet: Ok this is SO delicious, and it’s even better if you make it and then let it bake or sit in the fridge and eat it the next day. I add frozen spinach to it and ten top it with grated parmesan.  Use the chicken stock from yesterday’s chicken.

4. Thai chicken Saute: I just skip the rice for myself. Use the roast chicken and stock from earlier in the week.

5. Beans and cheese/rice: Basic, crockpot beans.  Now I sprout mine, by soaking and rinsing them for a few days before cooking in the crockpot. Kids eat with rice and cheese, I eat with cheese. Yum!

6. Meatballs with veggies: I haven’t actually made these yet since starting this because I’m still figuring out how to make them without any sugar or oats (my recipe calls for both). But it should be pretty easy to figure out. Serve with beans or peas or carrots or whatever.

7. Roasted Garlic & Butternut Squash Cassoulet: (leave out the two slices of bread) This recipe will need to adjust in spring with spring veggies instead of butternut squash. But any dish with beans, some sort of squash and a little bit of uncured turkey bacon will be great. Parmesan makes everything delicious, right?

8.  Salmon and veggies: Basic salmon either baked or pan-cooked or on the BBQ (my fav). Douse with lemon juice, salt, pepper, some crushed garlic and a tad bit of mayo, wrap it up in a little foil packet and bake or stick on the BBQ. YUM!  Serve with beans or peas or carrots or red potatoes or whatever.

9. Tortilla Soup: No recipe for this because it’s whatever you have on hand. Beef or chicken or no meat, beans soaked and cooked, taco seasoning, shredded squash, onions, garlic, carrots chopped, tomatos, cilantro, corn, whatever.  Top with cheese, can’t beat it.

10. Vegetable Soup or Salad: Depending upon the season, this could be the super easy lentil vegetable soup (again, just make with whatever’s on hand and use the chicken stock from last week). OR, during the summer months a big salad with whatever veggies are on hand.

TREAT: (Because there has to be one, right?)  Whole milk warmed up with a pinch of Stevia and a teaspoon of baking cocoa.  It’s delicious!

:: Here’s the article link. Enjoy!

What about the budget? Thoughts on that next week.

Happy Friday! Week’s end with thanks tomorrow…