Need advice on meal planning

Temp663997437501443

I know many of you meal-plan. I am attempting to plan my meals for a week to see how it works. I usually do these sorts of things over the summer when I have more time to plan and cook, but I'm feeling overloaded with processed foods and I want to get back on track for some healthful eating. I am very good about bringing lunch with me to work so that's not an issue. My biggest problem is that I eat alone 90% of the time so I tend to not want to cook. I eat out/take-in quite a bit or use prepared meals. None of which are that bad, to be honest. I get a lot of stuff from TJ's and have some great restaurants within spitting distance.

So, any advice on healthy meal-planning? I am shopping tomorrow and want to get ingredients for five dinners that can be stretched to have leftovers for lunch. I also plan on baking some blueberry oat-bran muffins to bring for breakfasts. (I sometimes eat before I leave the apt at the butt-crack of dawn and then usually eat something after I teach my first two classes, at around 9:30).

1. I downloaded this recipe: Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon.

2. I'll probably pick up some fish at the fish market on Tuesday, whatever looks good. It'll be nice with some cauliflower and rice.

Fuzzypeaches

I do a lot of salads when I eat by myself. I LOVE a salad with black beans, corn, tortilla strips, cheese, and salsa instead of dressing. Or I chop up leftover meat from the night before and add a hardboiled egg and throw that in a salad.

I also like to make soup and freeze it in individual portions. There are so many healthy soups out there, and they usually freeze well (although I find carrots and potatoes don't freeze that well)

I also do stir fry for one - just throw whatever veggies I have on hand in a skillet and cook with garlic and soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar and a tiny bit of sugar to make like an asian peanuty sauce.

Mrs Acorn Blue

I made a great quinoa, lemon and black bean salad the other week and literally ate it for about 5 days.  

1 cup quinoa, not cooked

1 can black beans rinsesd 

1 can corn (you can also use fresh or frozen...just cook it first)

1/4 c olive oil

juice and zest of one lemon

seasonings...salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to taste

Cook quinoa according to package directions.  Add beans, corn, olive oil and lemon juice/zest and seasonings.  Mix and serve over spinach or greens (I lightly steamed them) and crumble some goat or feta cheese over it.   

Mrs Acorn Blue

Also, when I meal plan, I try to have enough leftovers so that I only have to cook a few nights a week.  I do WW pizza, a bunch of chicken recipes and now that it's getting warmer, we will likely start grilling.  

Temp663997437501443

Fuzzypeaches:

I do a lot of salads when I eat by myself. I LOVE a salad with black beans, corn, tortilla strips, cheese, and salsa instead of dressing. Or I chop up leftover meat from the night before and add a hardboiled egg and throw that in a salad.

I also like to make soup and freeze it in individual portions. There are so many healthy soups out there, and they usually freeze well (although I find carrots and potatoes don't freeze that well)

I also do stir fry for one - just throw whatever veggies I have on hand in a skillet and cook with garlic and soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar and a tiny bit of sugar to make like an asian peanuty sauce.

Good idea about the hearty salads. I was thinking about maybe roasting some veggies to throw on a salad. Good idea about the stir fry. Yum. Maybe a stew....

Temp663997437501443

Mrs Acorn Blue:

I made a great quinoa, lemon and black bean salad the other week and literally ate it for about 5 days.  

1 cup quinoa, not cooked

1 can black beans rinsesd 

1 can corn (you can also use fresh or frozen...just cook it first)

1/4 c olive oil

juice and zest of one lemon

seasonings...salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to taste

Cook quinoa according to package directions.  Add beans, corn, olive oil and lemon juice/zest and seasonings.  Mix and serve over spinach or greens (I lightly steamed them) and crumble some goat or feta cheese over it.   

This recipe looks delicious. I've never cooked quinoa, but I do love it so why not. Sounds easy enough.

LexiMS

Do you have a crockpot?  I like to do a whole chicken in the crockpot, eat some the first night, then make something else with the leftovers.  Sometimes I make quesadillas or baked taquitos, or just throw it on a salad.

Temp663997437501443

LexiMS:

Do you have a crockpot?  I like to do a whole chicken in the crockpot, eat some the first night, then make something else with the leftovers.  Sometimes I make quesadillas or baked taquitos, or just throw it on a salad.

I don't have a crockpot, but I do have a French cast iron that can do essentially the same. A cooked chicken is a great option, especially to go with salads on for a sandwich for lunch.

Mrs Acorn Blue

If you can cook rice, you can cook quinoa.  Just follow the directions on the back of the bag...I got it at Target and there's a lot in the bag.  If I find some other recipes I can post them also.

emoflamingo

If I make something that yields a lot (homemade chicken & noodle soup, pulled pork), I freeze half. BUT I have a deep freeze.

I look at the ad for the week and see if there's a good sale on something in particular and then go from there.