Hockey Pucks, Mother Hubbard & Menu Planning...

FYI, you can not make baking powder biscuits with gluten free soy flour. I found this out the hard way on Sunday when I tried to make something to go with my late morning cup of coffee. I ended up with yellow orange-ish hockey pucks that had slightly burnt edges. I was out of flour, sugar, a half cup of salt, part of a jar of peanut butter, and a couple of cans of diced tomatoes.  My cupboards were in competition with Old Mother Hubbard and I was really stretching to make something out of nothing. I guess its one of those lessons best learned the hard way that you REALLY can’t make something from nothing. Later in the day I finally broke down and actually went grocery shopping. My freezer was barren, my refrig looked like a bachelor’s, and the cupboard had a few items but nothing that could really be put together to form a REAL meal. ( Photos of cupboard and refrig before grocery shopping.)

I got into my head an idea while I was putting the grocery shopping list together that I would try meal plans from a new book that I got: The 1200-Calorie-a-Day Menu Cookbook. Since I finished the Perfect 10 challenge, I have been experiencing a roller coaster with my weight staying within an 8 lbs. area. I really would like to lose those 8 lbs. and another 8 to 9 lbs. less would be nice too. So with that in mind I took out my new book and explored between the covers. Now I realize with all of the running, biking, and what-not that I do in a day 1200 calories is not enough but my thought was that it was a good healthy base to which I could add to. Ideally I would be adding healthy items like more fruit, veggies (I could try), granola bars, and sports gels to give me more calories for my workouts.

The book advertises quick easy recipes that are designed in a whole meal layout; 350 calories for breakfast, 350 calories for lunch, 400 calories for dinner and a 100 calorie dessert. The meals are well-balanced. My thought was that I was starting from scratch why not take advantage of it and get only items for the plan and force myself into eating healthy low-fat meals. So, off to the grocery store I went after putting together a list with a 14 day idea of a menu plan that included a few extra fresh fruits, fruit juice, and granola bars.

I came back from the grocery store two hours later $145 less rich and had to make 5 trips lugging groceries from the car to my third story apartment. Talk about a workout! If lugging groceries was an Olympic Event I could see myself in the running for at least a sliver.

Bright and early Monday morning, I started the menu plan. It took a little planning and prior putting together which was really counter to the way I usually operate with food. I’m normally hungry and then just grab what looks good or hit a fast food place. Planning is the key to making this work, and it’s going to need to become a habit to make this work. Here I am getting up 15min earlier to put together my breakfast and lunch for the day to take with me. I also am quickly putting my change of clothes for the office as I had planned to go to one of my early morning club bike rides. A good way to start the day is with an easy paced 11 mile bike ride.

The meal plan….

Breakfast—
Low-fat turkey bacon
Whole wheat English muffin with a Tbsp. of low-fat cream cheese
A Bartlett pear cut up

Lunch---
Curry tuna salad in a whole wheat pocket pita
A medium sized banana

Snack—
A medium sized banana

Dinner—
Spicy crumb topped chicken
Sweet corn
Non-fat vanilla yogurt with fresh strawberries

Well, I did pretty good sticking to the meal plan except for the banana. Instead, I had an organic peanut granola bar that I picked up at REI before I did the Monday night club bike ride. I was really hungry prior to the 15 mile bike ride and needed a bit more than just a banana. I was really proud of myself that after the bike ride I didn’t give into my urge to take the short cut through the drive thru for dinner. I went home instead and made the spicy crumb topped chicken with the sweet corn that I topped with a bit of black pepper and Molly McButter. It was yummy and I was on the plan; who knew that a plan could be tasty. I also want to say that I REALLY like the curry tuna salad. It has a bit of sugar, pecans, and crunchy celery. Yum!

I'm still on the plan today and heading off to lunch to enjoy some more of that curry tuna salad.  YUM!