menu planning monday 01.05.09

Happy New Year to everyone!

Chef D and I have begun a new adventure in healthier eating and increased exercise.  With all the cooking we did over the last year we packed on a few (or more than a few) extra pounds, so we really need to make some changes.  I hope that planning out our menus will help to manage our caloric intake a little better.  Our plan is to still eat tasty food, just less of it.

Monday: Filet Mignon with fresh herb and garlic rub with fingerling potatoes and steamed asparagus (530 calories). Prep: pumpkin bread and oatmeal bars for lunchboxes, set out chicken to thaw for tomorrow.

Tuesday: Chicken Stir-Fry with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers with white rice (450 calories). Prep: make fresh fruit with mint balsamic tea (the lower calorie version) and berry sorbet for healthy snacks.

Apprehension-Free Wednesday: Shrimp or Chicken Creole, Green Beans, Rice, Salad and Dessert will be served at church. Prep: Boil a dozen eggs for snacks for Chef D; make sauce for breakfast tacos.

Thursday: Smoky Shrimp and Parmesan-Polenta Cakes (except I am making my own polenta cakes, not buying the pre-made) with tossed salad (350 calories). 

Friday:  Scrapbooking Night for me, Boy's Night Out for Chef D and the two hoodlums.  I think I will make a fresh caprese salad to take to the scrapbooking crop.  [edited to add:  I couldn't find any low-cal mozzarella that I liked, so I will probably use the tomatoes to make some pico de gallo and just take this bag of tortilla chips to get it out of the house so Chef D and I aren't tempted to finish it off]

Sous-Chef Saturday:  I wonder what Chef D has in mind for this weekend?  I am awaiting my orders as sous-chef.

Hospitality Sunday:  The chili worked out great two weeks ago and our guests loved it.  [edited to add:  Since this is the day we go to the nursing home at 2 pm, our after church meal needs to be prepared in advance.  So, this week's menu is smoked ham, baked sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, tossed salad and a yeast roll.]

Many thanks to Laura over at OrgJunkie for hosting Menu Planning Monday.  Check it out for more menu planning ideas!