Diet Menu Plan - May 4 - 10, 2009

Some of you may know about the 5 week menu plan that I've been doing. And while it worked like a charm, I've recently decided to go to a weekly menu plan because our diet has changed dramatically. My husband is on a Low Carb diet, I am on the exact opposite kind of diet that involves low calorie options and portion control paired with lots of exercise. And then there are the children who don't need to be on any kind of "diet". So it's very frustrating!! The 5 week Menu Plan assumes that you will reuse a lot of the same items throughout the 5 weeks...thus preventing one from having to spend as much at the grocery store. Clearly, both types of our newly improved diets require more fresh (and more expensive) ingredients. The goal has now changed from saving money to saving ourselves. :) I'm sure if I sat down and really put my mind to it, I could formulate a Low Carb 5 week Menu Plan, but I'm gonna take it one step at a time for now. :)

Trust me...I've done every diet out there. I don't like the Atkins/Southbeach type diets because they've never, ever, ever worked for me in the long run. The trick to the low-carb diet is variety. I get too bored with eating the same old stuff every day. Meat, cheese, eggs; meat, cheese, eggs; meat, cheese, eggs..................AAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!! It doesn't help that I am addicted (seriously, folks) to bread, pasta, and all things sweet.

But since the hubs is really doing well and is trying his best, I've decided to support him the best way I can. And that is by fixing him meals that he will enjoy, despite the fact that I can't have most of what he's having, and the children don't WANT most of what he's having.

So here is my solution: Each week I'm going to challenge myself to find low-carb items for the hubs to eat. My goal is to make sure he has variety, and also adapt them so that I can use them in my diet. I know this will be difficult, so I'm not promising to have cross-over type dishes every night, but on those nights, I will have a low-cal dish alongside it or just eat a Lean Cuisine type meal.

I've recently visited Organizing Junkie where there is a Menu Plan Monday meme going on. I seriously thought about joining, but I really, truly believe that if I get too caught up in reading scrumptious recipes, that I'll be too tempted to stray from my diet. So here's my list::

Monday:

Pan-fried Pork Chops seasoned with salt, pepper, Cavenders Seasoning (Gary's favorite)

Broccoli and Cheese

(I will bake my pork chop instead)

Tuesday:

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast topped with cheddar cheese

(I will leave off the bacon and cheese on mine and bake it alongside the others)

Salad

Wednesday:

Stuffed Peppers (1 lb. ground beef mixed with 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 can rotel - stuffed into peppers and baked on 400 for 30 min - add cheddar and more parm on top, bake for 10 more min). (Slice up an extra bell pepper and bake alongside for tomorrow night)

Salad

Thursday:

Fajita Chicken Salad (iceberg lettuce topped with fajita-type chicken, roasted bell peppers (from last night), and ranch dressing.

Friday:

Pepperjack Chicken

Grilled Chicken Breasts topped with Pepperjack Cheese and sauteed mushrooms.

Green Beans

Saturday:

Burger in a bowl (I found the recipe here.)

Sunday: (Mother's Day) - not sure if we're eating here or not, but here's the back up plan in case I end up having to cook!!

Pot Roast ala Crockpot!