tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60441981824710865012024-03-08T15:01:01.462-08:00A Day in the Life of Nicole's KitchenNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-14683541439651868202012-03-23T18:43:00.001-07:002012-03-23T18:43:40.194-07:00Buffalo Cauliflower PizzaI made this today. It was uh-mazing:<br /><br />http://veganplanet.blogspot.com/2012/03/buffalo-cauliflower-pizza.htmlNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-40039839683756748092012-03-23T11:08:00.003-07:002012-03-23T11:21:59.844-07:00Cooking Through a CookbookCooking my way through a cookbook. This is something I've never done. Anyone who knows me and my cooking knows I take after my Dad and rarely cook from recipes. I look at recipes for inspiration then almost always just do it my own way. <br /><br />But I buy cookbooks thinking *this* cookbook will be different. I love so many of these recipes and will make them! Then I make a few, still looking at all the other yummy recipes and never making them because I'm too busy experimenting with my own cooking.<br /><br />So I think I am going to do something different and actually cook my way through one of my favorite cookbooks! Now, I may not actually make every single recipe and in order. But I think I will actually plan all of my dinners from it and lunches will be leftovers, maybe an occasional salad or sandwich recipe from the book, and PBJ almost always for the kids haha. <br /><br />The book I'm speaking of is Vegan on the Cheap by Robin Robertson (take a peek on Amazon). It is a small, accessible little gem of all home made all whole food cheap vegan basics. The idea is you make several staples to have on hand then the recipes come together quickly and cheaply. Home made seitan and peanut sauce is infinitely cheaper home made than store bought, etc. So far, I've loved the few recipes I have tried. <br /><br />I was getting a little overwhelmed the other day with my current vegan stint because it does require more cooking. I actually love it, but I become obsessed with finding new recipes and cooking when I don't have much time to be doing so since I have kids. But if menu planning is as quick as selecting several recipes, making a few staples on the weekend, then presto dinner on week days, I feel more balanced in life. Plus, Steve can help me since I'll have recipes (he always offers to help but I'm at a loss when I try to explain how I make something off the bat). <br /><br />Plus, I figure this will be a fun project. I'll occasionally report back on my success. If all goes well it is an inexpensive book that I feel can help a lot of people eat healthy, whole food, inexpensive...and quick once you get in the rhythm...vegan food. <br /><br />Here it goes.....Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-63174450016857496812012-03-21T13:20:00.004-07:002012-03-21T13:24:17.457-07:00Not CookingTonight I have to take the kids somewhere. So fast food it is. Del Taco bean burrito sans cheese is always a safe bet, but since I am going to Beaumont I shall treat myself to real vegan junk fast food: Bakers. Boca burger (no cheese replace sauce with ketchup and mustard) and fries. And done. <br /><br />I shall have to visit some of their other locations in the Inland Empire that have a "vegetarian" kitchen, complete with TVP tacos, burritos, tostadas, etc. It was started for the Seventh Day Adventist population in Loma Linda. Again, not entirely healthy, but better than the cholesterol laden omni options and still vegan =).Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-26709756420711230502012-03-20T16:57:00.003-07:002012-03-20T17:05:50.992-07:0040 Second Microwave Nooch-o Cheese Sauce for OneSo I am resurrecting this blog after nearly a year. As of Monday I am going vegan again for an indefinite amount of time. Perhaps I will blog about my reasons another time.<br /><br />For now, I start this out right with a not-entirely-healthy recipe. Well, the nooch-o sauce itself isn't too bad, but you must eat it with tortilla chips. What is "nooch" you ask? Nutritional yeast- a vegan staple. Contains (added) B vitamins, especially the essential-in-a-vegan-diet added B12. Also imparts a cheese-like flavor. Mind you, don't expect glorious gooey cheese! It's an acquired taste but does the job.<br /><br />Serves 1<br />1 tsp Earth Balance<br />1 TBSP nutritional yeast<br />1 tsp cornstarch<br />2 TBSP vegan milk of choice (I used Trader Joe's unsweetened coconut milk)<br />1 TBSP salsa <br />dash of garlic powder and salt to taste<br />1 TBSP Daiya shreds (cheese substitute, the pepper jack one is best in this application), optional<br /><br />Microwave all ingredients except salsa for approximately 40 seconds. Stir well with a fork. Stir in salsa (will also help to cool of mixture a bit as it will be very hot). It will be a little more soupy than real cheese sauce. Add the salt only to taste, I added a bit too much. Serve with tortilla chips! Daiya is totally optional if you don't have it.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-56722727258762455142011-04-21T20:57:00.000-07:002011-04-21T21:15:42.787-07:00Menu for the WeekOh, how I love Trader Joe's and Fresh and Easy! Along with my $5 off coupon at Fresh and Easy I feel like I got a ton of food for $55. Including random snacks and treat foods from TJ's (dark chocolate peanut butter cups, fig cereal bars and honey-mustard pretzel pieces yum yum). I am working a lot again so I haven't had as much time to cook, hence more (healthy-ish) convenience things.<br /><br />Mon<br />B:Oatmeal<br />S: Frozen strawberry-Fage 0% Greek Yogurt-soymilk-flaxseed smoothie<br />L: Peanut butter and honey sandwich on sprouted bread<br />S: Sesame-tamarai brown rice cake<br />D: (Steve was out, I had) Trader Joe's green chile-cheese tamal, black beans, carrots and hummus from Fresh and Easy<br /><br />Tue:<br />B: Fresh and Easy whole grain english muffin with almond butter and apple butter<br />S: Green grapes<br />L: Organic mac n cheese, peas<br />S: TJ's granola bar<br />D: Aloo gobi (curried cauliflower and potatoes), garlic naan, salsa spinach, mango lassi<br />S: TJ's Lemon Heart Cookies<br /><br />Wed:<br />B: Nicole-out, Steve: Cereal<br />L: Nicole-out, Steve: leftover whole wheat spaghetti marinara<br />D: Out- date night<br /><br />Thur:<br />B: (Steve made) eggs in a hole (sprouted grain bread, circle cut in the center and egg cooked in the center), fresh squeezed OJ (enjoying the bounty from my parent's tree)<br />S: Energy bar<br />L: Hummus wrap (made with Fresh and Easy's Lemon-Cilantro hummus)<br />S: Fage 0% yogurt with honey, strawberries and almonds<br />D: Fettuccini with broccolini, red pepper, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and parmesean<br />S: Cereal with soymilk<br /><br />Fri:<br />B: Muesli soaked overnight in the fridge with yogurt, oranges<br />S: Apple with almond butter<br />L: Veggie loaf sandwiches<br />S: Carrots and roasted edmame hummus from Fresh and Easy<br />D: Fish tacos, black beans and rice<br /><br />S:<br />B: Blueberry-cornmeal pancakes<br />L: Warm quinoa salad bowl<br />D: Lentil sloppy joe's, carrots and celery with TJ's Parmesean Ranch<br /><br />S: Easter (eat all day with family)Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-3561021898158904392011-04-09T10:05:00.000-07:002011-04-09T10:26:41.091-07:00Menu for the WeekThis one started on Thursday, just getting around to posting it. We are really trying to save money so since I had a lot of food stored up, I only spent about $20 this week on produce, and the rest was on hand. Even if I were to have bought all of this now, this menu is very cheap...maybe $60 for the week for 2 people. I started shopping at the Grower's Market in Palm Desert again. I learned almost all of their stuff is local, though not organic, so it's right in my budget. I get local red leaf lettuce for .89 cents!<br /><br />I am not so strictly vegan anymore, vegetarian at home but we eat whatever when we are out. I wasn't noticing I felt any better going 100% vegan than eating simply mostly plant-based. And this is much easier to do, especially considering we are about to have a house-full with 2 kids and we'll have to find things we'll all eat.<br /><br />Thur<br />B-Cereal with soymilk, toast, orange<br />L-Annie's Organic Mac n' Cheese (got these on sale for .50 cents each at Ralph's again!), frozen green beans<br />D-Out (had our last home-study interview)<br /><br />Fri<br />B-Oatmeal with Earth Balance and sugar<br />L-Tofurkey sandwich on sprouted wheat bread with Vegenaise, mustard, lettuce and tomato (I left mine at home after I made it! Steve had his haha), pineapple<br />D-Out (at friend's house)<br /><br />Sat<br />B-Dutch oven pancake with Earth Balance and maple syrup, eggs over medium<br />L-Crostini and salad<br />D-Three-bean loaf w/ BBQ sauce, mashed potatoes, braised kale and leeks (braised in veggie broth)<br /><br />Sun<br />B-Egg burritos on whole wheat tortillas, grapefruit<br />L- Out (home church)<br />D-Veggie burger/veggie corndog, red coleslaw, fruit salad<br /><br />Mon<br />B-Oatmeal with peanut butter and raisins, orange<br />L-Bean &cheese burrito on whole wheat tortilla, carrots<br />D-Korean stir-fried mung bean sprouts, rice<br /><br />Tue<br />B-Eggs, hashbrowns, orange<br />L-Mac n' cheese, peas<br />D-Baked sweet potatoes topped with black bean chili and avocados, salad<br /><br />Wed<br />B-Oatmeal with soymilk, banana<br />L-PBJ, carrot sticks<br />D-Roasted cauliflower (a must try if you don't like steamed cauliflower, it is more like roasted potatoes this way), wild rice pilaf, salad<br /><br />Snacks this week are: bananas, apple w/almond butter, green smoothies, frozen berry-banana-soymilk-flaxseed smoothies, ants-on-a-log, rice cakes, popcorn, almonds and dates, Tillamook cheddar cheese on Wasa rye crackers, hazelnut dark chocolate, cereal with soymilk, etc.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-41050084870378098952011-04-03T18:11:00.000-07:002011-04-03T18:40:10.275-07:00Coachella Valley Green SmoothieSo a couple years ago I discovered the miracle that is green smoothies. I won't post a long piece here about the health benefits of green smoothies, but here is a good link about the idea in general: <a href="http://http//greensmoothiesblog.com/">http://greensmoothiesblog.com/</a>. The basic formula is about 60% fruit to 40% raw greens with a bit of water to make it a desired consistency. It is amazing how green a smoothie can LOOK, but it tastes so much like sweet, delicious fruit.<br /><br />I try to have green smoothies at least a couple times per week, though daily is a great idea. I developed this recipe utilizing our local, seasonal fruits: grapefruit, dates and avocado. The intense sweetness of dates perfectly compliments the bitterness of the grapefruit, and the avocado adds creaminess and of course we are all aware how good for you avocados are. I am amazed how many people here rarely eat dates, and they are our local food. Talk about needing to eat locally!<br /><br />You can use any leafy greens here (spinach, kale, collard greens, swiss/rainbow chard, etc), spinach is the most mild for beginners. Look for local greens as well, we grow everything here in the Coachella Valley.<br /><br />Serves 2<br /><br />2 cups raw leafy greens, washed and rinsed<br />1 large grapefruit, peeled (don't worry about seeding, you will be blending it thoroughly)<br />about 6 large dates like Medjools, or 10 smaller dates like Deglet Noors<br />1/2 avocado (pitted and flesh scooped out)<br />1 cup water<br /><br />Blend all thoroughly until very smooth, make take a few minutes depending on your blender. Feel free to add 1-2 ice-cubes if you want it cooler. Also, try starting with fewer dates , you can always add a couple more if it is too bitter for you. For a variation, you can substitute banana or mango for the avocado to add a creamy element which will also make for a sweeter smoothie, but those fruits are not necessarily local for carrying on the local theme.<br /><br />Consuming right away is best, but I often make it in the AM and store in the fridge or a travel bottle for several hours and have it for a snack later. Consume green smoothies slowly: don't just gulp it. To assimilate the nutrients and digest it better "chew" it slightly (even though it's smooth), mixing it with saliva to stimulate the digestive juices. Sounds a bit odd but you will notice how nutrient dense it is and feel the need to drink it slowly anyways: it takes me an hour to finish one. But it's so worth it.<br /><br />Enjoy!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-6268894134795674612011-03-21T20:49:00.000-07:002011-03-21T20:58:03.717-07:001 Month Master Menu PlanI created this the other day to hopefully make things a little easier for Steve and I when we have foster-adoptive children placed with us soon. It will be something we can easily fall back on, and just repeat every month for several months with slight variations to avoid monotony.<br /><br />I've had so many people ask me how I menu plan, I hope someone finds it helpful =). Warning, this is long/detailed.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.34914624448793496"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1 Month Master Menu Plan</span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kid/Family friendly, healthy, semi-vegetarian, budget, easy, yummy</span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Notes: </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is meant to be a helpful guide and not something to be bound to. For me personally it will be helpful to have a plan to fall back on and be able to help create routine/traditions for our foster-adoptive children. I created it to be as kid friendly as I can perceive (though I don’t pretend to have all the answer about that since I do not have children yet, and I realize my kids may come to me eating nothing but Top Ramen and take a long time for their tastes to change). </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If your kids eat more veggies, beans and variety...and you have plenty of creativity up your sleeve then go for it! I was cooking very adventurously for Steve and I but realized I’ll need to tone it down at first for the kids. I just felt I should share it as this might be helpful for people who have no idea where to start. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As you’ll see I have a master rotation. Each Thursday night is Mexican Night, and within that you can get creative and make any variety of Mexican food your family will eat. Breakfasts, lunches and snacks also rotate with just a bit of variation. Kids are creatures of habit so won’t mind as long as it’s foods they like, and it will make shopping/cooking easier because you can buy in bulk, etc. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I try to make sure each day has 5 servings of fruit/veggies with at least 1 serving a green veggie. Meat/poultry/fish is only served a few times per week for budget, health and the environment’s sake. This is also the current recommendation of nutrition experts as well. Plenty of protein, nutrients and variety is offered with vegetarian foods. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fruit bowl always available for snacks or optional meal alternative. For foster children that might come from a home with little food this will comfort them to know there is always food in this house and regulate their eating. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Avoid power struggles at meal time. Studies show that kids are excellent at self regulating calorie and nutrient intake when allowed to and a variety of healthy foods are offered to them, provide they are not losing weight. They will not die if they don’t eat veggies for a few years. I was picky as a child and now eat everything and love my veggies! Also, don’t be afraid to offer organic ranch dressing (or even hummus...my 3 year old niece loves hummus!) with all veggies if you have to: if that will get them to eat veggies it is well worth it (provide it is organic or home made and not filled with preservatives). Make dipping sauces. Kids love having everything separate and dunking things.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have kids help choose healthy things grocery shopping (example: choose between 2 whole grain cereals, a vegetable to try, items from the bulk bins for a trail mix, a few toppings for home-made pizza, new dried fruits to try on oatmeal, etc). Limited choices with help them own their eating habits, avoid power struggles at meal time and thus maybe actually eat a healthier variety.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We’ll have free juice with WIC, so I figured since breakfast usually has some sugar in it it will be better to serve with lunch to avoid blood sugar spikes/crashes/related behavior issues.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This menu can easily be vegan-ized by using soy yogurt, Daiya cheese, making a veggie loaf/veggie cutlets to replace chicken meals, bean salad instead of salmon salad sandwiches, etc.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hope this helps, enjoy!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Week 1</span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oatmeal (add flaxseed meal and choice of toppings: butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, raisins, chopped nuts, cinnamon), banana, milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt with thawed frozen strawberries and blueberries</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trader Joe’s organic mac n’ cheese, raw broccoli with organic ranch or hummus, juice </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apple slices with peanut butter or almond butter to dip</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chinese Night: tofu-broccoli stir fry with brown rice (separate pan-fried tofu, rice, broccoli and dipping sauce for picky eaters)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ice cream</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eggs and hash browns, orange slices, milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie with yogurt, fruit, spinach and flax seed (dark berries, cocoa or carob powders will cover the green color for picky eaters....sweet/creamy fruits like banana or mangoes will thicken and sweeten the smoothie)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Organic peanut butter (choice of almond butter) and jelly on whole wheat bread, carrot and celery sticks (remove strings from celery for young children) with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rice cakes (Lundberg brown rice cakes in various flavors) </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pasta Night: Brown rice spaghetti marinara (sauce on the side for picky eaters), salad with ranch or balsamic vinaigrette</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whole grain/low sugar cereal (choice of 2), milk/soymilk, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ants-on-a-log</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grilled cheese on whole wheat, carrots, red bell pepper and snap peas with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grapes (cut up in small pieces for young children)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Try Something New Night: Baked potato bar (topping options: veggie chili, cheese, avocado, butter, plain yogurt instead of sour cream, green onions, salsa, ranch), broccoli</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cream of brown rice cereal (add flaxseed meal and choice of toppings, can also add a bit of brown rice protein powder for added protein), apple slices, milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie: milk/soymilk, peanut butter, cocoa powder, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Leftover Buffet Day (leftover stirfry, pasta, baked potatoes, etc), or PBJ, carrots with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Organic snack mix (cheddar bunnies, pretzels, etc)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baking Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Help bake chocolate chip cookies for dessert </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mexican Night: Fish tacos (choice of toppings), strawberry-baby spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette, plain rice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chocolate chip cookies (freeze leftovers for next week)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal or muesli (muesli soaked overnight in fridge with yogurt), milk/soymilk, orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pinto bean and brown rice bowl (choice of toppings: shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, diced avocado, mild salsa)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Popcorn (something softer for young children)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pizza Night: Help assemble pizza (Trader Joe’s whole wheat pizza dough) with choice of toppings, salad with ranch or balsamic vinaigrette</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whole grain pancakes (with flaxseed meal in batter, choice of toppings: thawed frozen strawberries with a bit of sugar, butter, maple syrup, peanut butter, jam), milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trail mix (kids can help pick items to put in trail mix from bulk bins) (we plan to be outside, at parks, etc on Saturdays so something easy and portable)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picnic Sandwich Day (even if it’s just a “picnic” at home): Hummus wrap on whole wheat tortilla (PBJ for picky eaters..but let them try helping you make their wrap with their choice of toppings: lettuce, tomato, avocado, shredded carrots, shredded beets, sprouts, chopped olives, shredded cheese), fruit salad (let them help make melon balls!)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baking Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Help bake whole grain blueberry muffins for breakfast tomorrow (make double batch to freeze leftovers and have next week)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fancy” Dinner Night: Roasted chicken legs or veggie cutlets with BBQ sauce, baked sweet potato with butter, cinnamon and honey, steamed asparagus spears with dipping sauce of choice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eggs and muffins, milk/soymilk, grapefruit with sugar or orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church potluck</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tea Party: warm herbal tea (when I was around 10 I made myself a cup of hot herbal tea every day...it made me feel grown up and I loved it. A proper tea time would be a fun family tradition), mini PBJ and cucumber-cream cheese sandwiches</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Veggie burger on whole wheat bun with choice of toppings, coleslaw</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Week 2</span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oatmeal (with flaxseed and choice of toppings), milk/soymilk, orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt with berries</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mac n’ Cheese, broccoli with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apple slices with almond or peanut butter to dip</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Indian Night: Mild veggie-chickpea curry with quinoa, whole wheat naan bread (separate steamed veggies with dipping sauce, quinoa and naan bread and maybe organic frozen chicken nuggets for picky eaters) </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Help make home made easy banana “ice-cream” (peel and freeze bananas and blend with just a bit of regular or non-dairy milk...that’s it!, tastes a lot like ice cream)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eggs and toast (choice of butter, peanut butter, jam and honey), milk/soymilk, orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie with yogurt, fruit, kale and flaxseed</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PBJ, carrot and celery sticks with ranch or hummus</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rice cakes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vegetarian lasagna, salad with ranch or balsamic vinaigrette</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal, milk/soymilk, banana (thaw leftover muffins for dinner)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ants-on-a-log</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla (we like the Trader Joe’s Organic Whole Wheat and Corn Tortillas...they are soft and have a good/not overpowering flavor for whole grain tortillas), carrots, red bell pepper and snap peas with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Grapes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Try Something New Night: Cream of Rainbow Soups (choice of Trader Joe’s/home made cream of broccoli and sweet potato bisques. If home made they will have fun helping/watching an immersion blender turn the soup magically creamy), leftover muffins from last week</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cream of brown rice cereal (add ground flaxseed and choice of toppings), milk/soymilk, apple slices (thaw leftover cookies)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smootie: milk/soymilk, frozen strawberries, bananas and a bit of cashews or cashew butter, flaxseeds</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Leftover Buffet Day, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Organic Snack Mix</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mexican Night: Bean and cheese burritos on whole wheat tortilla with choice of toppings (shredded lettuce, diced tomato, avocado, salsa), baby spinach salad with canned baby mandarin oranges with “orange juice dressing” (Orange juice added to a basic vinaigrette...they can help shake dressings in a jar. Double batch for tomorrow)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(Leftover) chocolate chip cookies</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal or muesli, milk/soymilk, orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Quinoa and black bean bowl (choice of toppings), carrots with ranch or hummus</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Popcorn </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pizza Night: Help assemble personal whole wheat English muffin pizzas with choice of toppings (we loved doing this as kids, I even remember requesting this meal for my 6th birthday to make pizzas with my friends), salad with leftover orange juice dressing or ranch</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whole grain waffles with choice of toppings (try sticking blueberries in each hole!), milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trail mix</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picnic Sandwich Day: Salmon salad sandwiches (PBJ for picky eaters, but if they aren’t crazy about tuna, pink salmon is milder...and offer a few cookie cutter to make fun shapes), fruit salad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fancy” Dinner Night: Veggie loaf with BBQ sauce or ketchup to dip, mashed potatoes, broccoli with ranch to dip, adult side kids can try: sauteed swiss chard</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Egg burritos (eggs and toast for picky eaters), grapefruit with sugar or orange slices, milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tea Party: warm herbal tea, mini PBJ and cucumber-cream cheese sandwiches</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grass fed beef, organic chicken or veggie hot dogs on whole wheat buns with choice of toppings, waldorf salad (with a bit of finely shredded cabbage or lettuce for more nutrients)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Week 3</span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oatmeal, milk/soymilk, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt with berries </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mac n cheese, broccoli with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baking Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Help bake cupcakes for dessert (leave half unfrosted and freeze for next week)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apple with peanut or almond butter to dip</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Japanese Night: Stir-fry noodles with chicken or tofu and veggies (separate cooked chicken “tenders”, veggies and noodles with dipping sauce for picky eaters)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cupcakes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eggs and hash browns, milk/soymilk, orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie with yogurt, fruit, kale and flaxseed</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PBJ, carrots and celery with ranch or hummus</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rice cakes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pasta Night: Brown rice pasta with tuna “Alfredo” (Find recipe for lower-fat mock alfredo with parmesean cheese, yogurt, etc. When I was a kid I hated tuna but loved it in this creamy dish. Offer pasta with marinara sauce or plain pasta with butter/olive oil for picky eaters), salad with ranch or balsamic vinaigrette </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal, milk/soymilk, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ants-on-a-log</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grilled cheese on whole wheat, carrots, red bell pepper and snap peas with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grapes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Try Something New Night: Salad bar with chicken, garbanzo beans, cheese cubes, sunflower seeds, various veggies, ranch or balsamic dressing, whole wheat breadsticks plain or with marinara to dunk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cream of brown rice cereal, milk/soymilk, apple slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie with yogurt, banana, orange juice and flaxseed</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Leftover Buffet Day, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Organic Snack Mix</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mexican Night: Veggie-cheese enchiladas (you can sneak some cooked mashed butternut squash in with the cheese), rice, beans, baby spinach-strawberry salad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Night!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ice-cream </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal, milk/soymilk, orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Leftover bean and rice bowl (choice of toppings), carrots with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Popcorn</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pizza Night: Help make home-made pizza on whole wheat dough, salad</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whole wheat french toast (try cutting in strips for dunking, try a dip of warmed applesauce with a bit of maple syrup and cinnamon), milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trail mix</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picnic Sandwich Day: Amy’s Organic Turkey Bologna/Tofurkey with choice of toppings, fruit salad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fancy” Dinner Night: Grass-fed steak sliced in very thin strips (easier for kids to eat/chew..I loved steak this way as a kid...and will stretch a small amount of meat to feed a whole family) with BBQ, teriyaki or A-1 type sauce to dip if desired OR portabella “steaks”, rice pilaf, green beans (or carrots/broccoli with ranch...whatever your kids will eat. I loved green beans as a kid), adult side for kids to try: stir-fry kale with garlic</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Egg “McMuffin” (eggs, cheese, whole wheat English muffin...separate for picky eaters), grapefruit with sugar or orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tea Party: warm herbal tea with mini PBJ and cucumber-cream cheese sandwiches</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Veggie sloppy joe’s (made with lentils), carrot-raisin salad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Week 4</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oatmeal, milk/soymilk, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt with berries</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mac n’ cheese, broccoli with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baking Day: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thaw leftover cupcakes and make new batch of frosting</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apple slices with peanut or almond butter to dip</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mediterranean Night: Buffet style: falafel, pita, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, olives, jarred dolmades (rice wrapped in grape leaves and marinated in olive oil), hummus and tzatziki for dipping (most kids will go for dipping pita wedges in hummus if anything)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dessert Night: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cupcakes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eggs and toast, orange slices, milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie with yogurt, fruit, spinach, flaxseed</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PBJ, carrots and celery with ranch or hummus</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rice cakes</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pasta Night: Spaghetti marinara, salad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal, milk/soymilk, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ants-on-a-log</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla, carrots, red bell pepper and snap peas with ranch or hummus</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grapes</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Try Something New Night: Veggie chili (not spicy) with diced avocado, cornbread with honey-butter</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cream of brown rice cereal, milk/soymilk, apple slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Smoothie with milk/soymilk, peaches (frozen if winter), almond butter, flaxseed and vanilla</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Leftover buffet day, juice</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baking Day!: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bake apple cake for dessert (with ½ wheat ½ white flour and less sugar so it is also breakfast worthy for Sunday)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Organic Snack Mix </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mexican Night: grass-fed ground beef or lentil tacos, baby spinach salad with canned baby mandarin oranges</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cereal, orange slices, milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yogurt, banana</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lentils and rice with cheese melted on top, carrots with ranch or hummus, juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Popcorn</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once Per Month Dinner Out!: Pizza or whatever else you all enjoy</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Crepes (we loved these as kids...thin little pancakes we rolled up like burritos with whatever filling we wanted: butter/peanut butter and syrup, powdered sugar and lemon or jam), milk/soymilk</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trail mix</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picnic Sandwich Day: Cookie cutter egg salad sandwiches (PBJ for picky eaters), fruit salad</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fancy” Dinner Night: Fish (can cut in fingers, bread in panko bread crumbs, oven “fry” and offer with dipping sauce of choice: ketchup, tartar sauce, etc) OR veggie cutlets, home-made oven baked potato wedge fries with ketchup, peas (or carrots/broccoli with ranch, whatever they will eat. I loved peas as a kid when I hated other veggies), adult side kids can try: brussels sprouts</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breakfast: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eggs, leftover apple “cake”, grapefruit with sugar or orange slices</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lunch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home church</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snack: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tea Party: warm herb tea, mini PBJ and cucumber/cream cheese sandwiches</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dinner: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grilled chicken or veggie patty sandwiches with choice of toppings (can serve chicken/veggie patty, bread and veggies separately for picky eaters), coleslaw with peanut dressing</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-4181932960563493842011-03-19T13:30:00.000-07:002011-03-19T13:48:36.871-07:00Vegan Philly "Cheese steak"Steve loved these.<div><br /></div><div>Serves 2</div><div><br /></div><div>1/2 cup seitan, thinly sliced into strips</div><div>4 oz. (1/2 normal package) washed and thinly sliced mushrooms</div><div>1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced</div><div>1/4 red onion, thinly sliced into wedges</div><div>1 tsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos</div><div>1/2 TBSP olive oil</div><div>1/4 cup vegetable broth (I used 1/8 of a Rapunzel brand vegan bouillon cube with 1/4 cup water)</div><div>pepper to taste</div><div>2 TBSP Vegenaise</div><div>1/2 cup mozzarella style Daiya cheese</div><div>2 sub sandwich rolls, halved or bread of choice (we used French bread)</div><div><br /></div><div>Heat toaster oven or oven to 350. Saute bell pepper and onion in the oil for a few minutes or until beginning to soften. Add mushrooms and Bragg's and saute a few minutes more or until mushrooms soften. Add seitan, broth and heat seitan through. Stir in 1 TBSP of the Vegenaise and 1/4 cup of the Daiya, heat and stir until Daiya is melted and mixture is creamy, turn off heat. Season to taste with black pepper.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spread bread thinly with remaining Vegenaise. Pile seitan mixture evenly onto bread halves. Sprinkle evenly with Daiya and press down slightly to minimize bits falling off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carefully transfer to toaster oven/oven and bake for 5 minutes. Switch to broiler setting or move to broiler and broil on high for a few minutes, or until Daiya is melted and slightly browned in a couple spots. Enjoy immediately while hot!</div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-76344568695106084932011-03-11T12:37:00.000-08:002011-03-11T12:54:00.826-08:00Stir-fry Adzuki Beans with Bok ChoySince starting to go more and more to a plant-based diet I've learned there are a million things to do with legumes (beans) beyond Mexican style beans and rice. I eat legumes daily, different types and in different ways...so much so that I rarely have Mexican style beans. I will try to start highlighting some of my favorites, the creativity of plant-based eating is so much fun! Adzuki beans are beans of choice for the macrobiotic way of eating as they are one of the more easily digested bean variety.<br /><br />Serves 2<br /><br />3/4 cup cooked adzuki beans (home made or canned, I've only found canned by the Eden Organics brand at Clark's....but I rarely bother with canned beans any more)<br />1 head bok choy, bottom half of white end cut off, shredded finely and rinsed (about 3 cups raw)<br />1/4 cup chopped onions<br />2 TBSP water<br />2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed<br />1 TBSP organic soy sauce or tamari (tamari is just wheat free soy sauce)<br />2 tsp rice vinegar<br />2 tsp mirin (Japanese sweet rice cooking wine, a miracle ingredient in Asian cooking as I've recently discovered...and fairly cheap the brand I found)<br />2 tsp sugar, honey or agave<br />2 tsp toasted sesame oil (very different flavor than the light sesame oil)<br /><br />Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add onions and saute in the water for a few minutes or until beginning to soften. Add bok choy and garlic, saute for about 5 minutes or until bok choy is nicely wilted and tender enough to eat (give it a taste), adding more water if necessary...it will cook down considerably to about 1-1 1/2 cups cooked. Add cooked adzuki beans and all remaining ingredients. Stir well to combine and continue to stir fry for about 3 more minutes or until heated through.<br /><br />Serve over rice or quinoa (we had it over white rice for a treat).Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-72637044008517845452011-03-09T15:45:00.000-08:002011-03-09T16:25:18.952-08:00Menu for the WeekI thought this time I'd show you what kind of snacks I eat and how often. I love how this seems like so much food and I don't feel starved, but it's just enough calories...between 1700-2000 per day. It's pretty impossible to get too many calories eating vegan unless you drench everything in oil or eat extremely large portions (which is hard to do with all the fiber in plant foods).<br /><br />Wed<br />B: Whole grain English muffin with almond butter, applesauce & cinnamon, 1/2 grapefruit<br />S: Wholesoy apricot-mango yogurt<br />L: Del Taco red burrito, no cheese<br />S: Green smoothie: 1 cup raw chopped collard greens, 1 cup cubed papaya, 1 cup Trader Joe's frozen pineapple tidbits, 1/2 cup water<br />D: Out<br /><br />Thur<br />B: Raisin-walnut-spice oatmeal, 1/2 grapefruit<br />S: Apple with almond butter<br />L: Leftovers (orange-scented lentil and spinach ragout with quinoa)<br />S: Carrots and hummus<br />D: Friends over, making vegan lasagne (brown rice lasagne noodles, tofu "ricotta", marinara sauce, sauteed veggies, frozen spinach, cashew "cheese" sauce), salad (red leaf lettuce, carrots, celery, apple, walnuts and raisins with home made honey-mustard dressing)<br />S: Dark chocolate with hazelnuts<br /><br />Fri<br />B: Teff porridge, OJ<br />S: Green smoothie: 1 cup raw spinach, 1/2 grapefruit, 1/2 banana, 2 dates, 1/2 cup water<br />L: Stir-fried adzuki beans with bok choy<br />S: Ants-on-a-log (celery with almond butter and raisins)<br />D: Kasha Varnishkes (Eastern European dish of buckwheat and onions with pasta, in this case I have penne made with quinoa and corn), borscht<br />(Steve will be out of town so I can make things he doesn't like...like borscht)<br />S: Cereal with almond milk<br /><br />Sat<br />B: Whole grain pancakes with Earth Balance and maple syrup, OJ<br />S: Apple or banana<br />L: TLTs (tempeh "bacon" made by marinating tempeh in liquid smoke and maple syrup and baking thin slices until crisp..toasted whole wheat bread, Vegenaise, tomatoes, lettuce)<br />S: Brown rice cakes (Lundberg Sesame-Tamari and Apple-Cinnamon)<br />D: Black eyed pea fritters, mashed sweet potatoes, collard greens, white rice (didn't get to make this meal last week)<br />S: Home made vegan chocolate chip cookies<br /><br />Sun<br />B: Home made vegan applesauce muffins, grapefruit<br />S: Almonds and dates<br />L: Out<br />S: Ryvita crackers with Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade<br />D: Home made Vietnamese spring rolls (soaked rice paper wrappers, bean thread noodles, tofu, cucumber, carrot, cilantro wrapped and dipped in peanut and soy dipping sauces), green beans with walnut-miso sauce<br />S: Leftover cookies<br /><br />Mon<br />B: Oatmeal with thawed frozen mixed berries & flaxseed, OJ<br />S: Green smoothie: 1 cup raw kale, 2 cups mixed frozen fruit, thawed (pineapple, mango, strawberries), 1/2 cup water<br />L: Leftovers<br />S: Apple with almond butter<br />D: Socca (Italian thin-crust chickpea flour pizza w/o cheese) with herbs, potato-leek soup, salad (red leaf lettuce with grapefruit segments, avocado and home made lemon-agave dressing)<br /><br />Tue<br />B: Hashbrown and bean burritos, OJ<br />S: Amazake (naturally sweet non-alcoholic fermented rice beverage)<br />L: Leftovers or PBJ and apple<br />S: Carrots with live casear dressing to dip<br />D: Whole wheat rotini pasta with broccoli, tomatoes, raisins and pine nuts (from Vegan on the Cheap)<br />S: Leftover muffinsNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-82345706659595958682011-03-07T07:50:00.000-08:002011-03-07T08:03:01.465-08:00Cashew Hollandaise SauceI was amazed how much like the "real thing" this tasted, and the creamy consistency! Also, we ate 1/2 cup of this each which seemed so indulgent, but the only fat in it is 2 TBSP of cashews each.<br /><br />As usual, I modified this from another recipe:<br /><br />Makes 1 cup (Serves 2-4)<br /><br />1/4 cup raw cashews<br />1 cup water<br />1 tsp onion, minced<br />1/4 tsp (approximately 1 small clove) garlic, minced<br />2 TBSP lemon juice<br />1/16 tsp ("1 pinch") each turmeric, dry mustard powder and paprika (sweet or smoked)<br />Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste<br /><br />Combined all ingredients in a blender. Blend until cashews are thoroughly ground. Pour into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, lower heat to medium-low. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, just a few minutes. Do not overcook or the lemon juice will evaporate, you want the bright flavor of the lemon juice which is characteristic to make it like hollandaise.<br /><br />We made "veggie benedicts" with this: split and lightly toasted whole grain English muffins, thick slices of tomato, chopped up avocado, all drowned in the sauce. You can get creative with veggie benedicts and add thinly sliced smoked tofu, tempeh bacon, seitan, leftover home made veggie loaves, a broiled portabello mushroom, or veggie meat substitutes (though I personally stay away from fake stuff).<br /><br />And of course you can use the sauce anywhere you would use regular hollandaise. I can't wait to try it with steamed asparagus!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-81210199722999070502011-03-02T12:38:00.000-08:002011-03-02T13:22:21.832-08:00Menu for the WeekWed:<br />B-Whole grain English muffin with almond butter, applesauce& cinnamon, OJ, tea<br />L-Leftover 7 bean and barley soup<br />D-Potatoes and cabbage with mustard sauce (from Short Cut Vegan) and brown rice<br /><br />Thur:<br />B-Leftover teff porridge for me, cereal for Steve, OJ, tea<br />L-Seitan fajitas (leftover home made seitan, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, guacamole and salsa on whole wheat tortillas)<br />D-Tofu pad Thai, salad with home made miso-ginger dressing<br /><br />Fri:<br />B-Peanut butter cookie oatmeal (oatmeal with peanut butter, vanilla, raisins and flaxseed), OJ, tea<br />L-Leftovers<br />D-Pinto bean and veggie green enchiladas<br /><br />Sat:<br />B-Out- party<br />L-Hummus sandwiches (toasted Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane bread with Vegenaise, hummus, avocado, lettuce, tomato and red onion)<br />D-Black eyed pea fritters, mashed sweet potatoes, kale, white rice (occasional treat =)<br /><br />Sun:<br />B-Veggie benedict (cashew "hollandaise", avocado and tomato)(didn't get to make this last week so will this week), OJ, tea<br />L-Out<br />D-Veggie pizza (cheese-less with sauce, bell pepper, mushrooms, olives, red onion, jalapeno and pineapple)<br /><br />Mon:<br />B-Tofu-veggie scramble, hashbrowns, OJ, tea<br />L-PBJ, fruit<br />D-Orange scented lentil ragout with spinach (from Short Cut Vegan), quinoa<br /><br />Tue:<br />B-Oatmeal with berries, flaxseed, OJ, tea<br />L-Lentils and cabbage with mustard, brown rice<br />D-Chickpea flour pizza with herbs, potato-leek soup, broccoli<br /><br />Snacks on hand this week:<br />(bunch of fruit on sale at Henry's) Fruit: pink lady apples (my favorite apple), bananas, mangoes, green grapes<br />Carrots with traditional hummus, chipotle-red lentil hummus or raw "caesar" (basically just cashews, sesame seeds, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt)<br />Ants-on-a-log (celery with almond butter and raisins)<br />Nuts and dried fruit: almonds, walnuts, raisins, dates, prunes<br />Lundberg Brown Rice Cakes: regular, Sesame-Tamarai and Apple-Cinnamon<br />Wasa Sourdough-Rye crackers<br />Wholesoy yogurt and So Delicious Strawberry Coconut Kefir<br />Smoothies (usually green smoothies with just fruit and greens)<br />Cereal with almond milk<br />Dark chocolate with hazelnutsNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-45168827023018179582011-02-26T12:49:00.001-08:002011-02-26T13:06:56.206-08:00Awesome Vegan PaniniWith all the flavor and other creamy elements, you might not notice there is no cheese.<div><br /></div><div>Serves 2</div><div><br /></div><div>4 slices sourdough or rustic type bread (I used Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane- an awesome real artisan bread)</div><div>1/4 cup vegan (cheese-free) pesto, home made or store bought</div><div>1 roasted red pepper, home made or jarred (or enough to cover each sandwich)</div><div>1/2 avocado</div><div>1/2 cup canned or marinated artichoke hearts, sliced if needed</div><div>Olive oil or Earth Balance, for grilling sandwiches</div><div><br /></div><div>Spread each slice of bread with 1 TBSP pesto. On 2 slices of the bread layer avocado (mash slightly and spread on spread), roasted peppers and artichoke hearts. Top with remaining bread slices. Spread each side of the sandwiches with a bit of Earth Balance or brush lightly with olive oil.</div><div><br /></div><div>Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Place sandwiches in skillet and top with another skillet and other items to weigh down and press the sandwiches. Grill for a few minutes each side until lightly browned and warmed through. Cut sandwiches on the diagonal and serve. </div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-16375073431737451632011-02-25T08:15:00.000-08:002011-02-25T09:03:24.395-08:00Teff Porridge with Coconut, Almonds and DatesI modified this recipe a couple years ago from the Bob's Red Mill package and love it. Teff is another grain you must try if you have not already. It is the grain of Ethiopia, used to make their traditional sour flat-bread called injera. Teff is the smallest grain in the world, smaller than the tip of a needle. It is high in fiber, protein and iron. It is also gluten-free. Cooked up, it produces an almost chocolate-y essence that reminds me a bit of chocolate Malt-o-Meal, so I think is best lent to sweet applications. <div><br /></div><div>They usually carry it at Clark's, though lately they've only carried the flour. You can order it online. It is more expensive than other grains since here in the US it is only grown at one farm and sold by Bob's Red Mill. But it is still cheaper than animal products and lends variety to my vegan breakfasts. For those that aren't coconut fans (like my husband), you really don't taste the coconut if you use the coconut milk, it just makes the porridge slightly creamy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Start this recipe the night before you want to have it for breakfast. Like I said, it is high in fiber so don't say I didn't warn you. Also, because the grain is so small you should chew very thoroughly. All that said, it is delicious. This recipe also has 12 grams of protein per serving, as much as 2 eggs.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Serves 2</div><div><br /></div><div>1/2 cup teff </div><div>1/2 cup canned coconut milk or 1/4 cup raw coconut butter (Sold by Artisana in healthfood stores, coconut butter is very rich. It is made by pureeing coconut oil with coconut meat. It will make the recipe more rich, flavorful and higher in fat. It is expensive and I do not have any on hand, so coconut milk works fine as well)</div><div>About 2 cups water, more or less as needed</div><div>8 deglet noor or 6 medjool dates, chopped (I use kitchen shears and cut in half lengthwise then a few times cross wise)</div><div>1/2 tsp ground cloves (really makes the flavor of this recipe)</div><div>1/4 cup slivered or chopped almonds</div><div>Salt to taste</div><div><br /></div><div>Stir teff and 1/2 cup of water in a glass container, cover loosely with a towel and leave to soak overnight on the counter. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the morning pour the entire contents into a saucepan, add about 1 cup additional water and bring to a boil. Stir, lower heat and add coconut milk (if using coconut butter do not add at this point yet) a wire whisk is best for the stirring. Simmer on low for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Teff soaks up a lot of water, much like polenta, so you may need more than the recipe calls for. Add half of the dates, the ground cloves and about 1/2 cup more water. Wisk/stir and simmer about 10 more minutes. The dates will almost dissolve in the porridge and become a natural sweetener.<br /><br />Remove from heat and stir in chopped almonds, remaining dates and if using coconut butter, the coconut butter at this point. Add a pinch of salt, to taste. You can also add a bit of honey if you like it sweeter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-72944191433878993452011-02-24T08:03:00.001-08:002011-02-24T08:24:46.970-08:00Tempeh-Potato HashImprovised from another recipe, as usual. A hearty vegan breakfast. Each serving provides about 12 grams of protein: as much as you would get in 2 eggs.<br /><br />Serves 2<br /><br />4 oz. organic tempeh (the tempeh at Trader Joe's is so cheap, like $1.69 for an 8 oz. package)<br />6 oz. shredded hashbrown potatoes (or a couple cups peeled and shredded or diced potatoes)<br />1/2 green bell pepper, chopped<br />1/2 red bell pepper, chopped<br />1/4 cup chopped onion<br />2 TBSP refined coconut or sesame oil (the refined oils taste neutral, not like coconut or sesame)<br />1/2 tsp smoked paprika<br />2 tsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos or soy sauce<br />salt and pepper to taste<br /><br />Heat about 1/2 TBSP of the oil in a large skillet on medium heat, and saute the onion and bell peppers until soft and lightly browned, several minutes. Add 1 more TBSP oil, heat for a minute and add potatoes. Stir and then allow to brown undisturbed for about 4 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up brown underside, stir and allow to brown undisturbed again for a few more minutes. Continue to brown until desired crispness, being careful not to burn. Resist the urge to stir a lot as then it will not brown, you will need to scrape up the browned bits but that is fine. May require more oil, especially if using fresh potatoes. Sprinkle lightly with salt and transfer to another dish, set aside.<br /><br />Heat remaining 1/2 TBSP oil in the same skillet and crumble tempeh into the pan (use your fingers and crumble it, just like feta cheese). Sprinkle Bragg's or soy sauce and stir. Cook and stir occasionally until browned, about 5 minutes. Return potatoes to the pan, stir in smoked paprika and stir and warm all thoroughly.<br /><br />Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with ketchup, hot sauce or salsa as desired.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-57437547492218771472011-02-22T21:02:00.000-08:002011-02-22T21:56:15.259-08:00Menu for the WeekCurrently I am planning my menus to start on Wednesday, as I hit up Henry's for the double sales on produce on Wednesdays. Many people in the past have been interested in my meal planning so I thought that I would share. I will try to post it weekly.<br /><br />Now that I am pretty efficient with cooking, shopping sales and food budgeting I am more flexible. For example, if I plan one green veggie on my menu but another is on sale, I'll swap it out. Also, since I'm not working and don't have to be so rigid with planning I'll switch days, or make something different entirely, since I have a pretty good mental inventory of what I have on hand. I also have 5 vegan and vegetarian cookbooks from the library right now so I am having a lot of fun with those.<br /><br />In addition to these we usually have 3 snacks per day (mid-morning, afternoon and evening). It's amazing what volume of food you can eat on a vegan diet and just get enough calories. Snacks are usually fruit, veggies and hummus or other dip, apple with almond butter, ants-on-a-log, a handful of almonds and dates, brown rice cakes, smoothies, cereal, dark chocolate, occasionally soy or coconut milk yogurt, etc.<br /><br />You also may think this menu sounds like nothing but carbs, but that is a big misconception with vegan diets. I log my calories on livestrong.com and ALWAYS meet my protein RDA without even trying. For example: the breakfast burrito I make with hashbrowns, beans and a whole grain tortilla sounds like pure carbs, but in actuality it provides 12 grams of protein.<br /><br />At any rate, hope the ideas help!<br /><br />Wed<br />B: Trader Joe's Force Primeval Bar (like a whole grain bagel stick) with peanut butter and honey (yes, I am not a real vegan), OJ, tea<br />L: Chickpea salad sandwich on Ezekiel 4:9 bread<br />D: Penne Arrabbiata (with brown rice pasta), Tuscan chard (with pine nuts, raisins, lemon juice and olive oil)<br /><br />Thur<br />B: Tempeh-potato hash, OJ<br />L: Leftovers<br />D: 7 bean & barley soup, blueberry muffins<br /><br />Fri<br />B: Teff porridge with coconut, almonds and dates, OJ, tea<br />L: Leftovers<br />D: Out<br /><br />Sat<br />B: Whole-grain pancakes with warm apple topping, maple syrup, Earth Balance, OJ, tea<br />L: Sandwich with jarred roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes, raw spinach, pesto and Vegenaise<br />D: Veggie-loaf (seitan and beans), roasted acorn squash, orange broccoli (simmered with a bit of OJ and Bragg's Liquid Aminos)<br /><br />Sun<br />B: Veggie-benedict (tomato, avocado and cashew "hollandaise" sauce), OJ, tea<br />L: Home fellowship potluck, bring side<br />D: Vegan Trader Joe's appetizers: Spicy Spinach Thin Crust Pizzas, Thai Vegetable Gyoza with home made dipping sauce<br /><br />Mon<br />B: Peanut butter cookie oatmeal (peanut butter, raisins, flaxseed stirred in), OJ, tea<br />L: Leftovers<br />D: Amy's California Burger (made with bulgur/wheat and veggies, no soy isolates) with carmelized onions and sauteed mushrooms on Ezekiel 4:9 burger buns, broccoli slaw (frugal use of broccoli stalks!)<br /><br />Tue<br />B: Breakfast burrito (hash browns, home-made beans, salsa on Ezekiel 4:9 tortilla), OJ, tea<br />L: Veggie-loaf (leftover from Sat) sandwiches (with Vegenaise, ketchup, lettuce, tomato and shredded raw beets and carrots, fruit<br />D: Chana masala (chickpea/garbanzo bean curry), brown rice, spinach masala (with chiles, onion and garlic), Indian salad (like pico de gallo with cucumber)Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-64729074181115164382011-02-21T08:37:00.000-08:002011-02-21T08:56:31.498-08:00Banana-Nut Bread OatmealTake care of most of your daily recommendation for (vegan) omega-3s with this yummy oatmeal.<br /><br />Serves 2<br /><br />1 cup rolled oats (Preferably soaked overnight in 1 1/2 cups water, cover and leave on counter. If you skip this step you will need to add 1 cup water with the soy milk when cooking)<br />1 cup organic soy or almond milk (Or regular milk. Soy milk has some omega-3's, almond and cow's milk do not, unless you get high quality grass-fed milk)<br />1 large or 2 small bananas, sliced<br />1/4 cup raw walnuts, chopped<br />2 TBSP ground flax seeds (flax seed meal)(best to grind your own fresh)<br />1 tsp flax seed oil (optional)<br />1 TBSP pure maple syrup<br />1 tsp vanilla extract<br />1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg)<br />Pinch of salt, to taste<br /><br />Bring oatmeal, it's soaking liquid and soy milk to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook about 3 minutes. Add about 1/2 the sliced bananas, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice and cook and stir for about 2 minutes more. Turn off heat and stir in maple syrup, walnuts and ground flax seeds. Allow to cool for a few minutes and stir in flax seed oil (if you are short on time just leave the flax seed oil out, do not stir it in while cooking or even while still very hot, otherwise the omega-3's in the oil will be damaged and unsafe). Add salt to taste and top with remaining banana slices. Feel free to add more banana as desired.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-37074153494020264062011-02-20T09:55:00.000-08:002011-02-20T10:12:48.761-08:00Tofu Scramble BurritosMy usual Sunday breakfast, which I just had. I like have this with grapefruit on the side sprinkled with sucanat/Rapadura (organic raw sugar, before all the good stuff is taken out of it). Organic is mostly out of our budget right now, but the two things I ALWAYS buy organic are corn and the bit of soy I eat, to avoid GMOs (even though that is sadly becoming impossible).<br /><br />Serves 2<br /><br />6 oz. (about 2/5ths an average package) of organic firm tofu<br />2 tsp coconut or sesame oil (the healthiest to use for cooking, the fats in olive oil aren't so healthy cooked, better to sprinkle on salads or already cooked food)<br />2 tsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos or soy sauce<br />1/2 tsp tumeric (a bright yellow spice used in Indian cooking, it's flavor is mild...slightly mustard-like. Is a good anti-inflammatory spice)<br />1 large carrot, peeled and grated/shredded<br />1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach (a staple in my freezer, you can do a million things with it, quick, easy and nutritious...frozen veggies are actually as equally nutritious as fresh)<br />2 sprouted wheat tortillas (Ezekiel 4:9 or Alvarado Street Bakery make good ones)<br />Salsa, as desired<br /><br />Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add shredded carrots and stirfry for a minute or two. Crumble tofu into skillet (literally pick it up in your hands and crumble, much like feta cheese), sprinkle tumeric over the mixture and stir to evenly coat tofu with tumeric. Drizzle Braggs or soy sauce and stir well again. Add frozen spinach to skillet, stir and cover with a lid. Allow spinach to steam for a couple of minutes or until warm.<br /><br />Warm/soften tortillas slightly by turning on a low flame on the stove top (only works with a gas stove). Very carefully lay tortilla directly on the flame, and heat or a few seconds...watching carefully to not burn. Flip and warm on other side. Alternatively if you have and electric stove you can heat tortillas in a skillet or in a microwave.<br /><br />Serve on sprouted wheat tortillas and top with salsa, as desired. Also good served on 4 corn tortillas instead.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-26235591293174737612011-02-19T18:33:00.000-08:002011-02-19T18:57:47.908-08:00Open Face Broiled Tomato and Daiya SandwichThis is comfort food for me, and I had it for lunch today (along with a simple creamy zucchini-leek soup). I used to make it with real cheese. As a rule I don't do fake foods (just real tofu, tempeh and soy milk on occasion), but Daiya cheese is my one exception. Primarily because there are not a lot of scary ingredients in it: just oil, pea protein, flour and spices....no soy. Second, it actually tastes decent...even according to my cheese addicted husband. It also melts and stretches, unlike many vegan cheeses. But disclaimer, it is NOT cheese, so don't expect it to taste exactly like it.<div><br /></div><div>I don't consider it a health food, but rather an accent to an already substantial and healthy dish. As in this recipe I use good quality sprouted grain bread and lots of fresh tomatoes. Sometimes I'll use just a sprinkle on a home-made whole wheat pizza with lots of veggies, or a burritos with beans, veggies and a whole wheat tortilla. You get the idea. The other trick in using it, if you experiment with it is to use just a little...it doesn't taste very good to use a lot of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Serves 1</div><div>2 slices whole wheat bread (I used Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain bread) or 1 English muffin, split</div><div>2 TBSP-1/4 cup (enough to layer over bread) Cheddar Style Daiya Shreds</div><div>1/2 large tomato, sliced....or enough to create a layer of tomato slices over each slice of bread</div><div>1 TBSP Vegenaise (I like the Reduced Fat Flaxseed and Olive Oil version, I swear it's even tastier than mayo...even Steve agrees)</div><div>salt and pepper to taste</div><div><br /></div><div>Preheat broiler (low, if your broiler has options). Spread each slice of bread or English muffin half with Vegenaise. Layer tomatoes evenly over each slice of bread, and sprinkle tomato layer lightly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle evenly with Daiya. Carefully transfer to a baking sheet. Broil for a few minutes until Daiya is slightly melted, and sandwich is slightly golden brown (watch carefully so it doesn't burn!). May use real cheddar cheese if you prefer. </div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044198182471086501.post-89352709121444149192011-02-18T20:35:00.000-08:002011-02-18T20:49:59.190-08:00Warm Quinoa Salad BowlIt may seem strange to mix warm cooked grains with salad greens, but this is delicious and nutritious. The warmth of the grain seems to allow for less oil in the dressing. I threw it together for lunch the other day and thought others may enjoy it as well.<div><br /><div>If you have never tried or cooked quinoa you MUST try some ASAP. It has the highest protein content of any grain, and is in fact a complete protein (yep, just like meat).<div><br /></div><div>Serves 2<br /><div><br /></div><div>1/2 cup dry quinoa, cooked according to package directions (cooks up to about 1 1/2 cups cooked)</div></div><div>3 cups mixed salad greens, rinsed and chopped coarsely </div><div>2 TBSP minced green onion</div><div>2 TBSP slivered or chopped almonds</div><div>2 TBSP raisins</div><div>2 1/2 TBSP red wine vinegar</div><div>1 tsp each olive oil and flaxseed oil (or just olive oil)</div><div><br /></div><div>Equally divide warm cooked quinoa in 2 bowls. Sprinkle the green onion, almonds and raisins over the quinoa and top with salad greens. Drizzle vinegar and oil(s) evenly over each bowl. Toss well to mix and season lightly with salt and pepper to taste. </div></div></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969378817270548619noreply@blogger.com0