Weekly Food Menu 3.30.20 to 4.5.20 (Clean Eating)

Monday:

Meal 1: Butternut Squash Hash with Eggs and coffee

Meal 2: Leftover Gluten-free pizza with a side salad

Meal 3: Roasted Veggie Pasta (made with lentil pasta)

Snack: Fruit and raw almonds

Tuesday:

Meal 1: Butternut Squash Hash with Eggs and coffee

Meal 2: Leftover dinner

Meal 3: Roasted Cauliflower and Quinoa Casserole 

Snack: Morning Glory Breakfast Muffins

Wednesday:

Meal 1: Butternut Squash Hash with Eggs and coffee

Meal 2: Leftover dinner

Meal 3: Stir-Fried Noodles with Veggies

Snack: Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Thursday:

Meal 1: Butternut Squash Hash with Eggs and coffee

Meal 2: Leftover dinner

Meal 3: Vegetable Cacciatore with Rotini

Snack: Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Friday:

Meal 1: Orange French Toast

Meal 2: Leftover dinner

Meal 3: Rainbow Burgers with homemade fries

Snack: Morning Glory Breakfast Muffins

Saturday:

Meal 1: Orange French Toast

Meal 2: Leftover dinner

Meal 3: Quinoa with Kale and Roasted Butternut Squash

Snack: Peanut Butter Granola Bars 

Sunday:

Meal 1: Chocolate Pancakes

Meal 2: Leftovers from the week

Meal 3: Leftovers from the week or freezer meals

Snacks: Morning Glory Breakfast Muffins and Peanut Granola 

Dessert this week be Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don’t have links to provide as these are all plant-based recipes from the Fork Over Knives app so I’m able to view them however I’m not able to share a link to them however if you are in my Facebook group I will be posting some of the recipes in there.  I’m excited as I begin my 30 Challenge in April so this will be a good healthy week for me.  I’m also curious to see how this weeks food menu goes as my little one has decided she wants to be a vegetarian for one week like my older daughter and since they are both doing it I figured it was just easier for me to cook one meal for all of us instead of 2 meals each night which means my husband and I are doing the same thing.  This is a great time and opportunity to try some new things that are plant-based and clean eating, this will also be good for our family to keep us healthy and use low cost pantry items while using fresh vegetables and fruit. I hope everyone can stay safe and healthy for the next several weeks ahead.

Looking to stay active or a new challenge check out my Facebook group “My Journey Worth Sharing” as we have a new upcoming 30 day challenge beginning April 1st with lots of new daily workouts and yummy healthy food recipes.  Send me an invite!!!

DIY Disinfectant Spray, Cleaning Wipes and Hand Sanitizer - Staying Healthy and Clean

With everything going on right now with the Coronavirus and with people trying to find disinfectant supplies in grocery stores and big box retailers, I wanted to share some easy DIY items that can be made at home and used to help keep us all healthy and clean.  I viewed several different websites and here is what I found to make your own All Natural Disinfectant Spray, Cleaning Wipes and Hand Sanitizer. I have included what things you will need as far as ingredients and items along with directions and the links to the websites of were I found these recipes. I know there are many out there but I wanted to compile what I could and make it easier to have them all in one place as a quick reference for those who need it. 

Please everyone stay safe, healthy and clean while we all hunker down into our new surroundings.  We can only do our best to stay calm, protect our families and work as a community to help each out through these difficult times.  Please leave a comment below on my blog if you have any other websites you have used and liked or have made your own recipes for any of the following home remedies. 

DIY All Natural Disinfectant Spray

Things you will need: 
1 1/4 cups water (tap or distilled)
1/4 cup white vinegar1/4 cup 80% or more Isopropyl Alcohol (you can substitute vodka as well)
15 drops essential oil – peppermint + lemon OR lavender + lemon are great in this recipe
glass or plastic (dollar store) spray bottle.

Directions: 
Place everything in the spray bottle place the top on and shake until mixed. Then it’s ready to use.  Make sure the surface is cleaned before disinfecting it, when you use the spray let it sit on the surface for about a 1 minute before wiping it down so it will kill all the germs.  

Reference Website for this recipe: https://cleanmama.com/diy-disinfecting-spray-cleaner/

Cleaning Wipes (non bleach)
Things you need:
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon liquid dish soap
5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
Roll of paper towels (cut to fit container being used)


Directions: (same for all formulas): Mix ingredients together and pour over paper towels.

Website: https://www.homemadeinterest.com/three-homemade-cleaning-wipes-recipes/

Hand Sanitizer 
Things you need:
3/4 cup of Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol 
1/4 cup of aloe Vera gel (to help keep your hands smooth and to counteract the harshness of the alcohol)
10 drops essential oil (lavender oil, lemon or citrus scent)
1 tbsp coconut oil or pumps of hand lotion - you can use whatever hand lotion you had to help keep your skin from drying out
Plastic bottle with pump or mini travel size shampoo bottle (dollar store)


Directions: Pour all ingredients into a bowl, ideally one with a pouring spout like a measuring container. Mix with a spoon and then beat with a whisk to turn the sanitizer into a gel.  Pour the ingredients into an empty bottle for easy use and make sure to label it as “Hand Sanitizer”

Reference websites: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer#ingredients, https://happymoneysaver.com/homemade-hanitizer/, https://alittleinsanity.com/natural-hand-sanitizer-recipe/, https://lexiscleankitchen.com/diy-hand-sanitizer/, 

New Recipe - Crockpot Vegan Creamy Chickpea and Rice Dinner (Vegan/Vegetarian)

Crockpot Vegan Creamy Chickpea and Rice Dinner

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp avocado oil, or olive oil

2-3 fresh garlic cloves, minced

1 cup uncooked long grain brown rice (dry)

4 carrots, diced small 

2 celery stalks, diced small 

1 sweet yellow onion, finely diced

sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

2 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, or stock 

1 cup frozen, organic peas

1 cup frozen, organic corn

1 15oz canned Chickpeas, drained and rinsed 

1 Tbsp Dijon or Spicy Brown Mustard

1 cup plain unsweetened Coconutmilk or any non dairy yogurt alternative 

2-3 green onions, thinly sliced to garnish

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
2. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
3. Add carrots, celery and onions to the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, transfer to slow cooker. 
4. Stir in the rice, corn and peas into the slow cooker.
5. Add broth and stir to combine. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours.
6. 30 minutes before cooking time is done add the drained canned chickpeas and stir to combine, add the lid back on and continue to cook until the rice is cooked all the way through. 
7. In a small bowl whisk plain non-diary yogurt and mustard together.
8. Once the time is up, stir in the yogurt mustard mixture, then season to your taste.
9. Serve warm, sprinkled with sliced green onions. Enjoy!

My crockpot cooks this recipe fast so please check it a few times during cooking time to make sure it doesn’t burn or over cook.

This recipe was originally made with chicken and regular diary yogurt, which is fantastic.  Since my older daughter is vegetarian I’m always looking through our old meat recipes and changing them to make them my own.  Here is the original recipe from Clean Food Crush: https://cleanfoodcrush.com/crockpot-creamy-chicken-rice-clean-eating/

New Recipe - Healthy Cherry Vanilla Smoothie (Paleo, Vegetarian)

Healthy Cherry Vanilla Smoothie
Serving Size: 1

Ingredients:
1 cup Frozen Organic Dark Sweet Cherries
1/4 to 1/2 Frozen Banana
1 tbsp Organic Chia Seeds
1 handful of Organic Raw Spinach
1 scoop Paleo Egg White Proteins
1/4 Vanilla Extract
1/8 Almond Extract
1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk (can use vanilla or original)
1 tbsp MCT Oil (optional)

Directions:
1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and mix until well blended and smooth. Enjoy!!!