Daily Menu Plan: Day 1

Posted on May 11th, 2009.

As promised, I am posting a “sample day of eating” from the life of Liz. Now obviously, this is one of my great eating days… so don’t get discouraged and think they are all like this! I definitely have those days when my eating isn’t quite so wonderful… but I generally try to eat REALLY clean foods and for the most part, it’s just second nature to me.

If you’re wondering what it means to eat CLEAN foods, I could go on and on and on… but to sum it all up, it basically means to eat food in it’s most natural form. Another way to look at it, is eating foods that are GOD grown… rather than foods that are stripped of their nutrients from humans. Get it?

Eating clean foods on a daily basis will definitely make it possible to be at your ideal weight… but it is also the best way to avoid chronic diseases and keep your organs functioning at an optimal level! And believe me… I want to do ALL I can to take care of my body, so I don’t have to rely on other people to do things for me as I get older! So if you don’t already eat clean foods as part of your regular diet, you should give it a try and see how great you feel! It’s amazing how much energy you have and how CLEAN and LIGHT you feel!

Anyway, here you go! Here’s Day 1 of a sample menu plan.

Breakfast:

½ cup old fashioned rolled oats, topped with:

1 tsp vanilla

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

½ banana sliced

¼ cup walnuts

This is a fabulous way to start your day! Old fashioned oats have less sugars and fewer calories than the instant, flavored, variety and it has more protein per serving. I’ve also noticed that it helps me feel satisfied longer than the instant varieties. The vanilla and spices gives it some great flavor, without adding too many calories. Be sure not to go overboard on the walnuts however… just ¼ a cup has 200 calories! While walnuts are a great source of healthy fat and omega 3’s, that doesn’t mean it’s a free for all!

Snack:

½ cup of fat free cottage cheese, topped with:

1 tomato chopped and pepper to taste

I LOVE eating fat-free cottage cheese as a source of protein. There are so many things you can do with it, and it’s always so quick!

Lunch:

1 cup sliced strawberries, mixed with:

½ banana sliced

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

¼ cup skim milk

This is a great time of year to enjoy fresh fruit salads! Adding a little flaxseed on top makes it even better! You get your omega 3’s as well as a yummy flavor!

1 slice whole wheat bread with 1 teaspoon natural peanut butter

Dinner:

Tuna Avocado Spread on 1 slice whole wheat toast, topped with: sprouts, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes

½ cup fat free cottage cheese w/pepper to taste

1 cup raw red peppers sliced

1/2 cup grapes

As it gets closer to summer, I love making things for dinner that don’t require the stove or oven. This might seem like a pretty simple dinner, but the family enjoyed it and I loved how quick it was to put together!

Treat:

1/2 cup Chocolate Mint Protein Ice-Cream

Mmmm! This is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth and still stay healthy!

So there you have it! I hope this gives you some new ideas or things you can incorporate into your healthy eating habits! Stay tuned for some more sample menu ideas, coming soon!