I have been rockin the Sunday meal prep and Cook Smarts meal plans this whole month. Like I said on Friday, it has been a wonderful change for our family. Meal time stress has gone way down, and we are eating better than ever. Leftovers for lunch have been a huge success too!
I even got somebody to eat garbanzo beans in tomato sauce!
Breakfasts have been the same old same old: lots of eggs + toast and oatmeal. Winter staples! I just can’t do overnight oats or smoothies in the winter.
Eggs, Cinnamon chip toast, banana, coffee.
Hot oats with granola and almond butter
Pancakes, OJ, banana, almond butter, chia, coffee. I had OJ leftover from a recipe, and man did it taste good at breakfast!
Babycakes!
Egg, toast with jam, fruit
Hot oats in a jar!
Whipped banana oats with raspberry jam (Smuckers!)
I’ll share dinners first so the lunches make more sense : ) Cook Smarts was all vegetarian this week. I used to say that I thought I could be a Pescatarian, but I think this week of meals proved me wrong. I was quite tired of beans by night 4 and think I dove into some salmon on Friday night…I was craving it with my soul. I know you can get all sorts of creative with vegetarian recipes, and I think this week did a pretty good job of that. Nevertheless, I felt like something was missing. Perhaps I’m just in the habit of eating meat, but I was really craving some by the end of the week. I feel like my body has been craving meat ever since getting pregnant. Next week is Paleo week and as you might guess, there’s lots of meat on the menu!
Chickpeas and Kale with tomato sauce over spaghetti squash
Seared Tofu Matchsticks with coconut curry cabbage and carrots. Plus peanuts and cilantro. This meal rocked!!!
Two-Bean Chili made with zucchini and mushrooms. Greek yogurt, cheese and avocado on top.
And finally, Enchilada Night – made with leftover chili, tomatoes, whole wheat tortillas and cheese.
Butterhead lettuce salad on the side. I am loving all the simple dressings we are making now. This one was made from dill mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and salt.
A lot of leftovers ; )
Starting with a mug of chickpeas + kale with spaghetti squash
Leftover tofu curry
An enchilada with salad
Leftover pot pie from my parents’ visit – with salad and clementines
And finally, a No Bull salad that was light because I nibbled all the cheese off of Mazen’s tray!
Hope you all have a fantastic week!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
Your Cook Smart meals really do look great – especially those enchiladas! I can’t remember the last time I had enchiladas, I think I need to get myself to a Mexican restaurant soon! Or just make them.. haha
Alex @ Kenzie Life says
I’m a vegetarian (mostly vegan but there are times when I eat eggs and some dairy), but I’d get tired of having beans several nights a week too 🙂 Hope you have a great week too!
Jess @ The Baguette Diet says
I’m the same–I love vegetarian dishes and don’t “need” meat everyday, but there are definitely times when I crave red meat like nobody’s business…I wonder if it’s not related to my hormones/cycle? Still, all of these recipes look great! Just maybe not all in a row 😉
Kate says
Definitely related to my cycle!
Emily says
This post brings up a question I had about CookSmarts. My family is mostly paleo- can you specify things like that and only get a certain kind of recipe?
KathEats says
You can do all meals as Paleo
Pamela says
All those meals look delish! Especially the enchiladas! Yum. I definitely feel like i can go without meat during the week too.
Jackie says
I don’t eat meat everyday but I don’t think I could go a week without it either!
Sanaz@Run for Cake says
I think its time for a meal planning change for me. I think I am going to try this out. I prefer less meat in our dishes anyway so this may be perfect!
My 14 month old is getting picky so I think a little more flavor in her life will make her happier as well. Thanks!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
You have me craving enchiladas now! Definitely will be on the dinner menu this week!
Ali says
These meals really look good! I would love to eat some enchiladas right now!
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner says
Those all look wonderful, especially the seared tofu matchsticks! I could probably live without meat, but I could never live without seafood. I need my fish!
Ashley @ Hudson on the Potomac says
Yum!! I love mixing a can of garbanzo beats with a can of diced tomatoes! I usually use a version of diced tomatoes with olive oil and garlic. It makes them 100X better and transforms them into a real side dish!
simple green moms says
love how balanced your meals are! =) no deprivation is the way to go!!!
maggie @ say yes to salad says
Just did my first Cooksmarts meal last night (tilapia panko taco things, but we did bay scallops instead) – it was great! Thanks for all the posts about them recently. We’ll probably end up getting a subscription.
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Some delicious looking meals — as usual! 🙂
Janelle says
It’s lunch time over here, and your pics are making me hungry. I really need to work on my planning / prepping. I love cooking, but life has just been so busy lately!
jacklyn says
Hi Kath! Ive been a long time kerf reader and sometimes notice your meals are much smaller than they used to be compared to when you had the 9-5 office job. I was wondering if you could maybe consider a post on how your appetite or meals have changed from a few years back to now. Maybe having a child changes your appetite? Or you don’t need as much fuel as you used to? tx! xo
KathEats says
Really!? I think I eat much more now than I used to! Can you share which meals you are comparing? I’d be curious to see myself.
Lisa says
I agree, seems like extremely small meals!
Tifany says
I agree, your meals seem so much lighter as well. For example in your lunch packing post – you would have fruit, yogurt, veggies, and a sandwich. Love your lately posts and Mazen is the cutest!!!
https://www.katheats.com/lunch-in-a-box
KathEats says
I think it’s deceiving. I used to have more variety of items but I bet the big salad or leftovers I have now is the same calorie level.
jacklyn says
It probably is just deceiving than. I wasn’t sure so i wanted to ask if it was intentional or not. Here’s some links to compare. They all look amazing either way! 🙂
past:
https://www.katheats.com/the-scary-pantry
https://www.katheats.com/burned-around-the-edges
https://www.katheats.com/make-it-fancy
https://www.katheats.com/fast-forward
recent:
https://www.katheats.com/lately-27
https://www.katheats.com/lately-33
KathEats says
Yes, I can see what you mean now. It sure looks like a lot more food. I was counting calories back then too, so I bet those lunches were around 500 calories (which I what I used to shoot for). The Lately lunches seem to include a lot more leftovers, which are more calorie dense, but also remember that I mentioned that I’ve been snacking a bit more with Mazen (a 10am bite or two of cheese) so I am trying to really listen to my body when lunch time comes around. So you might be right, but I just don’t feel like I’m really eating all that little : )
Leatitia says
“I feel like my body has been craving meat ever since getting pregnant.”
Is this an announcement? 🙂
KathEats says
Haha – no since last time!! 2 years ago.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) says
I wondered the same thing! I got super excited for a minute. 🙂
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Oooh that tofu salad does look good! Interesting to see what meat loaded dishes are on the menu for last week!!! Still toying with the idea of reintroducing salmon to my diet myself!
Katherine says
Leftovers for lunch are awesome!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
Elizabeth says
I know what you mean by craving meat. I went veggie for about 2 years and once I started eating meat again all I wanted was meat!
Your meals, as always, look amazing!
Livi says
I made pancakes this weekend and they were delicious! I still have to try your beloved Kodiak cakes though!
Katie @ Live Half Full says
At our house we eat meatless dinners 2-3 times per week. I like it because it saves us money and we also have a good repertoire of meatless meals that are filling and satisfying!
Rachel says
I’m so excited for Paleo week! I was vegetarian for 6 years and realized back in fall 2013 that something just wasn’t right. I switched to Paleo and not only lost a BUNCH of weight, but a ton of things plaguing me (that I never even considered were diet related) went away. I wish I could be vegetarian because I really love animals but it just doesn’t work for my body. And, I actually think I eat more veggies now than I did as a vegetarian lol.
Hannah says
I really enjoyed this post! Thanks for sharing. I may want to try the recipe planning tool.
Mazen AKA Babycakes is so cute!
Ashley says
“Cook Smarts was all vegetarian this week. I used to say that I thought I could be a Pescatarian, but I think this week of meals proved me wrong. I was quite tired of beans by night 4 and think I dove into some salmon on Friday night”
Unless I missed something….I thought this was the definition of a pescatarian? A person who eats a vegetarian diet but includes fish?
KathEats says
Yes that’s right. I dove into meat the next week too
Julie says
Your breakfasts look amazing… as always. I need me some pancakes. What mix do you use?
KathEats says
Great Harvest mix. .. freshly ground and so good
Caitlin says
Ah now I see why you put lunches after dinner! The kale/chickpeas, tofu matchsticks, and butter lettuce all look amazing. I never make salads with butter lettuce but perhaps I’m now inspired to start.
Ttrockwood says
I’m vegetarian (well, vegan aside from an occasional greek yogurt) and that is way too many bean dishes in a week! Crumbled tempeh makes a great filling for enchiladas or tacos in the future.
Yvette Mendoza says
Hello Kath, I hope you and your family are doing good! Kath I wanted to ask you about your breakfasts with eggs. How many eggs do you eat or recommend for one to eat in the mornings and what do you use to make your eggs when you do them scrambled and sunny side up . Do you ever use 100% egg whites? and if you do how many do you use. I just like the way your eggs look so yummy in the pics 😉 . Love reading your blog , your the Best 🙂 Thanks!
KathEats says
I usually have 1 to 2 a day. 1 sunny side and 2 scrambled. Whole pasture eggs only!