I read a lot of posts here about "boring" diet food. This week, I hit up my farmer's market and we're in that golden period where the end-of-summer bounty is still going strong, but fall stuff is starting to trickle in too. And I'm really, REALLY excited about the food I have planned for this week! I thought we could share our menus as proof that healthy food CAN be exciting, delicious food! And the best part was that the farmer's market produce is not only fresh and organic, but also only cost me $30.
Today for lunch, I had homemade baked falafel patties with a spicy mint yogurt sauce and a side of baby carrots. So good! Falafel are so easy and, when baked, SO healthy.
Then for dinner I made chicken and dumplings from the leftovers of last night's roast chicken - stripped the remaining meat, then used the bones to make stock with garlic, onion, celery, carrots, and fresh dill. Once the stock was made and the fat skimmed, I sauteed up leek, fresh tarragon, carrots, parsnips, garlic, celery, and the remaining chicken - added in the fresh stock, simmered until done, then topped with low fat, whole wheat buttermilk dumpling dough speckled with fresh chives. And it was SO good. Yum.
My plans for the rest of the week (we use our dinner leftovers for lunch the next day) are:
Tomorrow - Barbecue pork tenderloin, grilled corn, and grilled zucchini. The corn has been really great this year, and even though the summer temps have pretty much gone away, this is a little bit of a farewell to summer.
Tuesday - Turkey chili, cooked in the slowcooker with ground turkey, red beans, lots of zucchini, jalapeno, and bell pepper. A little reduced fat cheddar and a little fat free sour cream, and a lot of delicious.
Wednesday - One of my favorite veggies I hadn't known about until the farmer's market, long beans, are still in season (getting toward the end...boo). I'm going to make a chicken and long bean stirfry, over brown and wild rice, with a spicy hoisin ginger sauce.
Thursday - A quickie meal because we have some errands - pizzas on flatout breads with lowfat mozzarella, grilled chicken, olives, broccoli, and pineapple, with big salads on the side.
Friday - A great bargain at the market this morning - a grocery bag full of tomatoes for 3 dollars. So sometime early in the week, I'm going to make a big pot of tomato sauce - fresh rosemary and oregano from the garden, lots of garlic, onion, a splash of red wine, and all of those lovely fresh tomatoes. Then I'll freeze some and set aside enough for Friday dinner - FiberGourmet spaghetti, the homemade sauce with added browned turkey, and a heap of roasted veggies (bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant, and onion). A nice grate of fresh parmesan on top.
And the fruit out right now is just INCREDIBLE! I got a watermelon, gorgeous red flame grapes, some amazing plums, apples, and peaches, all to keep me fueled snack-wise for the week. And I'm planning on having french toast made with whole wheat bread and farm fresh eggs for breakfast this week, so I can use some of that wonderful fruit as a topper.
So - are you EXCITED about your healthy food? Share your plan for the week or any exciting meal you've had lately. I want all of 3FC to know that "healthy" food can also be delicious, exciting food that you look forward to eating.