So last week I started a challenge for myself to really budget and see how far I could extend my groceries for the week and I did pretty good managing to use all of my groceries for lunch and dinner for a total of $141.05($78.47 for fresh direct + $62.08 for Whole Foods) I managed to make 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners averaging $10.85/meal. Not bad for week 1! Because I had a vacation planned for the weekend I started out with groceries delivered on day 2 and the total was $64.54 (which included a $5.99 delivery fee).
Groceries purchased on day 1 from Whole Foods for breakfast and lunches through the week. The total spend at whole foods for the week for groceries to be kept at work was $35.16. I also had leftover groceries and some dry goods such as PB2, oats, protein powder in the cabinets to start. See below my week of eating, which also includes some meals out.
Grocery Items for Work purchased on day 2/week 2
- Prepared food bar for (spaghetti squash and lentils
- Avocado
- Spinach
- 2 – Kiwi
- 2 – 0% Greek yogurt
- 2 – Kombucha
- Granola
- Almond Butter
- Raspberries
- BluePrint cold pressed red juice (beets, carrots, ginger)
*I also had leftover groceries from the week before so I made sure to use what I had for lunches as well.
Monday (Rest Day)
Breakfast: Coffee + banana (early flight and not feeling breakfast)
Lunch: Spaghetti squash with tahini and brown rice & lentils from whole foods
GT’s Kombucha
Snack: 1/2 sliced apple topped with 1/2 tbsp almond butter and sprinkled with ancient grains granola.
Dinner: Yellow Tofu Vegetable Curry from M Thai delivered:)
Tuesday (AM Spin class + ab workout)
Breakfast :Green spinach plant protein bowl made with Sunwarrior vanilla plant protein topped with granola and kiwi.
Lunch: Sprouted grain bread(week prior) topped with smashed avocado and tuscan white bean veggie burger (also from the week prior)
Snack: Greek yogurt mixed with PB2 topped with raspberries, granola & almond butter.
Dinner: I was too focused on making my energy balls for the week and tailoring the recipe I ate too many to be hungry for dinner. So, sadly I’m already off track and it’s day 2! Sorry to disappoint! But when you fall off track you just get back on the next meal, brush it off and move on! It happens, life happens and its ok. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
Wednesday (AM Leg workout + 30 min cardio)
Breakfast: Post workout with a coffee and one of my energy & protein balls. These things are miracle workers and they keep me satisfied until lunch – and that’s after a workout! This one is a peanut butter plant protein ball with chocolate chips! Delish!
Lunch: Hu Kitchen salmon cake and curried sweet potatoes. Repeat but my favorite food ever! This was close to a $15 meal, once again becuase I live in NYC, but either way it was a splurge becuase I was eating on the go in between appointments.
Snack: Green smoothie topped with raspberries, granola and almond butter! Quick, nutritious and delicious!
Dinner: quick ate 2 hard boiled eggs and sweet potato before I took off for a fundraiser.
Again busy life, this is what happens. Plans change, we have to eat on the run and things don’t always go as planned. It’s ok! Some days are better than other and some weeks are better than other. It’s about consistency and staying to course for the long haul.
Thursday (AM Arm workout with weights and PM spin class)
Breakfast: Red juice, sprouted grain toast with smashed avocado topped with hemp seeds.
Lunch: Tuscan white bean veggie burger (left over from week 1) topped with avocado + sprouted grain toast topped with avocado and 2 hard boiled egg whites(brought these from home).
Snack: Greek yogurt topped with raspberries, kiwi, almond butter
Dinner: I prepared a very simple dish with groceries I had gotten for the week at home. Thursday night was chickpea and avocado lettuce wraps. It took about 15 minutes to prep and it was delicious!
Ingredients:
1 can smashed chickpeas (rinsed)
1 avocado
½ lime for lime juice
1 chopped garlic clove
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 pinch sea salt
1 pinch of black pepper
*If you want added topping you can choose cherry tomatoes, tahini or I chose to sauté Brussel sprouts(from week 1) in coconut oil
- Start with ½ cup quinoa with 1 cup water. I like to prepare with ½ cub of organic no salt broth so you have a bit of flavor. Bring to a boil and sauté for about 15 minutes. While you are waiting for your quinoa, smash chickpeas and add avocado.
- Add the chickpeas and avocado into a large bowl. Mash with a fork until chickpeas are broken or avocado is creamy. If you want the texture a bit smoother than I put in the food processor to mix well for about 10-15 seconds. Once it’s chopped you mix in the lime juice, salt & pepper.
- Add in the cooked quinoa and mix well.
- Spoon into individual lettuce cups
- Top with your favorite veggies or sauce and serve.
Friday (Rest Day)
Breakfast:Chocolate Protein Oats
Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole grain oats
1/2 cup water
1/2 scoop Sunwarrior blend chocolate protein powder
1/2 tsp maca powder
1/2 tbsp almond butter
1/2 banana
1/4 cup almond milk or water to mix in after the oats are heated. Either is fine, the almond milk just gives a creamier consistency.
1.) Mix oats, water, protein powder and maca together. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Add almond milk or water, stir and heat for another 30 seconds. Top with sliced banana and drizzle with almond butter.
Lunch: 2 – chickpea and avocado wraps (leftover from dinner) + 1 hard boiled egg
Snack: Vega One Chai Vanilla protein shake mixed with 1 cup almond milk
Dinner: Wild swordfish with a side of baked broccoli florets
Bake swordfish for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Top with lemon juice and black pepper. with about 5 minutes remaining top with parmesan cheese.
Chop broccoli into florets and place on baking sheet. drizzle with lemon juice and 1 tbsp coconut oil. sprinkle with black pepper. Bake on 400 for 8-10 minutes.
Serve with a glass of wine and enjoy:) Cheers!
Saturday (AM 5 mile run + 2 hour biking through the city)
Breakfast: Post workout – 1 slice toasted sprouted grain bread topped with 1/4 smashed avocado and spinach egg white omelette(made with two egg whites).
Lunch: Brunch with friends mid-biking. Smoked trout with potato cakes with creme fraiche. Also had a glass of prosecco and a bloody mary! It’s all in moderation!
Dinner: Vegan Kale Salad with spicy curried chickpeas with some wine of course:)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cashew butter
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp dijon
freshly ground sea salt & pepper
2-3 tbsp nutritional yeast (vegan) or parmesan cheese
Grilled chickpeas Croutons
1 can chickpeas rinsed thoroughly
1/2 tsp olive oil
pinch of garlic powder, paprika, oregano, thyme and cayenne.
Preheat oven to 400 . Combine chickpeas, olive oil, and spices in a baking tray and shake evenly to coat. Roast chickpeas for 30-35 minutes, or until chickpeas become lightly browned and crisped.
While the chickpeas are roasting, make the caesar dressing. In the base of a blender or food processor, add in cashew butter, lemon juic, hemp seeds, garlic, olive oil, dijon mustard, and sea salt and pepper to taste. Add in the water to achieve desired consistency. Spoon dressing into a jar and set aside while you prep the kale.
Wash and chop the kale, removing thick stems pieces. Place kale in a bowl and drizzle with caesar dressing. Using your hands massage dressing into kale until thoroughly coated and leaves begin to feel smooth and silky. Toss in roasted chickpeas and top with nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese. Serve & Enjoy!
glofit4life 