First Meal Prep Session EVER!

So I start a new, full time job tomorrow. (Yay!) I wanted to make sure I have all of my meals done ahead of time to relieve any unnecessary stress & wasting of time throughout the week.

So I boiled some eggs...

Did up some sweet potato... 

Made some Paleo Lemon Poppyseed Muffins. Recipe here. 

And grilled a bunch of chicken breast on the BBQ. I did up 4oz. bags. 

I also made up a huge salad, soaked apple slices in lemon/pineapple juice (to prevent browning), made up containers with assorted nut butters, and made freezer bags with ingredients for Pumpkin Pie Smoothies (recipe to follow).

So after it was all said, & done, this is what I have for the week: 

1) Breakfast: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (just need to add protein powder, water & sweetener (stevia)

2) AM Snack: Apple slices with nut butter

3) Lunch: Garden Salad with 4oz chicken, 1 egg & assorted salad dressing

4) PM Snack: Paleo Lemon Poppyseed Muffins (each mini-muffin is 47 calories)

I think it was well worth the effort & I'm happy that I don't have to make a lunch/snack each night!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

*100g sweet potato

*100g yogurt (vanilla)

*1 scoop protein powder of choice

*1 heaping tsp pumpkin pie spice 

(I make my own blend ... recipe for that below)

*1 tsp vanilla

*sweetener of choice (to taste) I use stevia.

*Ice - 5-6 cubes

*water to desired thickness

Blend well & Happy Fall, y'all!

Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend

*1/4 cup ground cinnamon

*4 tsp ground nutmeg

*4 tsp ground ginger

*1 tbsp ground allspice

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Smoothie Bowl

Tired of smoothie after smoothie? Make a smoothie bowl. Similar principle, different experience!  It's nice sometimes to get the feeling like your eating, rather than drinking something.  Sometimes it's more satisfying. So here's my take on it.

You will need:

*1 Scoop protein powder (I used Beyond Yourself Choc Chip Cookie Dough)

*2/3 C Vanilla Yogurt of choice (I used Iogo Original)

*1 tsp vanilla

*A few drops of stevia (or sweetener of choice)

*Ice (I used about 7-8 cubes

*A little water (or milk of choice) - to get things moving in the blender

*1/2 protein bar (I used Kellogg's Double Chocolate Protein Bar)

*2 tsp unsweetened coconut

*Additions - I added 1 TBSP each of chia & psyllium husk, you could also add flax, seed, coconut oil, etc.

- Add all ingredients (except bar & coconut) to blender (I use a VitaMix) & blend away! 

- Top with chopped protein bar & coconut. 

-Enjoy! 

Macros: 380 Cal.  C 42/F 9/P 34

Breakfast is so important...it gives you a great start to your day, especially for those looking to control their weight. Check out this article here to read about the many benefits of starting your day with a good breakfast.