Menu Plan Monday

I really do have an entire post about how I menu plan.  I intend to share it.  Someday.  When I can get the pictures to load so you can see the process...

In the meantime, I'll just share the plan for this week.  As always, I'll fill in the gaps with what ever is sale at the grocery this week, and there may be small changes based on availability, but the protein source will not change.  That is the one thing that I rotate carefully through our diet.

Monday
Breakfast: zucchini muffins and green smoothie
Lunch: sunbutter and apples
Dinner: roasted turkey breast, applesauce, green beans, fries

Tuesday
Breakfast: turkey sausage, veggie saute
Lunch: turkey dogs
Dinner: beef stew, mashed potatoes

Wednesday
Breakfast: cream of buckwheat
Lunch: beef stew
Dinner: bharta mushroom, peas, quinoa

Thursday
Breakfast: pumpkin muffins, green smoothie
Lunch: sunbutter and jelly
Dinner: crockpot pulled pork, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, spiced peaches

Friday
Breakfast: pork sausage, veggie saute
Lunch: lettuce and ham wraps
Dinner: salmon, spinach berry salad, roasted cauliflower

Saturday
Breakfast: blueberry muffins and green smoothie
Lunch: salmon salad
Dinner: turkey meatloaf, roasted beets, orange peel broccoli, stovetop apples

Sunday
Breakfast: turkey sausage, waffles
Lunch: sloppy joes
Dinner: beef burgers, asparagus, strawberries

On being an allergy mom...

I am an allergy mom.  The phrase has so many undertones flowing through it that there is a river of meaning, and the current changes depending on who you speak with about the subject.  We allergy moms, we have a decidedly different understanding of the term than others.

Let me tell you some of my realities as an allergy mom.

1) I really don't want to be here.  I spent years learning how to manage this disability, and I continue to learn more.  What I really want is the freedom to interact with food in a spontaneous manner, like the rest of the world.  I'm not sure you can fully understand what that means until that ability has been stripped from you.  

2) I'm an introvert, and I'm shy as well.  (No, they're not the same.) It takes an incredible amount of strength for me to continually speak up in order to advocate for my daughter's safety.  I hate making waves, I hate conflict, and I'm not a fan of drawing attention to myself.  I face hostility from many because my daughter has life threatening food allergies, and it's my job to speak up on her behalf.  I try my best to keep the inconvenience to others small.  I try to be pleasant, polite, and quickly out of the way.  And it takes loads of mental and physical energy to do it daily.

3)  I get angry about allergies too.  I understand why people who don't live with it might feel put out by having to accommodate my daughter.  There are days it p*sses me off to have to interact so carefully with food.  To spend hours at the grocery store reading every blessed label.  To avoid a can of flipping green beans -of all things- because they have a 'may contain' warning.  To have to spend an hour in the kitchen for EVERY meal.  To spend an extra hour in the kitchen for EVERY stinkin' birthday party, and classroom holiday party, and for every sweet child who wants to share a treat with the class.  I get angry about being left out of birthday party invites because of moms too nervous to invite my daughter.  At never being able to just order a d*mn pizza.  At cooking when I'm sick because someone has too...  It goes on and on.  Some days it gets to me.  Other days I roll with it.  Life's like that.

4)  My cell phone goes everywhere with me.  I check it every time it rings.  At the dentist.  At the doctor.  In the shower.  Because you never know when it might be the school calling about allergies. (Please note- I don't answer it every time.  Unless it actually is the school. Then I even answer through the Novocain.  True story. And yes, it was allergy related.)

5)  I don't expect anyone else to be able to feed my daughter, it's hard.  It means the world to me when someone wants to try.  Small gestures that make it easier for her to feel included make me melt.  I appreciate every one of them, from intention to execution.  Just the willingness to ask me if there is a way to include her makes my world a little brighter.

6)  I am proud of how much better my family eats now.  Because of my daughter's allergies, I have learned more about food than I would have ever known had I not been forced to study it.  The silver lining in this allergy cloud is a healthier family.

7) There will never be a list that captures the challenges or the triumphs completely.  Just as I will never fully understand what it is like to live with another disability, I don't expect everyone else to "get it".  What I ask for is a willingness to listen and be educated, to participate in a conversation that helps us better understand each other.


This is certainly not a full list, but it covers a few of the highlights.  Please, add to my list.  What are some of the challenges of living with a food allergy?

Menu Plan Monday

It's Monday again.  How does this keep happening so quickly?!

I am so happy that the weather is warming up and we can all taste spring.  I anticipate that means I will be brave enough to start grilling soon.  I love grilling, the ease, the speed, the flavor, and the fact that it doesn't make my house smell!

Monday
Breakfast: cinnamon roasted butternut squash and baked beans
Lunch: sunbutter and apples
Dinner: pork basil burgers, carrot salad, green beans w/bacon and shallots

Tuesday
Breakfast: bacon and veggies
Lunch: pork basil burgers
Dinner: chili bake (bison) and mixed veg

Wednesday
Breakfast: cream of buckwheat
Lunch: beef dogs
Dinner: turkey meatballs, roasted sweet potatoes, spinach and berry salad

Thursday
Breakfast: turkey sausage, veggie saute
Lunch: meatballs
Dinner: fish of the day, roasted beets, cauliflower rice

Friday
Breakfast: pumpkin muffins, green smoothie
Lunch: sunbutter and jelly sandwich
Dinner: baingan bharta, quinoa, peas

Saturday
Breakfast: waffles w/berry reduction
Lunch: Z pizza
Dinner: grilled pork chops with maple mustard glaze, bacon wrapped dates, broccoli, corn

Sunday
Breakfast: pork sausage and pancakes
Lunch: lettuce wraps with ham
Dinner: salmon and scallops, grilled peppers and zucchini, spiced peaches

Menu Plan Monday

I know.  It's Tuesday.  I'm late.

I still have to grocery shop, so I still had to menu plan.  I figured I'd still share.

There was no real menu plan last week.  I had two kids come down with the flu, so eating was a bit more flexible and unscripted than usual.  That following three deaths of friends in the preceding week.  Hoping this week is a calm one, as I could use it!

I hope this week is calm for all of you as well, and that daylight saving time (this weekend!) brings you something wonderful to do with your 'extra' hour.

Monday
Breakfast: turkey sausage, pancakes
Lunch: turkey meatballs
Dinner: beef burgers

Tuesday
Breakfast: bean and veggie saute
Lunch: mini beef burgers
Dinner: two bean chili, berry salad

Wednesday
Breakfast: black bean sweet potato saute
Lunch: chili
Dinner: pork keilbasa, herbed roasted potatoes, peas

Thursday
Breakfast: bacon wrapped dates, cinnamon roasted butternut squash
Lunch: ham roll up
Dinner: orange ginger glazed salmon, roasted cauliflower,

Friday
Breakfast: sunbutter muffins, green smoothie
Lunch: sunbutter and apples
Dinner: creamy turkey casserole, broccoli

Saturday
Breakfast: turkey apple sausage, sauteed veggies
Lunch: turkey corn dogs
Dinner: beef tacos

Sunday
Breakfast: bean and veggie saute
Lunch: taco salad
Dinner: Lentil Dahl