Well I’m back. We’ve done a lot of traveling over the last month and I’m hoping we can settle back into our routine. We had two deaths in our extended family so we’ve driven and flew back and forth to Texas three separate times. I’ve stayed in touch with the 31 Day Plant-Based eCourse group but I’ve neglected updating this blog. On a happy note we’ve got to see a lot of family that we haven’t seen in a long time.

Up next on our schedule is the end of school. This is the last week for my youngest son and we have one more week for my kindergartener. We have a few year-end events but I am determined to cook.

I know why you are really here… You are wondering what we are eating. Am I right?

Breakfast and Lunch

I’ve been batch cooking steel-cut oats for breakfast. My favorite is Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal made in my Instant Pot but I recently made Blueberry Oatmeal too and my kids loved it. You can read my 10 Reasons I bought an Instant Pot to learn more about why I love them.

I’ve got two more weeks of packing lunches for my kids and I’ll be using us some of the items I bought for our trip like applesauce pouches, snap pea crisps and granola bars along with sandwiches or leftovers. I’ll be taking leftovers in my lunch and I often pack breakfast when I work out of the office (I work from home most of the time). I also take veggies and hummus to snack on.

My back up lunch is brown rice (I buy these steamed rice bowls at Costco for back up), half a can of black beans and some salsa.

Easy Plant-Based Dinners

This week I’m keeping it easy in the dinner department. I don’t want to bite all more than I can chew, if you don’t mind the eating pun. I’ve already cooked some rice in my Instant Pot and I’m going to add cilantro and lime to it. I’m going to use canned black beans to keep it easy. I don’t do that often but they will allow us to stay plant-based and not go crazy.

Taco Salads or just bean and rice salads

Broccoli Rice Casserole in my Instant Pot (I’ve been meaning to share this recipe and will try to soon)

Some kind of veggie soup. I have plenty of potatoes, spinach, celery and carrots so I’ll come up with something

Mexican Rice and Bean Casserole in the Instant Pot (see Crock Pot version)

Veggie Fajitas if I need another meal

I’ve got carrots, cucumbers, peppers, celery and greens for snacks or salads and bananas, apples, blueberries and oranges as well.

What’s on your Meal Plan this week? I’d love to know. Follow me on Instagram too to see what we eat each day!

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We are returning from a nine-day trip to visit family. You may have noticed I’ve been mostly silent on social media.

We visited family members in 5 different cities/towns and drove from Arizona, through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and back home again. We loved our time away but I’m more determined than ever to eat well now that we are home and I’m back in my own kitchen.

I’ll be working a lot this week so I’m sticking to some of my favorite, easy recipes. My body is craving healthy plant-based foods after being on the road.

This week I’m going to be diligent about packing my lunch every day and actually eating it. Too often I get busy working and don’t take a break to eat but I know it’s important for optimal health.

Meal Plan

For Breakfast we will have gluten-free steel-cut oats along with overnight oats, baked sweet potatoes, multi-grain porridge and use toast as a backup for busy days.

My kids will take their regular lunches or leftovers or sandwiches along with fruit and pretzels. We have stuff for wraps and veggies with hummus!

Dinner

Mexican Bean and Rice Casserole

Lentil and Rice Burritos (with Lentil Taco Meat)

Taco Salad

Potato and Kale Soup

Brown Rice and Broccoli Casserole

You may have noticed that I’m using my Instant Pot for almost every meal. It’s so easy that it is my go-to method of cooking. If you don’t have an Instant Pot I provide either a Crock Pot or Stove Top version for all of my recipes.

I’ve got more great things planned this week including the Instant Pot version of one of our favorite recipes!

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You may be living in a cold place but this week will be in the 90s so this meal plan will straddle the seasons and have a variety  foods for warm and cold weather, hence the little bit of Winter and Spring Meal Plan. Our week seems fairly uneventful too, which is always good for cooking. I’m sure that will change but I can embrace it for now.

Winter and Spring Meal Plan

Breakfast and Lunch

I will definitely make my latest recipe, Triple Berry Porridge this week. Don’t get hung up on the name, it’s basically oatmeal, I just added a few more grains and called it porridge. It is fantastic!

Lunches will be sandwiches, baked potatoes, maybe a veggie soup and any other leftovers we end up with.

I may also make some dip to go with my veggies, I’m thinking Roasted Red Pepper Dip but I may try something else.

Dinner

Lentil Tacos (here is the Instant Pot version) with Mexican Rice

Potato Kale Soup

Veggie Fried Rice but I’ll add a lot more veggie like mushrooms, more carrots, more onions, greens, peppers, etc.

Green Chili, Cilantro and Lime Soup

If I need something else it will be a Soup or a casserole.