A WEEK OF EASY, BALANCED MEAL & SNACK IDEAS: MONDAY

Hello!  I have an absolutely insane week ahead of me (three back to back exams!) and whenever I have a crazy week, I always make meal planning a priority.  I find that having simple, balanced meals on hand helps me to get through the madness!

Anyway, to make a long story short, I thought this could be a good feature for the blog.  If for nothing else, it will be a great reference for me to have during my next crazy week!  But of course, I hope it helps you all out a little too 🙂

So without further ado:

MONDAY BREAKFAST: 1 egg and 1 egg white scrambled with reduced fat mozzarella cheese and sautéed spinach plus a whole wheat bagel toasted and topped with a little Earth Balance) and an orange.  I also usually add a cup of coffee!

I love this meal because it hits most of the major food groups: Protein from the eggs, Grains from the bagel, Vegetables from the spinach, Fruit from the Orange and Dairy from the cheese!  Plus it holds me over really well throughout the entire morning!

MONDAY LUNCH: Large salad (I love Trader Joe’s Super Spinach Salad!) with whole grain crackers (I love woven wheat crackers and Kashi’s 7-grain crackers) and a bunch of red grapes.

Another powerhouse meal.  The fiber and high water content of the veggies and fruit plus the protein from the edamame fill me up really well.  The quinoa and whole wheat crackers also offer some fiber plus give my brain a little boost to get through the afternoon.

MONDAY SNACK: Chocolate Peanut Popcorn

I love to pack a sandwich-size baggie of this to have for the afternoon.  It’s sweet and salty and offers whole grain, fiber and even a little protein.  It’s the perfect afternoon snack!

MONDAY DINNER: Whole Wheat Cheese Tortellini with Pesto and Veggies

This is one of my favorite dinners.  Any whole grain pasta + veggies and a sauce of your choosing.  Add a sprinkle of cheese if you wish and you’re done!  It’s filling, it’s a one to two pot dish at most and it’s on the table in minutes!

Don’t forget, these are just ideas – jumping off points and inspiration for you to take into your kitchen and make your own!  Mix, match and substitute to make meals that fit your preferences and nutritional needs 🙂

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