A free 7-day flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and Weight Watchers Freestyle™ SmartPoints®.

First week of March and we are finally getting some snow, crazy winter in New York! A few comfort food dishes like Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore and Quick Beef Chili have been added to this week’s meal planner.

If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing these free, 7-day flexible healthy meal plans (you can see my previous meal plans here) that are meant as a guide, with plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food, coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc or swap recipes out for meals you prefer, you can search for recipes by course in the index. You should aim for around 1500 calories* per day.

There’s also a precise, organized grocery list that will make grocery shopping so much easier and much less stressful. Save you money and time. You’ll dine out less often, waste less food and you’ll have everything you need on hand to help keep you on track.

Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join my Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing!

Also, if you don’t have the Skinnytaste Meal Planner, now would be a great time to get one to get organized for 2019! There was a print error last year, but it’s perfect now! You can order it here!

THE DETAILS:

Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. While we truly believe there is no one size fits all meal plan, we did our best to come up with something that appeals to a wide range of individuals. Everything is Weight Watchers friendly, I included the updated Weight Watcher Freestyle Points for your convenience, feel free to swap out any recipes you wish or just use this for inspiration!

The grocery list is comprehensive and includes everything you need to make all meals on the plan. I’ve even included brand recommendations of products I love and use often. Cross check your cabinets because many condiments you’ll notice I use often, so you may already have a lot of them.

And last, but certainly not least, this meal plan is flexible and realistic. There’s plenty of wiggle room for cocktails, healthy snacks, dessert and dinner out. And if necessary, you can move some things around to make it work with your schedule. Please let me know if you’re using these plans, this will help me decide if I should continue sharing them!

MONDAY (3/4)
B: 2 scrambled eggs (0) with 1 slice whole grain toast (3) and an orange (0)
L: Taco Salad Meal Prep (7)*
D: Cream of Broccoli Soup (4) with ½ a grilled cheese* (7)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 21, Calories 998**

TUESDAY (3/5)
B: Overnight Oats in a Jar (5)
L: Taco Salad Meal Prep (7)
D: Cilantro Lime Fish Tacos (6)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 18, Calories 865**

WEDNESDAY (3/6)
B: Overnight Oats in a Jar (5)
L: Taco Salad Meal Prep (7)
D: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (5) over 1 cup whole wheat spaghetti (5) with Roasted Asparagus ***(0)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 22, Calories 881**

THURSDAY (3/7)
B: Avocado Toast Egg-in-a-Hole (4)
L: Taco Salad Meal Prep (7)
D: LEFTOVER Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (5) over 1 cup whole wheat spaghetti (5) with Roasted Asparagus (0)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 21, Calories 867**

FRIDAY (3/8)
B: 2 scrambled eggs (0) with 1 slice whole grain toast (3) and an orange (0)
L: 2 ounces turkey (1) on 2 slices whole grain bread (6) with lettuce, tomato and 1 tablespoon light mayo (1)
D: Seattle Smoked Salmon Chowder (7)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 18, Calories 1,021**

SATURDAY (3/9)
B: 4-Ingredient Flourless Banana-Nut Pancakes (4) (Recipe x 4) with 1 tablespoon maple syrup (3)
L: Chicken Waldorf Salad (3) (recipe x 2) on 1 slice whole grain bread (3)
D: DINNER OUT!

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 13, Calories 716**

SUNDAY (3/10)
B: Breakfast Pizza (5)
L: The Skinny Tuna Melt (4) (recipe x 2) with an apple (0)
D: Quick Beef Chili (4) with 2 tablespoons cheddar (2), 1 tablespoon light sour cream (1)
Totals: Freestyle™ SP 16, Calories 981**

*Prep Taco Salad Sunday night for Mon-Thurs lunch. Grilled cheese includes 1 slice whole grain bread and 1 ounce
cheddar.
**This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate
your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits,
snacks, dessert, wine, etc.
***Boil extra pasta and roast an extra pound of asparagus for dinner Thursday.

(more…)

April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. So wrote one of my favourite poets, T.S. Eliot. But I’m afraid I beg to differ! I think that if you like in the Northern hemisphere, February is the cruellest. December is jam […]

Nothing like a little bit of FLU in the household to set you back on all of your life things. So far Remy is the one and only person who has had it and I am crossing my fingers that it stays that way. She is FINALLY afebrile and so I’m hopeful.

Anyway, so that’s why things have been a little quiet around here. I have such a backlog of recipes to share with you all but first here’s this week’s healthy vegetarian meal plan! We’ve got:

• The BEST lentil soup (sluuurrppp)
• caramelized onion spinach avocado quesadillas (hi. yes please.)
• black-eyed pea stew with green herb smash (that green herby smash, tho)
• veggie chili (so cozy!)
• chickpea fajita bowls with cilantro lime pesto (so meal prep perfect!)

Happy eating!

(…)
Read the rest of Healthy Vegetarian Meal Plan – 3.4.19 (199 words)

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Get inspired to make the hike to Kjeragbolten, the famous Norwegian rock suspended between two cliffs over a 1,000-meter drop.

I’m sure you’ve all seen them. 

The countless photos on travel blogs and Instagram accounts of the famous Kjeragbolten in Norway.

Each photo looks remarkably similar, with a lucky traveler posed on top of the rock lodged between two cliffs overlooking a deadly 1,000-meter drop.

Maybe he is showing off a nice little jump on top of the rock. Maybe she is rocking a complicated yoga pose. Maybe he is down on one knee and she is covering her mouth with her hands.

I’ve seen it all, people.

If your feed hasn’t been filled with these photos in recent years, go ahead and take a moment to search the hashtag “kjeragbolten” on Instagram.

Looks incredible, doesn’t it?

Well, it is. And it isn’t.

I made the hike to kjeragbolten in August of 2017. 

To sum it up, it’s exhausting, it’s beautiful, and there’s a giant line of people at the top waiting for their turn to snag the ultimate Instagram photo. 

Rather than wait in line, I sat down and ate my packed lunch. 

I was tired. And hungry. And couldn’t give less of shit about climbing up onto that rock.

The photo I have of Kjeragbolten has some random person’s head sticking out from the side of the cliff. Nice, huh?

But you know what?

That hike was amazing. The views were incredible. It’s one of my fondest memories from my backpacking trip that year. 

Today I just want to share some photos from the hike in the hopes that they will inspire your next adventure.

If you’re headed to Norway, I highly recommend that you make the hike to Kjeragbolten.

Just don’t be surprised when you see the photo line at the top.

The Hike to Kjeragbolten

Most hikers make it there-and-back in between 6 and 8 hours. We did it in about six and a half hours, including the time we spent at the top.

The hike to Kjeragbolten is 7.5 miles long and is generally rated Strenuous. The elevation gain is 1870 feet, and there’s a lot of ups and downs on the hike.

There are three summits you have to make it over, which then means you have to make it back over them in the opposite direction on the way back down.

I was not in the best of shape when I did this hike (I’d just come from a week of heavy beering in Ireland), but I still managed to do it. Barely. 

When we made it back to our wild camp that night I slept like a baby!

Tips for the Hike to Kjeragbolten

• Make sure to wear proper shoes. I did the hike in Nike runners and I was cursing myself the entire time. Boots, people!!
• At that elevation there can be snow, even in August. Wear layers.
• There can be intense winds at the top, so use caution when standing near cliffs.
• Parking at the main site is quite expensive. If you feel up to it, try parking a little ways away on a side road and walking to the entrance.
• For a detailed description of the hike itself, check out this great post.

Happy Adventuring, my friends!

Anetta

The post Hike to Kjeragbolten: Travel Inspiration appeared first on The Wanderlust Kitchen.

Do you ever feel like you’re on the verge of a breakthrough, but you’re not quite sure how you’ll do it? This has been my mindset lately. I’ve been so inspired in different areas of my life to create meaningful change with things like personal growth, career dreams, family life, etc. You could say that a little self-help inspo has struck me! I’ve felt stuck with indecision and fear for a while now, and the motivation finally hit me to actively do something about getting unstuck. It’s easy to just go through the motions each day.

For most of my life, I’ve always been trying to “fix myself”…this can be a positive thing (such as when I’m trying to be the best version of myself I can be), but it can also turn into a very toxic mindset. It’s easy for me to veer to the dark side of self-improvement and lose sight of my qualities and self-worth. Anyone who suffers from this tendency knows that it’s not a particularly fun way to live. You never feel “ready” because there’s always something to fix or a goal to achieve before being worthy of your and others acceptance. I’m working to make progress in this area. It’s kind of hard to explain, but maybe you can relate?  

I have Dr. Brené Brown to thank for my recent bout of inspiration. I first became enamoured with Brené after watching her TED talk on vulnerability years ago and listening to her on Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations podcast. I’ve read The Gifts of Imperfection twice, and plan on reading it a third time soon (it’s a quick read and easy to devour in a couple evenings). There’s so much wisdom to soak up, and I learn things each time I read it. Currently, I’m reading Daring Greatly (which I’m finding slower, but still learning from it), and hope to read this one and this one next. I’ve been carving out some reading time in the evenings lately, and it feels so good to get back into it! I’m also (late to the party) using my Kindle reader on my phone and love how I can read a few pages here and there while I’m waiting for an appointment or when I have time to kill. I’d love to hear if you’re reading anything inspiring lately too!

“As children we found ways to protect ourselves from vulnerability, from being hurt, diminished, and disappointed. We put on armor; we used our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as weapons, and we learned how to make ourselves scarce, even to disappear. Now as adults we realize that to live with courage, purpose, and connection—to be the person whom we long to be—we must again be vulnerable. We must take off the armor, put down the weapons, show up, and let ourselves be seen.”

~ Daring Greatly, p. 112.

5 from 6 reviews

Game Night Crispy Potato Bruschetta

Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free

The first time I made this healthy comfort food recipe, Eric and I had the song Ave Maria playing (Michael Bublé version…so hypnotizing!), and we fell into a trance as we ate crispy round after crispy round of potato bruschetta. Needless to say, we heard the angels singing and I think you will, too! This recipe serves two hungry people as a main or five as an appetizer. The best tip I can give you when making these is to serve it directly on the baking sheet (if you can!) as it keeps the rounds a bit warmer compared to transferring to a platter, and also to top the rounds and serve them right away. If they sit for longer than 10 minutes, they’ll start to lose their fantastic crispiness and soften considerably. This recipe is inspired by the Taco Fiesta Potato Crisps in The Oh She Glows Cookbook (also a delicious appetizer option!) and Potatoes USA.

Yield
30 potato rounds

Prep time
15 Minutes

Cook time
30 Minutes

Total time
45 Minutes

Ingredients:

For the potatoes:

• 2 large (500 g total) Russet potatoes (unpeeled)
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) grapeseed oil or virgin olive oil
• Fine sea salt

For the Avocado-Tomato topping:

• 2 medium (7 g) garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup (15 g) lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cups (344 g/12-ounces) grape tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste
• 1 large (240 g) ripe avocado

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220ºC) and line an extra-large (or 2 medium) baking sheet(s) with parchment paper.
2. With a sharp knife, slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Make sure they’re not any thinner than that, or they might not be sturdy enough to pick up with your hands and the edges will burn more easily while cooking.
3. Place the rounds into the centre of one baking sheet in a mound. Toss with the oil until all sides of the rounds are fully coated. Spread into a single layer, spacing them a 1/2-inch apart. Sprinkle liberally with salt.
4. Roast the potatoes for 25 to 35 minutes (I do 30), flipping once halfway through baking, until tender and golden brown in some spots. I prefer these slightly overcooked so they’ll crisp up a bit around the edges.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the topping. In a large food processor, mince the garlic and basil until finely chopped. Add the tomatoes and pulse—only 10 to 14 times—until the tomatoes are chopped into almond- and pea-sized pieces. Remove the bowl, take out the blade and set aside, and stir in the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and salt. Set aside to marinate.
6. Five minutes before the potatoes are ready, dice the avocado very small into almond-sized pieces. Fold the diced avocado into the tomato mixture. Taste and stir in more salt if desired. The mixture will look quite juicy/watery, but this is normal!
7. After removing the potatoes from the oven, add another generous sprinkle of salt on top. Add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon avocado-tomato mixture onto a fork and strain out the juices by tapping the inside of the bowl. Place the strained mixture onto the centre of a potato round and repeat this process for the rest of the rounds.
8. Serve immediately, directly from the baking sheet(s)—I find serving from the baking sheet keeps them warmer, but if you prefer you can transfer the rounds to a platter before adding the topping. If the potatoes sit they will soften and lose their crispness, so I don’t recommend letting them sit around for longer than 10 minutes (usually not a problem in this house!). If you have any avocado-tomato mixture leftover feel free to polish it off with some tortilla chips!

Tips:

Up the glow factor: Sprinkle my Vegan Parmesan Cheese on top.

 

Should your potatoes become soft from sitting for too long, these reheat well on a sauté pan, preheated over medium heat, for 1 to 2 minutes. This results in slightly browned bottoms and revives the firm texture without affecting the toppings.

Oh Eric, what a sport for being my food photography model, hah. There were some heavy sighs when his arms got tired…no one said being a model was easy! Okay, maybe they did say that…but just ask Eric about the struggles!

In case you’re wondering – these “photoshoot” potato bruschettas were SO COLD by the time we finally got to eat them. Sniff, sniff. But they were still worth eating! And we’ve enjoyed them many times piping hot out of the oven which is simply the best. If you try them out, I’d love to hear what you think and see your photos, so don’t forget to tag them with #ohsheglows on social media!