Hi friends! Recently, I've been getting a lot of questions and comments about my Trim Healthy Mama way of eating. I have been getting messages and comments with comments which I have made myself at one time or other, but I am here to speak a hard truth that I had to speak to myself.
Giving up our bad habits is not always easy. It is easy to grab quick, cheap foods that offer us a moment of comfort or fleeting satisfaction. They are easy, and our taste buds are tuned to them. Often they are the cheapest things on the shelf screaming out our name.
When looking at Trim Healthy Mama, it is easy to take the lazy way out and say that it is too expensive or there are too many special ingredients. I'm sorry, but I am going to stop you right there, dead in your tracks, just like I did myself. You stop right now. Stop giving yourself that excuse. I am taking it away from you because it is not true. If you don't stop telling yourself that, nothing is ever going to change, and you are never going to feel better. Your knight in shining armor or your fairy godmother isn't going to swoop in and magically make this happen for you, but I will show you how you CAN do Trim Healthy Mama easily without expensive, special ingredients. Please stop giving yourself excuses. You are worth way more than that! Give yourself the gift of your health! Only you can do it for you. You are not a victim of your food! You make the choice daily of what you put in your shopping cart and mouth. Do it for you, and do it for your family.
In this post, I am giving you a menu (not recipes) of meals that will last at least a week, maybe more depending in the size of your family. This is just a sample to show you that you don't have to make things complicated. I hope it gives you the courage and encouragement to move forward. I pray you find the excitement that, yes, you really can do this and make it work. Yes, you can put forth the few extra minutes of planning to make sure you are giving yourself and your family the gift of health. You can do this! I promise it is not hard, and it is so worth it! YOU are worth it! YOU are amazing and loved!
So let's get started. My first piece of advice to you is to keep it simple. Keep your carbs with carbs and your fats with fats. That's it. If you are eating a meal heavy in HEALTHY carbs, keep the fat to 5 grams or 1 teaspoon. If you are eating a meal that is heavy in fat, keep the carb count to around 10 grams or lower. My next word of advice is to not get hung up on the numbers. Just keep them as close as you can.
The following menu includes meals that are my stand by meals. They are staples in my weekly menus. Yes! I encourage you to make a weekly menu and make the grocery list as you make the menu. You must plan for success! When I have the energy and money, that is when I get adventurous and add in special meals. I have included only meals that are inexpensive and do not require any special ingredient other than an on plan sweetener which can be bought where you buy your groceries.
Breakfast
Bacon and eggs with berries on the side
Oatmeal- strawberry, blueberry, maple
Overnight oatmeal
Frittata
Egg muffins
Sausage or bacon with radish hash browns
Lunch
Wraps with lunch meat, lettuce, mayo and/or mustard- low carb tortilla
Chicken salad on a bed of lettuce
Tuna salad
Egg salad in a mini pita if your store carries Joseph's pita..make deviled eggs if the pitas are not budget friendly or are not carried by your store. Have some grilled chicken or other low fat meat with them and berries or a low starch veggie on the side
Black bean burritos- these are probably a crossover the way I make them, but I am okay with that. It is still a healthy choice that's on plan.
Ham or turkey rolls with raw celery, broccoli, and/or cucumbers with homemade ranch dip
Salad with grilled chicken strips- light on tomatoes
Leftovers from any on plan supper
Supper
Well seasoned drumsticks baked with a non starchy vegetable and a salad on the side
Crock pot BBQ chicken- use breast and the lowest sugar content sauce you can find- add a side of green fries or sweet potato fries
Pot roast with radishes in place of potatoes
Chicken and cheese quesadillas with guacamole- use low carb tortillas- can use canned chicken seasoned well
Tacos- light on tomatoes
Salmon patties with roasted or steamed broccoli or green beans
Chili- use one pound of the leanest ground beef you can afford and one pound of ground chicken
Boneless/skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut in half baked in brown rice and chicken stock with a small serving of peas and carrots or other veggie on the side
See! It's easy! It's not nearly as hard or painful or overwhelming as it seems. These are just examples of meals you could have. Just about any meal you already love and serve can be tweaked and adjusted to fit the Trim Healthy Mama plan. Eat what you love, but keep it between the guidelines. If you are unsure, reach out to someone who can help with your tweaks and questions. The THM Beginners group page is a wonderful place to seek help with questions. They are a friendly, loving bunch who are always willing to help a girl out! I'm positive they would give other great ideas for budget friendly options, too! You can do this! I promise! WE can do this!
Play around with this menu. Take off what you don't like. Add things you do like as long as they follow the guidelines. Soon, you will have a list of meals at your finger tips that will make planning quick and simple. Do the best you can. Learn as you go! You don't have to have it all down perfectly to begin; I sure still don't! The important part is to just begin and go from there. Start with just one meal a day if you are overwhelmed. Add an additional on plan meal gradually until you are fully on plan.
Feel free to comment with what you will add to your menu ideas! I love being inspired by others in my kitchen!
Until we meet again, may you be blessed!
