Schoooolll Out!!!

My daughter's last day of Kindergarten was yesterday! Where has the time gone?!?!?

 

 

Not only does summer mean no school, it means vacations and swimming and softball tournaments and playdates and running in sprinklers and overnighters and snacking allllll through the day and and and.....the list still goes on and on. It's just a different set of tasks. Still busy as ever. Do I dare say even more busy? And even less time for us moms?

 

 

I know it gets super tricky for me to stay on track of my fitness and health goals when I am running everywhere and when fast-food is just sooo darn easy.

 

 

To help ME conquer this right from the start, I am going to open up a group for all my mommas out there that WANT to start (or keep on) their fitness journey but are still a little nervous about their summer busy-ness. For all the peeps wondering how they are going to be able to tackle their goals while living out of their car!

 

It will be 6 days of healthy snacks for kiddos and moms that are always on the go, go, go. It won't be a structured eating plan. No one has time for that! (At least not right now when schedules are out of whack and we are just trying to figure out how everything is going to work)

 



 

---> 6 Days
---> several snack ideas provided every day
---> 1 healthy easy, make-ahead/crock pot/freezer dinner recipe provided every day
---> tips on healthy snacks while on vacation
---> tips on healthy snacks while on in the CAR
---> motivation and encouragement to keep a-movin'
---> ideas and tips to keep the kiddos entertained and engaged
---> and maybe I'll throw in some educational games (kiddos won't think they are educational tho)

Sound interesting? Sound like something you need help with? I know I do! I'll be honest, I'm a little scared how this summer is going to effect the progress I've been making. But I'm not going to allow myself excuses. I am STOPPING all excuses right now. I am going to aim high. For MYSELF. Fro MY KIDS!

Who is with me?!?!?! Let's start this summer off right!

Chicken Paremsan Meatloaf Muffins

Do of you despise grocery shopping like I do? I've done grocery shopping with the kids in the car carts. I've done it by bribing my kids with candy. I've done it after the kids go to bed. No matter how I do it, I HATE it. I hate seeing the register amount go up and up, then leaving feeling like I really didn't leave with much. Am I the only one that feels that way?

 

 

I have a tendency to think that if I don't go shopping, then I'm not spending money, so it's a win. In the long run, I know its not because we either:

1)run out of food that my family wants to eat so we go OUT to eat

2) run out of any kind of healthy food and result in eating junk

 

So it's really a losing battle. I just need to suck it up and go shopping.



 

 

 
Keeping in mind that I had an empty fridge, I took a mental note of what I did have (not much) and looked online for something I could make. The first search came up with Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins. I had ground chicken breast (check). It only took 20 mins in the oven (I'll take it because I was procrastinating).  I quickly jotted down the recipe and my baking/cooking buddy immediately asked "Mom, help you?" and up on the counter he went. He helped me measure the spices (great of hand/eye coordination and counting) and scooped the mini meatloaves into the muffin tin (yet another great hand/eye activity).

 

 

 
He loves stealing water from my water stash. It's really the only time he likes drinking water. While I refilled the water bottle, he snapped a few pics.

 

 
The finished product. Super simple and delicious. I will be making these again for sure!

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins

Source: http://www.food.com

 

2 large eggs

1 ¹⁄₂ lbs ground chicken

6 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs {I used ground oatmeal}

³⁄₄ teaspoon dried basil (or 2 t chopped fresh basil)

³⁄₄ teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 t fresh thyme)

³⁄₄ teaspoon dried oregano (or 2 t chopped fresh oregano)

2 garlic cloves, minced

¹⁄₂ small onion, chopped small or grated

³⁄₄ teaspoon table salt

¹⁄₃ teaspoon black pepper

1 ¹⁄₂ ounces grated parmesan cheese (about 3/4 cup)

³⁄₄ cup pasta sauce

3 ounces low fat shredded mozzarella cheese (3/4 cup) { I used freshly grated Parmesan}

 

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 350°F Spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

2.    In a large bowl, beat together egg until combined. Add everything else except pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, and optional herbs. Mix gently to combine; do not over mix or compress the mixture too firmly.

3.    Divide evenly into 12 wells of muffin tin. Divide pasta sauce evenly over the top of each portion (about 1 tbsp). Bake 20 minutes.

4.    Top each portion with about 1 tbsp shredded cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, 3-5 minutes.