Organizing kids lunches!

With so much to do during the week, the dreaded 9pm thought of 'I forgot to make the kids lunches' is something that I don't have to think about if I am prepared. Here's how I avoid it all week by taking a few extra minutes on Sunday.

Lots of questions about what I pack for them.  The first 2 days is usually PBnJ or PB sandwiches, I have one daughter who doesn't do jelly.  The other 2 days are turkey/ham roll ups, no bread!  And, they buy lunch on Fridays.  The fruit mix has a little lime juice sprinkled on for freshness.  The other spot is for chips, pretzels, or something snacky!  I even found mini colored forks at PUBLIX!  The girls get so excited for these little things!

They fit in my kids Pottery Barn Kids lunch bags.  

And, the containers stack so nicely and fit in my garage refrigerator. So I just pull them the morning of school and Voila!!

TURKEY CHILI - 21 day FIX extreme approved!

Here is the count per serving (1cup)!

1/2 Green

1 Red

1/2 Yellow

anything else you add will need to count also (:

So, I decided to try the Turkey Chili in the new 21 Day Fix Extreme Nutrition Guide and let me say, it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!  The whole family loved it, even the kids, all 3!

Turkey Chili

(makes 8 servings, 1 cup each)

1tsp olive oil

1 1/2 lbs of raw lean ground turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

2 (15 ounce) cans of black beans - drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can of all-natural diced tomatoes, no sugar added

Top with cilantro if you wish

1.  Heat Oil in large Saucepan over medium-high heat.

2.  Add turkey, onion, pepper, and garlic; cook, 

stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes, or until turkey is no longer pink.

3.  Add cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring CONSTANTLY for 1 minute.  

4.  Add beans(drained and rinsed) and tomatoes(with liquid).  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low; gently boil, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened.

5.  Serve warm, sprinkled with cilantro and other diced veggies if you wish.  You can serve with Rice chips for a YELLOW container, or use cucumbers or celery for more GREEN!!! I even topped mine with a Tbsp of Plain Greek Yogurt! YUMMY!!!!

Even the 1 year old loved it!!

My 21day FIX infomercial TV debut!!

21 DAY FIX - How to get started and organized!

Preparing for the 21-Day Fix

In any workout program, planning ahead is a critical point of success.  Here are some things you can do before the 21-Day Fix begins to ensure that you stick to the program and get the results you want.

MEAL PLANNING Checklist for 21-Day Fix

• Figure out your calorie level (page 4 of the 21-Day Fix Eating Plan book)
• Think of things you can cook ahead of time to either freezer, containerize, or eat later.
• Create your menu plan based on healthy foods you enjoy.  Check previous posts on this blog for ideas!
• Create your shopping list
• Containerize!  I love the square stacking containers you can use to prepare multiple meals at once.  Be sure you know the 21day FIX containers and measurements in case your containers are in the dishwasher or you lose one.
• Get your 21-Day Fix snacks ready.  Corresponding colored baggies can be found at Target and Walmart.
• Having a hard time finding things at the grocery store?  You can always search online.  Amazon had PB2!!!
• First, you need to figure out what column you belong in.  It's a simple calculation found on page 4 in the book.  Then you can look at the chart to see which column to follow and how many containers you can eat EACH DAY.  You don't have to EAT OUT OF THEM, just use them to measure.  

TRACKING RESULTS for 21-Day Fix

• BEFORE AND AFTER MEASUREMENTS – check out this video on how to do this correctly 
• YOU MUCH MEASURE, inches are so much more important than pounds
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wv_lvpcgjM

• Take your before/after photos (Did you know you’re eligible for a FREE t-shirt when you submit your before and after photos?  Free21DayFixTshirt.com)

ORGANIZE!

• Print out your 21-Day Fix Tally Sheets from the Beachbody website here and put them in your 21-Day Fix binder (just any 3-ring binder or folder)
• You can even print labels for your containers so you remember what to put in each one and how many servings are allotted per day.  I used a Brother label maker to do mine.
• I also LOVE the apps for your phone to help you keep track on the go.
• Or, use corresponding colored Sticky Notes to keep track of the servings of each color that you consume each day.
• Also, be sure to budget your time.   You may want to designate one day a week to FOOD PREP!  I do this on Sundays!
• Here are some 21 Day Fix Food Cards that you can print, laminate and keep in the kitchen for easy reference:

I created these cards to help me stay organized thoughout the day.  Laminated to keep protected! Email me at lori.miggins@gmail.com and I can send them to you to print out!

I even labeled my containers to help me out in the beginning!

I like to make a large quantity of spices ahead of time to use throughout the 21 day challenge! 

Here is a VEGAN shopping list!!!

Join MY next 21day FIX challenge group by sending me a message to lori.miggins@gmail.com!  But do it quickly to reserve your spot!!

Food prep - 21 day fix!

Sunday has become my food prep day. Just a few of the things that I like to prepare. 

Ground turkey, grilled chicken on my George Foreman grill, baked turkey bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cooked sweet potatoes, mini egg muffins ( recipe in a previous post), and I like to pack breakfast for my husband to bring to work (2 egg muffins, 4 strips of bacon and half sweet potato). 

Fail to plan and plan to fail. Prepping makes it easier to succeed.

21 day fix approved: Peanut butter and strawberry oatmeal!

A simple recipe from the 21 day fix extreme nutrition plan. Simply add a teaspoon of natural peanut butter to your steel cut oatmeal.  Top with strawberries or fruit of your choice. Delicious.

Taco lettuce wraps

Didn't have time to cook tonight. Good thing I had prepped ground turkey. Made these with some chopped peppers, tomatoes, and even mushrooms (after the pic was taken!)