I woke up this morning acutely aware of the fact that 2021 is the year I turn forty. I’m not sad or depressed by this revelation but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t leave me with a different feeling. Forty is the birthday my friends and I have been talking and planning about for decades and all of a sudden it’s here, staring me in the face. And let’s be honest – forty isn’t just another number. It doesn’t mean you are old but it definitely puts you into the “older” category. There are no “Lordy, Lordy” quotes when you turn thirty – no black balloons, no “over the hill” bday cards. When you turn thirty, you get moved into the “grown-up” category but on the inside (and outside after looking at the pictures from my 30th below) you still feel young as hell.
I’ve decided to do some real introspection in my 40th year. I want to appreciate all of the good, find what’s missing and fill in the gaps. First up – my health. Normally I’m pretty good about exercising and making good food choices but 2020 threw me for a loop. With so much time spent at home I ate more, drank more and exercised less. In my 40th year, I want to treat my body like a temple – nourish it, take care of it, appreciate it for what it allows me to do and challenge it to do more. What we put into our bodies directly impacts how we feel so I’m going to try my hardest to think of how my food choices fuel my body. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to drink wine and eat pasta; I just want to be more intentional about what I’m feeding myself. My meal plan will still look the same – at the end of the day I also have kids and a husband to feed so I can’t go all granola on you. Low carb, low sugar and wholesome will continue to be my guiding lights but I will always offer alternatives and family friendly versions.
I’d love to hear from you on how you handled turning forty. Did you make a bucket list? A Forty Things to do in Your 40th year list? Or did you treat it like any other year?
Meal Plan 1/ 24 – 1/29
Sunday, January 24th | Quick and Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta | Total Time | 25 minutes | I created this simple & quick pasta dish with a bare fridge and pantry in mind. You can sub whatever veggies you have on hand or omit them completely if your family will riot. I used a red bell pepper because it sort of camouflages itself in the sauce!!
Monday, January 25th | Salmon Cobb Salad | Total Time: 25 minutes | I love the addition of salmon in this cobb salad. Changes it up just enough. I will only use one type of lettuce and not worry so much about the eggs! Kid Tip – Serve plain salmon with a bacon salad (lettuce, bacon, cheese and whatever else your kids will tolerate with some ranch). You can make this quick & sweet dippy sauce from America’s Test Kitchen Kids too – ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice, squeezed from 1 lime, 2garlic cloves, peeled and minced. Mix all together and simmer on stove for 4 minutes.
Tuesday, January 26th | Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Souvlaki and Potatoes | Total Time: 55 minutes | Basically chicken with Greek seasoning, roasted potatoes and a few veggies, topped with feta and tzatziki. Use store bought tzatziki for ease or sour cream/greek yogurt for your less adventurous eaters!
Wednesday, January 27th | Chicken Meatball Salad | Total Time: 20 minutes | Bake store bought chicken meatballs and serve with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and a creamy Greek Yogurt dressing. So easy & delicious. Kid Tip – serve the plain meatballs, fresh veggies (cucumber/carrots) with dippy sauce and some fresh mozzarella.
Thursday, January 28th | Hamburger Steaks | Total Time: 50 minutes | I love how easy it is to adapt this recipe to work for everyone in your family. Serve your kids a burger between a bun while you enjoy your low carb version topped with mushrooms and a creamy sauce. Keto Tip – sub almond flour for bread crumbs.
Friday, January 29th | Grilled Garlic and Herb Chicken and Veggies | Total Time: 20 minutes | Grilling during the week can be a pain which is why I like saving these recipes for the weekend. Marinate the chicken and veggies in store bought Delallo garlic and herb veggie marinade ( found at Wal-Mart, Publix, Amazon and Whole Foods) and grill. That’s dinner.
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