Skinnytaste Meal Plan (April 2-April 8)

A free 7-day flexible meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points.

Hope you all have a wonderful Spring break! Sharing another week of meals, please let me know how I can improve these meal plans for you in the future.

If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing 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. You should aim for around 1500 calories* a 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!

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 (4/2)
B: 2 hard boiled eggs (0) and 1 cup grapes (0)
L: Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Pepper on Whole Wheat Bread (10)
D: Crock Pot Minestrone Soup (2) with White Bean Caprese Salad (2)
Totals: Freestyle Points 14, Calories 936*

TUESDAY (4/3)
B: 2 hard boiled eggs (0) and 1 cup grapes (0)
L: LEFTOVER Crock Pot Minestrone Soup (2) with White Bean Caprese Salad (2)
D: Grilled Steak Lettuce Tacos (4) with Mexican Cauliflower Rice (1)
Totals: Freestyle Points 9, Calories 894*

WEDNESDAY (4/4)
B: Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar (5)
L: LEFTOVER Crock Pot Minestrone Soup (2) with White Bean Caprese Salad (2)
D: Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir-fry (1) over ¾ cup brown rice (5)
Totals: Freestyle Points 15, Calories 1,007*

THURSDAY (4/5)
B: Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar (5)
L: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Avocado and Tomato (4) and an apple (0)
D: Crockpot Kid Friendly Turkey Chili (0) topped with 1 ounce avocado (1) and 2 tablespoons reduced fat cheddar (1)
Totals: Freestyle Points 11, Calories 906*

FRIDAY (4/6)
B: 6 ounces nonfat plain Greek yogurt (0) topped with 1 cup sliced strawberries (0) and 1 tablespoon sliced almonds (1)
L: LEFTOVER Crockpot Kid Friendly Turkey Chili (0) topped with 1 ounce avocado (1) and 2 tablespoons reduced fat cheddar (1)
D: Seattle Asian Salmon Bowl (7)
Totals: Freestyle Points 10, Calories 889*

SATURDAY (4/7)
B: Ricotta Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins (8) with an orange (0)
L: Chicken Quiche (6)
D: DINNER OUT!
Totals: Freestyle Points 14, Calories 591*

SUNDAY (4/8)
B: LEFTOVER Ricotta Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins (8) with an orange (0)
L: Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburger with Blue Cheese and Broccoli Slaw (8)
D: Chicken Francese-Lightened Up (2) with spinach salad (1)**
Totals: Freestyle Points 19, Calories 903*

*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.

** Salad includes  1 ½ cups spinach, ¼ cup halved grape tomatoes, sliced red onion,  and 2 tablespoons light Italian dressing.

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172452338049

Chicken Quiche

This easy lighter chicken quiche is made with refrigerated pie crust and loaded with spinach and mushrooms but you can use any combination of vegetables. A great recipe to clean out the refrigerator!

Chicken Quiche

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172418933664

Running, Reggae, and Finding Release in Jamaica

I’m not entirely sure what I expected when I received an invitation from the Jamaica Tourist Board on a press trip focusing on the Kingston City Run. I mean, sure, I expected sunny weather, some spicy food, and a chance to check out a new city in pretty much my favorite way in the world. So I guess I did go in with a few expectations. But I did not expect to get it so thoroughly. Jamaica is a country, a vacation destination, the home of Usain Bolt — but you guys, in my experience, it’s really an experience with …

The post Running, Reggae, and Finding Release in Jamaica appeared first on Fit Bottomed Girls.

from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172408670034

Mantras That We Run (and Live) By

Did you guys happen to see our Brave Like Gabe Insta story from a couple weeks ago? (We got the scoop a little early because we’re blog ambassadors and affiliates of Brooks.) Because, dude. Her story is SO inspiring that we barely have words for it. But we’re writers, so of course we have words. Hey, if she can undergo cancer treatments and still run at the professional level … well, we can be brave and strong, too. Because, like Gabe, we know how important workouts are for helping us get through challenging times and showing us that we can …

The post Mantras That We Run (and Live) By appeared first on Fit Bottomed Girls.

from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172374483724

Super Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This super moist carrot cake recipe made from scratch is perfect for Easter or anytime of the year. Made with a can of crushed pineapple which makes it very moist, without adding a ton of fat.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172358451019

Easy Crust-less Spinach and Feta Pie

A simple Greek inspired Easy Crust-less Spinach and Feta Pie combining savory flavors such as spinach, feta, Asiago cheese, dill and scallions. Perfect to take to a potluck!

Easy Crust-less Spinach and Feta Pie

Served with a salad, you can turn this into a main dish, or cut it into smaller wedges to serve as an appetizer. Also a great addition to brunch. Enjoy this warm or at room temperature.

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172327378834

Instant Pot Cream of Mushroom Soup

Smoked Salmon Pinwheels

These elegant smoked salmon pinwheels are perfect if you want to enjoy lox without the bagels for a low-carb, keto appetizer.

Smoked Salmon Pinwheels

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172313390544

Podcast Ep 75: The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Michael Breus

Are you one of the millions of sleep-deprived people trying to make it through the day with little rest? Whether it’s a chronic or occasional battle, lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. So it was our pleasure to talk to renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus — AKA “The Sleep Doctor” — and get his tips for catching a few more beautiful ZZZs at night. And, guys, we cover SO MUCH good info. How much time should you spend napping? Are there any special teas you should drink to get more rest? Can a …

The post Podcast Ep 75: The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Michael Breus appeared first on Fit Bottomed Girls.

from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172305630504

Let’s Give Props to Yoga Props

When I attended my first yoga class, I made the same mistakes many newbies make — I compared myself to others, and judged myself for not being able to get into or hold poses that other people (who appeared to be less fit than I) seemed to do easily. I pushed, I forced, I … well, I felt really totally demoralized, and when the instructor came by with a strap and a couple of blocks, I took it as an insult. Fast forward 20 years or so and … yeah, I’m well aware that this is not how yoga is …

The post Let’s Give Props to Yoga Props appeared first on Fit Bottomed Girls.

from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172270350659

Hot Cross Buns

Easy Hot Cross Buns using this easy dough from my Bagel Recipe. No yeast, no boiling, no fancy mixer. Bake them in the oven or in the air-fryer!

Hot Cross Buns

Confession, I have never had a hot cross bun, although I did play it on my recorder in grade school! But I looked at several recipes and noticed the dough was pretty similar to my bagel dough, with the addition of raisins, cinnamon and a glaze on top. I tested them out keeping the sugar on the lighter side, since the glaze on top adds more sweetness and we loved them. I guess you can call them bagel cross buns, if you wish! Serve them Easter morning with some hard boiled eggs and fruit!

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172237557989

Skinnytaste Meal Plan (March 26-April 1)

A free 7-day flexible meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points.

This week’s meal plan includes some Easter and Passover dishes. I also created a recipe for Hot Cross Buns using the easy bagel dough which I will share tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend!

If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing 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. You should aim for around 1500 calories* a 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!

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 (3/26)
B: Low Fat Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (5) and a pear (0)
L: Egg, Tomato and Scallion Sandwich (4) and an apple (0)
D: Baby Pasta Shells with Asparagus and Marinara
Totals: Freestyle Points 18, Calories 847*

TUESDAY (3/27)
B: Low Fat Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (5) and a cup of strawberries (0)
L: Egg, Tomato and Scallion Sandwich (4) and an apple (0)
D: Shrimp Scampi Tacos with Caesar Salad Slaw (6) with Roasted Cauliflower “Rice” with Garlic and Lemon (recipe x 2) (2)
Totals: Freestyle Points 17, Calories 945*

WEDNESDAY (3/28)
B: Low Fat Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (5) and a cup of strawberries (0)
L: Turkey sandwich** (7) and an apple (0)
D: Greek Turkey Meatballs (5) with ½ cup brown rice (3), Skinny Tzatziki (0) and ½ cup grape tomatoes (0)
Totals: Freestyle Points 20, Calories 972*

THURSDAY (3/29)
B: Low Fat Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (5) and a pear (0)
L: Turkey sandwich**(7) and an apple (0)
D: Chicken Rollatini with Spinach alla Parmigiana (5) with a green salad (1)***
Totals: Freestyle Points 17, Calories 899*

FRIDAY (3/30)
B: ½ cup quick oats (4) with 2 tablespoons 1% milk (1), pinch salt (0) and ½ cup blueberries (0)
L: Tuna Deviled Eggs (2) (½ recipe) with 8 carrot sticks (0) with Skinny Tzatziki (0)
D: Skillet Cajun Spiced Flounder (0) over ¾ cup brown rice (5) with Roasted Parmesan Green Beans (1)
Totals: Freestyle Points 13, Calories 946*

SATURDAY (3/31)
B: Mushroom Shallot Frittata (2) with a sliced banana (0) and ½ cup blueberries (0)
L: LUNCH OUT!
D: Braised Brisket with Potatoes and Carrots (9)
Totals: Freestyle Points 11, Calories 572*

SUNDAY (4/1)
B: Hot Cross Buns (7) (recipe coming Sunday)
L: Asparagus-Pancetta Potato Hash (4)
D: Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb (6) with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (4) and Homemade Spinach Manicotti (7)
Totals: Freestyle Points 28, Calories 1,079*

*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.

**Includes 100 calorie roll/bread, 2 ounces turkey, 2 teaspoons mustard, 1 leaf lettuce, 1 slice red onion and 2 ounce avocado

***Green salad includes 5 cups romaine, 2 scallions, ½ cup each: carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, and ½ cup light Italian dressing

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172206258469

Strawberry Crisp

These individual gluten-free strawberry crisps are topped with a crisp nutty topping using a combination of almonds, walnuts and pecans.

Strawberry Crisp

I wanted to make a fruit crisp topped with nothing but nuts – no oats, no wheat flour, letting the flavors and texture of the nuts really stand out. The results were pure deliciousness!

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172174034094

86 Awesome Facts About Runners and the Sport of Running

We all know that runners are a separate breed of awesome. And that to be “a runner,” all you have to do is, well, RUN. It’s a community of peeps that we are proud to be a part of. We mean, just look at this infographic from 16best.net that highlights 86 unbelievable facts about running. While our personal focus isn’t ever to burn off calories or food, it is damn amazing to see just how running can impact various aspects of your health … along with how you stack up to other runners in all kinds of ways ranging from …

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172166495069

How Training With Your Better Half Can Strengthen Your Relationship

Let me start off by saying that my husband of over four years is an absolute SAINT … like, “How on earth do you put up with me and keep coming back for more?” kind of saint. Growing up on a farm in small town Iowa with four older brothers, I’ve always been pretty independent — you might even say stubborn as hell. But we can’t change our roots, nor would I want to. Back to Saint Husband (SH, or “Sexy Husband” as he likes to call it). He’s sweet as a peach, but he’ll always give it to you …

The post How Training With Your Better Half Can Strengthen Your Relationship appeared first on Fit Bottomed Girls.

from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172098302494

Chicken Rollatini with Spinach alla Parmigiana

Baked chicken breasts filled and rolled with spinach and ricotta topped with Pomodoro sauce and melted mozzarella. Family friendly and so good!

Chicken Rollatini with Spinach Parmesan

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from Tumblr http://vincentpennington.tumblr.com/post/172071383474