Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! It was a little dreary here in Atlanta, but I was lucky enough to enjoy lunch with good friends on Saturday and went to the Center for Puppetry Arts with my mom and sister yesterday. In addition to wonderful time spent with loved ones, I tried to bring a little color into my life in my kitchen, as usual. :)
I am enjoying my Monday theme with sharing a little of my meal prep process, so I'm sticking with it once again. I will also follow Lena's lead and put in another plug for the #makeithealthy project hosted by @woman-onthe-wing (also found at @make-it-healthy), as meal prepping is one of the best ways I keep myself and @dksart healthy! @lenasveganliving is our wonderful host for #fruitsandveggiesmonday, which has become a massive weekly challenge that helps spread the message of good food for health and vitality all across the Steemit world! I am so thankful to know both of these inspirational ladies and be a small part of what they have going!
On to the food! This weekend I had a lot of fun putting together my pizza for the #veganpizzaparty. I posted that recipe yesterday, but here are the lovely tomatoes I used on top. I can't wait to try to grow some beauties like this in our garden this year. This assortment of toppers is full of lycopene, vitamin C and other nutrients to try to keep us healthy during this crazy flu season.
Pineapples are also high in vitamin C for a healthy immune system. They contain an enzyme called bromelain that is really great for digestion, but make sure to save the core as it has the highest concentrations! I chop mine up and toss it in smoothies since it is a little fibrous to eat on it's own. Fresh cut pineapple tastes so delicious!
I was on the hunt for some kumquats this week after @tali72 wrote about them last week and again yesterday here: https://steemit.com/sundayscentexperience/@tali72/sunday-scent-experience-aroma-of-kumquat. They are a little bit pricey, but a nice treat with their slightly sweet and tangy citrus flavor. And of course, more vitamin C!! (Do you see a theme, here?)
I loaded up on the green stuff with broccoli, zucchini and Brussels sprouts. I also went for some richly colored leafy stuff in the form of purple kale and raddichio--both of which are high in antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients. When I go through my list I try to make sure I'm hitting all the colors of the rainbow with my food choices!
It takes a little bit of work writing out my weekly plan, shopping and preparing everything, but it is always worth it in the end. I never regret time spent cooking healthy food for us to eat!
I hope everyone has a great week in store with lots of healthy meals! :)
I love kumquats. It's been so long since I've seen them on the market. Meal planning is a great way to stick to your healthy diet and at the end save you time and money too! Great share. Happy veggie and fruit Monday ;)
Thanks Amy! It's nice to stay in budget so I can splurge on things like kumquats here and there. 🤣
Yummy! 😋
Thanks! 🤗
Another great post full of really helpful info, thanks @plantstoplanks! I really enjoy these 'prep' posts you do!
I'm so glad you enjoy them! I've gotten good feedback that they help motivate a few folks, so I'm happy to keep putting it out there! I've got to make my way around to see what everyone else has cooking... 😀
Yes, please do! Its a wonderfully informative and interesting series! Good idea!
I wasn't home all day and even though I had lunch, I came home hungry. Nevertheless, I sat down to relax and comment on few entries before I eat. However, when I saw yours, I had to stop and go eat, because looking at your delicious food made me really hungry. I just could'n take it any more and I ran into the kitchen, lol. That kale salad looks amazing, with everything else on the stove. Not to mention the pineapple. I still would have a bite from your food even after I ate, lol. Thank you so much Dear @plantstoplanks, wonderful entry as usual 🍒 🍌🍑🌿🍍🍓🍇
Monday always does that to me! Even with all my yummy prepared food I still get hungry perusing everyone else's posts! Glad we can all make each other salivate over such healthy food. 🤤😄
Is that a Purple Cherokee tomato? My favorite!! Can't wait to grow more this year!
It was the best tomato I've had in a long time! I can only hope we can grow anything half as delicious in our garden here. 🍅 That's awesome that you have some of your own!
Great meal prep :D everything looks delicious!!
Thanks so much! It's my favorite part of the week! :)
It must be hard not to eat bits as you go along ;) your kitchen must smell heavenly too!
Wow, your selection looks tasty! Do you cook all your meal for a week in advance? How do you store them properly, just in the fridge or frozen? Great post 😊
I appreciate the compliment! I do usually cook for the better part of the week all at once. Between Sunday and Monday I usually prepare enough that lasts us through Thursday/Friday. Since everything I use is plant-based I find it generally keeps in the refrigerator for 4-5 days with no problem.
My smoothies or really fresh salads I make daily, but with my work schedule I just don't have time to make full meals everyday so the meal prep is a lifesaver for me!
Perfect, so you don't have to ask yourself what to eat each day and you definitely won't settle for unhealthy stuff because you are lacking the time to cook ;) Seems like you have figured out a great system for eating healthy despite of a tense work schedule!
Healthy but yummy choices! I'm sure some great recipes will be made out of this! :)
Yes indeed! Lots of good fuel for the week!
I am free Fridays and Saturdays, in the case you want to invite me for dinner! Just saying! LoL
Yummmmmmmyyyy
Come on down! 😉
Wow!!!! you found kumquat !!!! great !! and I find it only on trees in foreign homes; in stores they are not on sale. the tomatoes are really amazing !!!! these varieties are sweet; in a salad this will be delicious! I found our squash !!!! we cooked it with soup-puree with the addition of celery leaves. I did not really like. Your recipe for how you prepared the squash, I searched but could not find. you baked it with vegetables but I do not remember how.
Yes! I was excited to find the kumquats! I'll have to look back and see which recipe it was with the squash. If I find it I'll link it here for you!
many thanks!!!!
Was it this one? https://steemit.com/veganuarycontest/@plantstoplanks/millet-lentil-and-roasted-veggies-bowl-inspiration-for-veganuary-and-beyond
oo! thank you very much!!!! I remember that I was surprised that you can just bake beets and fennel
Yay! Glad this is it. Let me know if it turns out better this time!
It is time well spent when you are prepping for healthy food like this! I love those dark tomatoes!
The tomatoes were quite delicious! Very fresh and juicy!
Really nice
Thanks!