Have you seen the viral TikTok trend for salmon rice? It’s amazing. . .I could eat it every day honestly! It’s a delicious combination of leftover salmon & rice. Combined with mayo, sriracha, coconut aminos (or soy sauce) & lots of toppings (think avocado, sesame snacks, green onions..). After making salmon rice a handful of times I started using the “sesame snacks” more frequently to top fried rice or eat with proteins. My kids will devour them on their own!! They’re the perfect amount of salty & crunchy. Very addicting!! One day for lunch, I pulled out some canned tuna & leftover rice, & came up with these delicious little sesame wraps. Going for sushi doesn’t happen often since going gluten free. I like to make my favorites at home, this way I can control the ingredients. 

The wraps themselves are a bit more involved in the process, but they can still be made quickly! Perfect for leftover rice that’s ready to use. You can find sesame snacks in the international food aisle near soy sauce (in most grocery stores) or look for larger sesame sheets typically used for sushi. Costco & Thrive Market (online) have them as well!

When serving this to picky eaters or kids:
- separate ingredients on the plate to let them build or consume as they wish
- leave out sriracha if they don’t like spice
- make with canned salmon if preferred 

Over the last few months I have naturally been cooking at home for a majority of the week. This has always been a priority but lately it hasn't been such a struggle. For me, this really takes the guesswork out of what to eat....it has to be something in the house!

But honestly, eating out can be a challenge.
Figuring out where to eat.
Parking. 
Mask or no mask?
What kind of mood are my kids in today?
Deciding what to eat off the menu.
Asking about food allergies.
Making any modifications to the menu item.
Paying. Tipping. Remembering leftovers. Finding the car.

Is you order online there's a whole other set of complications! You get the gist!

Eating at home also provides me with control over what my family is eating. The ingredients, quality & portions. Feeding my family nutritious meals is really important to me. So, I strive for a majority of the week to make dinner at home. Does that mean we are eating kale salads & scratch-made meals every night? NO.

It looks like this:
- Recipes that take around 30-45 minutes.
- A handful of simple ingredients.
- A variety of fresh, frozen & pantry items.
- Family favorites, new combinations & recipes to try.
 

This might sound scary but I promise it isn't! As a full-time working mom I know how valuable time is in the evening. I have put together 5 weeks of meals that won't have you pulling your hair out! LOTS of low-carb options, a few plant based meals, express meals & slow cooker recipes. + A few days throughout the month where you can take a break & order out! Adjust as you go: switch recipes around, make substitutions, or sub in your own recipe.


GRAB YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW - A FULL MONTH OF RECIPES TO KEEP YOUR JANUARY GOALS ON TRACK!

*Click the links below for recipe planner.

January - Eat 6 Challenge (slideshow) or (PDF download)

*You can bookmark the slideshow URL for easy recipe access from your computer, phone or tablet.
* PDF will have active links when downloaded. When printing the PDF use "landscape orientation" for best results. 

Need visuals or inspiration? ​Pinterest Inspiration Board

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. . . . just in case you need a little encouragement

You might be one of these three people:
1. It's a busy season. You've got _______ after work/school often. You won't be home in time to make dinner. It's either take out or have something already made at home.
2. Your family is picky.... but if a recipe contains pasta & ranch you know you can sell it. 
3. You love BLTs & can't think of anything better than a pasta salad version.

If you happen to be one of these people then I've got the perfect recipe for you!

>> All ingredients can be prepped ahead of time & thrown together in a few minutes.

>> The homemade dressing is super easy to make & uses Greek yogurt as the base.

>> The end result can be modified to fit the needs of your eaters. For the kids I leave out the spinach or add just a little.

>> No need to make a side dish! Just grab a bowl

I made my family eat this two nights last week while I perfected the recipe. They loved every minute of it!! No complaints here.

Lemon
Feta
Olives
Peppers
Oregano
Red onion
Olive oil

Ingredients that speak to me! I have recently played around with these flavors in lots of different dishes. The light & bright flavors that emerge from these ingredients scream summer to me!! I never walk away from a meal like this with that heavy feeling in my stomach. My taste buds are always singing though. :)

Below are two of my recent creations that I think you'll love! High protein meals that can easily be paired with a fresh salad or your favorite vegetable side.

Grain free & low carb!

Both can be made in about 30 minutes & appeal to all sorts of taste buds. 

For our family this is a usual trap we fall into. Always trying to improve!! I have worked REALLY hard the last few weeks to not just give into what's easy to grab on the way home. We still get to-go food & eat out but it's more thoughtful when we do. Planning is key!

When I have a pantry & freezer stocked with "meal helpers" it's much easier to whip up a quick meal! These are meals that I can feel good about serving over & over. A meal helper is anything that is already prepped, chopped, seasoned or partly cooked. For more tips on Meal Helpers CLICK HERE.

Below are a few of the recent meals I've made in under 30 minutes. A few things are clear while I am writing this blog post: I use a lot of broccoli, rice & Tex-Mex flavors :) :)

- Boil pasta, rinse & toss with gourmet butter (like truffle or garlic, optional)
- Meanwhile sauté broccoli, shallot & mushrooms in avocado oil. Add a pinch of salt. After 8-10 minutes add in 1/2-3/4 jar of marinara sauce to vegetables.
- Add in cooked pasta. Top with parmesan.

I like to use this pre-seasoned salmon from Aldi, similar can be found at other grocery stores. It saves me some time prepping it!
- Cook salmon 425 degrees (convection or air fryer) for 12ish minutes.
- Meanwhile heat up pre-cooked rice in a pan with 1/4 teas. minced garlic & basil paste (or dried), 1 cup frozen broccoli, & 1/4 cup broth or water. Combine in pan for about 5 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice before serving.

In the morning I prep the sweet potatoes by washing, poking holes in the skin, drizzling with oil & sprinkling with salt. Then wrap in foil. Add to the slow cooker for 8 hours on low with 1/3 cup of water at the bottom.

Once cooked, you can layer on any toppings that you like! Get creative!

This time I added:
Butter
Shredded cheese
Refried black beans
Chopped cooked broccoli (or cauli rice)
Pre-made guacamole 
Ranch dressing (or sour cream)
Diced red onion & bell pepper
Taco seasoning

This stuffed sweet potato is a stand-alone meal that will leave you full & satisfied! 

- Brown 1lb of ground turkey. 
- Add 1 package of Spanish rice, 1/2 cup chicken stock & 1/2 can petite diced tomatoes. Cover & cook for 7-10 minutes on low.
- Add 1/2 cup of cheese & cover for two more minutes. 
- Top with green onions & serve with your favorite roasted vegetable.

I always struggle with eating something in the morning. Our mornings are always so busy & frantic. I am lucky if I get out of the door with everything I need! This has been a real struggle since going gluten free. All of my go-to options are now off limits! Which mostly consisted of bread. :)

Planning is key for me.
It always helps when I have breakfast items prepped ahead of time to help with the crazy. This way I know there are healthy options that don't consist of a granola bar & a cup of coffee.

These three prep-ahead breakfast ideas are filling, made from real food, easy to prep & satisfy all eaters at home. I always block off time on Saturday or Sunday to prep a few things for the week ahead. They can all be stored in the fridge & reheated for an easy guilt-free breakfast!

Scroll down to the button below to download all 3 recipes at once!

I personally make cooking & eating at home a priority in our home. That doesn't mean everything is from scratch! I am a busy working mom . . . after 4:00 pm on most days you can find me running this way & that trying to fit everything in. So taking a few shortcuts is a necessity for me!

I wanted to create somewhat of a classic "dump & bake" type casserole. Is there a better term for it? I don't know! Something that I could prep ahead of time if necessary or mix together & throw in the oven. Adding meals like this to our week helps me get other tasks done simultaneously. The trick was to make it gluten free & add some nutritional value. I grew up eating chicken & rice or chicken & noodle casseroles. . . .this is somewhat reminiscent of those flavors with a few 2021 twists!

The Chicken & Quinoa Bake takes about fifteen minutes to prep then into the oven. Prep can be done the night before (see note on recipe). Once it's in the oven you are free to get your million other things done while it bakes! I personally gave the kids a bath & felt like super mom. Clean kids & a healthy warm dinner on the table. Winning!

*The kids liked this recipe! Anything with cheese & chicken they love! I would leave out the chives if your children don't care for onion flavors though. You can sprinkle them over your serving at the end.

Meal Planning in a Flash

Quick Weeknight Meal 

Chicken Taco Bowls

Weekday Meals Happen

I wanted to create something that everyone in the family could enjoy. Any guesses as to who was the last one at the table eating seconds??? MOM & DAD!  :)

I have made these chicken tenders for a few years now. They are a favorite in our house. I never wrote down the recipe though. Funny how that works! This time I made a gluten free version that turned out equally well. They can be made with or without gluten based on your family's diet.

Since Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday you will need a fill-in. ​Am I right?
This recipe is a perfect weekend treat for your whole family. I only say weekend because it requires a little prep & this mama doesn't have time for that during the week! BUT if you planned ahead a little, I know you could make it work for any weeknight as well! Don't let me forget the cranberry saaaaaaaauce. YUM! Which is seriously the best part of the whole thing. Go ahead & double this recipe because you're going to need it.

I have to make these weekly. They are that good!
​A super easy & quick side dish.

When it comes to feeding kids, we have to be on our game! They are the pickiest little people around. I've found that if I have fun eating tools & a handful of healthy recipes they will eat then everyone wins the battle!

The "eating tools" I arm myself with are related to anything food & drink. I have divided them up into two groups based on age: school age & toddler. The items below are tried & true purchases that I have made myself. They are used constantly in our home, with consistent outcomes! I don't waste my time on items that don't perform well, because kid's won't either!

​A large majority of them are made from silicone which is superior in my opinion. Metal is great too! Glass is not so ideal for kid's use unfortunately. I try to limit plastic & use materials that wear well over time. If I do end up purchasing a plastic cup or utensil, I will recycle it & replace it within a year or two. That way the plastic isn't breaking down & getting into what I am serving.
If you spend a little extra investing in quality items the dividends will pay back over time! 

The following items would be useful Christmas or birthday gifts for any kid. Those lucky parents! Our kids always get similar items in their stockings! The toddler list would also be a great resource for any baby shower purchase. 

*All items linked below

​Stainless Sandwich Container $18.50 - Lunch box approved! Washes well in the dishwasher. Fits a sandwich & then some.

Silicone Multicolored Pinch Bowls $10 - We use these for kid's sized soup, snacks & fruit. Easily stacked in any drawer & resist stains. Plus they are great anywhere in the kitchen! I've had these for almost 10 years, well before children!

Cutlery Set for Big Kids $10 - When you need a transition between toddler & adult silverware. Having their own knife is life changing!!
​
Silicone Straws $6 - These are super high quality straws, they are thicker silicone than most. One of my favorites to use as well!
​
Bamboo Rainbow Plate $2 - Love all of the colorful healthy foods on these! Made from bamboo & melamine, dishwasher safe. Matching cups & bowls as well!

Kid's 12oz Hydroflask $30 - The OG of water bottles, this will last forever. Extremely durable. Worth every penny! Easy to take on the go because it stays cold for so long.

Animal Snack Container (Zip closure) $9 - Comes in four different adorable animal designs. Great for on-the-go snacking. Size is the ideal portion for a snack or side in their lunch.

*All items linked below

​Silicone Adjustable Bib $20 (2 pack) - Dishwasher safe & doesn't stain. Easy to wipe clean after messy eaters!
​
"Modware" Silverware $5 (Set of 3) - Love this funky fun tableware! Easy handles for little hands to hold. The fork actually breaks up food (ideal for parents prepping) and the spoon is the perfect size. There is nothing worse that using a baby/toddler spoon that is too little!

Divided Silicone Plate $10 - Ideal weight to keep food on the table, while providing function with divided sections. They come in such trendy colors!!

​Suction Bowls $10 (Set of 3) -  Their shorter height & just right suction power are ideal for little eaters. 

Straw Cup With Handles $20 (2 pack) - Helps littles transition from a traditional sippy cup with a regulated straw.

​Boon Pulp Feeder $11 (2 pack) - Get a bag of frozen fruit, pop some in this baby & watch them go! Teething toddlers love the cold on their gums. A fun way to eat fruit!
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​Collapsible Snack Cup $10 - I've tried many snack containers . . . this one takes the cake!! I so appreciate it's all-in-one setup. Super easy to clean & fill back up. Little hands can get in without trouble.

Or let's be honest husband friendly??? Mostly my own recipes that were created with family meals in mind. There are a few recipes from other bloggers that we often make at home.

There is nothing better than a juicy, cheesy, savory sandwich on fresh baked bread . . . it's what dreams are made of!

If you're like me, you can't eat like your 16 year old self anymore! Which usually consisted of after school trips to Wendy's, french onion dip, chocolate Pop-tarts, & fountain energy drinks. CRINGE. My parents always fed me nutritious meals. I simply thought I could eat anything & get away with it. Not. anymore.

In my adult life, I am always trying to recreate crave-worthy foods into something less binge-worthy. In an attempt to relive my teenage years I created this Philly Cheesesteak recipe.

>> It is packed with protein, vegetables & flavor!
>> It is gluten free, grain free & low carb.
​>> You can leave out the cheese to make it dairy free as well.

The perfect weeknight meal to keep your taste buds satisfied but your waistline in-check! This recipe has all of your typical meal components so there isn't a need for a side dish. If you are needing more sustenance to your meal a fresh green salad or sauteed spinach on the side would be perfect!
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Download the recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Peppers