Anyway, I mentioned that I think I'll start doing a weekly post on the weekend to share my meal prep for the upcoming week & also a goal of trying a new healthy dinner recipe each week. My new recipes this week are both a dinner & a snack recipe. My new dinner will be 21 day fix- approved buffalo chicken meatballs and my new snack is a Shakeology "pudding."
As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm currently doing the 21 Day Fix Extreme and implementing the "countdown to competition" meal plan that came with the 21df extreme challenge pack I originally bought last year to get ready for my June wedding. I may not compete in staged competitions or in any bikini contests, but the CTC meal plan is for quicker/better results. With a goal date/scale number coming up and wanting to break my current plateau, this is good for me/my personal goals.
The CTC meal plan is essentially carb-cycling. It switches back & forth between "CTC days" and regular extreme days throughout the week as far as the meal plan goes- the workouts stay the same. Anyway, CTC days have higher protein/lower carb & fat and the regular extreme days are my normal 21dfx macro/portion calculations which have a little less protein and allow a tiny bit more carb. Here's my meal plan for the week to implement the CTC plan, which includes what my container portions are for the plan:
CTC days: 3G, 6R,
1Y, 3tsp
Breakfast: Whole
wheat English Muffin w/ almond butter= 1Y, 1tsp
Morning Snack: ½
scoop Vegan Choc Shakeo w/ 0.5c unsweetened cashew milk & PB = ½ R, 1 tsp
Lunch: Ground
chicken or turkey w/ veggies=2R, 2G
Afternoon Snack:
Choc shakeo “pudding”- ½ sc Vegan Choc Shakeo w/ 0.75c plain greek yogurt & PB=
1.5R, 1 tsp
Dinner: Refer to
dinner menu= 2R, 1G
Reg Ext Days: 3G, 4R, 2Y, 2 tsp, 2P, 1B, 1O
Breakfast: whole wheat English
Muffin w/ almond butter & ½ sliced banana= 1Y, 1tsp, 1P
Morning Snack: rice cake with almond butter= 1Y, 1tsp
Lunch: Ground
chicken or turkey w/ veggies =2R, 2G
Afternoon Snack:
½ scoop Vegan Choc Shakeo w/ ½ c cashew milk, frozen mixed berries & IW greens = ½ R, 1P
Dinner: Refer to
dinner menu= 2R, 1G
**Swapped
blue for an extra ½ Red**
This meal plan-particularly lunch- may seem kind of bland to you as well. However, I make sure to season my meat & veggies with various spices- I always use garlic and garlic salt, along with other seasonings too depending on what the meat is.
I don't mind eating the same thing for 5 days in a row and it's still quite tasty to me and definitely keeps me full & satisfied. I also like to keep it simple, quick & cheap! I've already mentioned in the past that I'm all about saving that money which is partly why I meal prep! It saves tons of money, especially over time. I'm a fan of meal prep that's simple, quick & easy- it keeps me from having a laziness excuse; I can't say "wahh I don't feel like prepping..it takes too long" because my meal prep is quick.
This is just my preference. Using the 21df, 21dfx, or CTC plan doesn't have to be this "boring!" You're free to choose different meats, veggies, etc. if you get bored easily! The simplicity for me is part of what helps me stick to it but everyone is different =)
Below is my dinner menu for the week. Of course when I planned this out last week, I had a brain fart- or as my husband calls them, "Chelseanisms"- and I totally forgot that Monday was Memorial Day, so the planned dinner didn't happen. We'll be on track starting with Taco Tuesday tonight, though!
Dinner
Monday CTC: Crockpot
chicken & veggies (R, G)
Tuesday CTC: Taco salad. Lean ground meat (R), Lettuce/Tomato (G), Optional
Black beans/tortilla strips [Y]
Wednesday Ext: Buffalo chicken meat balls (1R, 1/2Y per svg)
& salad (G)
Thursday CTC: Fish
[R] with steamed veggies [G]
Friday CTC: Chicken
[R] & veggies [G]