Day #7...Holy Smokes! We made it a whole Week!

When I woke up this morning I was feeling accomplished that I maintained my commitment to Whole30 for an entire week. It is not easy (as I have learned...EVERYTHING has sugar in it). But together with my family we are plugging along and learning new habits. One of the biggest changes seen during this past week has by far been the kids lunches. They are so much healthier, and surprisingly they eat everything! Other notable changes this past week have been breakfast (which is protein packed), the absense of a "drive-through" as part of our chaotic sports practice nights and of course the complete elimination of "the sauce" (otherwise known as Diet Coke) from my diet! Some things have been harder than others, and others have been relatively easy. We are eating amazing food and I am really getting into a culinary and time management groove (there were moments during the first week that I felt that I spent the entire day in the kitchen. Preparing one meal, to clean up, to prepare another, to clean up, to prepare another, to clean up). I am looking forward to what is in store this week! Here is a quick recap of today's meals. Since last night's quiche was such a big hit, I decided to make a double batch in a 9x13 for breakfast this morning. So kale, onion & ham quiche with sweet potato crust and a deliciously sweet red blood orange to start the day.

For lunch I sauteed some yellow and red pepper with onion and mushrooms. I topped it with a jalapeno Trader Joe's all-natural chicken sausage and 1/2 of an avocado. I had a great salad with almonds, cucumbers and blueberries on the side.

Dinner was the bomb! I cooked a pork shoulder over night last night. This morning I pulled all the meat and let it rest in the fridge all day. A few hours before dinner I used some of the homemade chicken stock that I made yesterday, juice from 1 lime, onion and various Mexican seasonings to create a carnitas marinade. The marinade and pork (with a can of green chilies) went into the crock-pot and it was awesome! So flavorful and so juicy. I had some guacamole on the side with a bed of greens topped with a homemade mango, red onion, cilantro & avocado salsa. This will be a meal that is made regularly in the future! ~Jen