Meg's Meal Planning

Breakfast

No bake healthy Cheerio bars

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No-bake, healthy peanut butter and honey Cheerio bars is an easy breakfast or snack idea for kids and adults. Add in dried fruit, coconut, or mini chocolate chips for a fun treat! 

We are just finishing the 3rd week of quarantine due to COVID-19. With no end in sight, I’ve been looking for more ideas to do at home with my kids. So far, we’ve done yoga and music class on YouTube, teddy bear “hunts” in our neighborhood, tons of outside time, too many arts and crafts to count, and lots and lots of fort building. If you’re like me and are looking for a new idea to do with the kids, try making these no-bake, healthy, Cheerio bars!

Cheerio bars have only three ingredients – peanut butter, honey, and of course, Cheerios! Three staples in our house, we’ve been making a batch every week. Another bonus is this is a guilt free snack! Who else feels like they snack all day long?!

honey cheerio bars

You can add any kind of dried fruit, dried coconut, or even mini chocolate chips for fun. We added dried blueberries to this batch. If you are keeping it simple with just the three main ingredients, you can cut back on how much peanut butter you use.

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No bake healthy Cheerio bars
 
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No-bake, healthy peanut butter and honey Cheerio bars is an easy breakfast or snack idea for kids and adults. Add in dried fruit, coconut, or mini chocolate chips for a fun treat!
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Ingredients
  • 1 cup peanut butter (if not using any additional ingredients, use only ¾ cup peanut better)
  • ½ cup honey
  • 3 cups Cheerios
  • 1 cup dried blueberries (optional)
Instructions
  1. In a medium pot, heat the peanut butter and honey over medium heat together until melted, about 5 mins.
  2. Remove from heat, add in the Cheerios and dried blueberries. Stir together.
  3. Line a square pan with aluminum foil and pour Cheerio mixture into the pan.
  4. Press down and refrigerate for at least one hour.

 

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3 ingredient no bake cheerio bars

Paleo Breakfast Frittata

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Paleo breakfast frittata is an easy and low-carb breakfast. It’s a great dish to make ahead of time to be reheated throughout the week. 

Paleo breakfast

This is one of the first recipes I’m sharing from my month of going dairy and gluten free. This paleo breakfast frittata has in it sautéed onions, red bell pepper, and kale. It’s quick and easy to whip up over the weekend and makes enough to give you a few breakfasts throughout the week.

I have a feeling I’ll be making this a few times during the next month; it’s also easy to substitute other vegetables you might have in your fridge, like mushrooms or spinach.

frittata with kale

Paleo breakfast frittata
 
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Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1.5 cups kale, washed and chopped
  • 12 eggs
  • Salt and pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Melt ghee in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add the onions and cook until they start to brown.
  4. Once done, pour the onions into a medium size bowl, add bell pepper, kale, and eggs. Stir, then season with salt and pepper.
  5. Grease a 8x11 baking dish with ghee, then pour the egg mixture in.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes.

 

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Paleo frittata with kale and red bell pepper

Kale Sweet Potato Frittata

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This kale, sweet potato frittata is the perfect weekend crowd pleaser. Family and friends will love sitting around and enjoying this flavorful egg dish. 

Kale and sweet potato frittata

Who doesn’t love a good frittata in the morning? Scrambled eggs and egg sandwiches can get old really quick. My hubby is the ultimate egg sandwich maker, I enjoy one at least twice a week for a quick morning breakfast. But sometimes on a lazy Saturday or Sunday I want to stay home with my slippers on, coffee in hand, and whip up a delicious tasting frittata.

Kale frittata

Frittatas should be called the “clean out your fridge egg dish” because really that’s what it is. Any kind of veggie will work-broccoli, asparagus, peppers, any kind of cheese, and a variety of meats-chicken sausage, ham, etc. This frittata has one of my favorite leafy greens- Kale!

If you aren’t a kale lover, you need to get on board. Homemade roasted kale chips taste AMAZING and guess what, that’s what’s in this recipe. For another meal with roasted kale try this quinoa bowl. So for any of you doubters out there, did you know (according to WebMD) kale has nearly 3 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fiber, Vitamins A, C, and K, folate (key from brain development), and omega-3 fatty acid! That should be all you need to hear to go and try this recipe!

Kale Sweet Potato Frittata
 
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This kale, sweet potato frittata is the perfect weekend crowd pleaser. Family and friends will love sitting around and enjoying this flavorful egg dish.
Author:
Recipe type: Brunch
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 medium size sweet potato, washed, peeled, and cubed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups kale, washed, chopped, and cut into bite size pieces (about two large leaves)
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • ⅓ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
  2. Spread cubed sweet potato on large baking sheet.
  3. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil and ½ tsp salt. Mix together.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes, then add the kale and toss together. Bake for another 10 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile combine the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Stir.
  6. Once the sweet potatoes and kale are done cooking, add them to the egg mixture. Stir.
  7. Pour into a large cast iron skillet. Sprinkle cheese on top.
  8. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes.

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Frittata with kale

Oven Baked Pork Schnitzel

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Super easy oven baked Pork Schnitzel is an easy week night recipe. Pair it with potatoes and a salad for an easy and satisfying dinner.  

Pork Schnitzel

Looking to get in the fun of celebrating Oktoberfest? Then try this easy oven baked Pork Schnitzel. It’s healthier than pan frying, but tastes just as delicious. It also is a great make ahead meal and stores well in the freezer.

Pork schnitzel is a popular German dish prepared by breading and frying thin pork cutlets. Although there are many varieties of schnitzel like chicken, veal, and turkey. Pork is one of my personal favorites. The key to a good schnitzel is a meat mallet. You need to pound the pork very thin.  Skip the gym and have this be your arm work out!

Baked port schnitzel

Oven Baked Pork Schnitzel
 
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Super easy oven baked Pork Schnitzel is an easy week night recipe. Pair it with potatoes and a salad for an easy and satisfying dinner.
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless pork chops, pounded until ¼ inch thick
  • ½ cup flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp roasted garlic powder
  • 2 eggs whisked
  • 1 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425.
  2. Combine flour and spices in shallow bowl. Eggs in another, and breadcrumbs in another
  3. Dip each piece of pork into flour, shaking off excess. Then dip into egg, then bread crumbs. Place pork on a lightly oiled wire rack over baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes. Flip and bake another 5 minutes.

 

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Healthy oven baked pork schnitzel

Six healthy and easy sheet pan meals

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Six easy and healthy sheet pan meals the whole family will love. Roast chicken, pork, steak, salmon, vegetables, and potatoes all at once!

sheet pan fish

Preparing dinner for a family is no easy task, forget worrying about making something healthy for them. What if you could make an easy and healthy dinner that cooks all at the same time? Oh, and clean up is also a breeze. Would you believe me?  You better because that’s what I’m sharing with you today. Five easy and healthy sheet pan meals, plus a sheet pan breakfast.

Until recently, I had no idea there was a difference between a sheet pan and what is more commonly used, a jelly pan. Both are similar in size and shape, but a jelly pan is thinner and can’t withstand the high temperatures that sheet pans can; they warp during cooking. Have you ever heard a loud bang when your pan is in the oven? If you answered yes, you have a jelly pan, not a sheet pan.

A sheet pan is made of aluminum and can withstand high temperatures. It can be used for anything from baking cookies to roasting vegetables. I purchased this inexpensive sheet pan from Amazon and so far I’m loving everything about it.  Another must have when cooking with sheet pans is a silicone baking mat to prevent food from sticking. This is the exact mat I use; it prevents the use of butter, oil, or spray and replaces parchment paper.

sheet pan eggs, potatoes, and chicken sausage

Why sheet pan dinners are the greatest ever: 

  1. All your food cooks together
  2. Keeps clean up to a minimum
  3. No scrubbing pots and pans
  4. Most ingredients can be prepped before hand

Have I convinced you yet? If not, try making one of the following dinner ideas and you will be sold!

  1. Sheet pan balsamic vinegar chicken with roasted Brussel sprouts and prosciutto
  2. Sheet pan steak fatijitas
  3. Sheet pan salmon and roasted vegetables
  4. Sheet pan pork and potatoes with butternut squash
  5. Sheet pan chicken nachos
  6. Sheet pan eggs, potatoes, and chicken sausage

 

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6 sheet pan dinners

 

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Sheet Pan Eggs, Potatoes, and Chicken Sausage

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A simple breakfast, perfect to make when you don’t want to spend time in the kitchen but want a really good meal!

sheet pan breakfast

I love breakfast; it’s the most important meal of the day. I can never skip it and wait until lunch.  I would feel out of sync, like I missed something. This sheet pan breakfast is perfect if you’re hosting a brunch or holiday and don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

All ingredients cook on the same pan, so clean up is a breeze, too. The chicken sausage I used was by Al Fresco because it comes fully cooked. If you buy uncooked sausage, the cooking time will vary.

sheet pan eggs and potatoes

 

Sheet Pan Eggs, Potatoes, and Chicken Sausage
 
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A simple breakfast, perfect to make when you don't want to spend time in the kitchen but want a really good meal!
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 5-6 red potatoes, washed and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 spicy jalapeño chicken sausages sliced (I used Al Fresco)
  • 4 eggs
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line sheet pan with baking mat.
  2. Place potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet. Add olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
  3. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
  4. Remove from oven, create 4 wells, add eggs gently, keeping yolk intact.
  5. Add sliced chicken sausage to pan.
  6. Return to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

 

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sheet pan breakfast foods

 

Healthy “Red Velvet” Mini Muffins

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A flourless, healthy mini muffin made with beets is the perfect Valentine’s Day snack for you and your little ones!

Who else struggles to introduce new foods to their toddlers?! This mama sure does. My son ate everything I gave him until around 13 months; I didn’t believe when people said his tastes would change. Now, he promptly tells me “NO” if given a new food he’s not interested in.

I bought a large, BJ’s-sized box of precooked beets. I thought to myself, “How perfect, they are already cooked and soft; all I have to do is open the package and slice them!” WRONG.

My crazy toddler tells me no every single time. I keep trying to give them to him with the hope that one day he’ll eat it. In the meantime, I don’t have room for a package of frozen beets in my freezer. One of the recipes I made are these mini beet muffins! The recipe makes 24 cute little muffins. They store great in the freezer and make a perfect on the go snack! For more toddler/kid friendly food ideas click here.

Healthy "Red Velvet" Mini Muffins
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Healthy Toddler Food
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 3-4 precooked beets
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ⅛ cup pure maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Place the precooked beets, peanut better, cocoa powder, maple syrup, baking powder, and vanilla extract in a food processor and blend until smooth.
  3. Add the eggs and blend for a few more seconds.
  4. Fill up a greased mini muffin tray.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes.

Quick Breakfast Egg Sandwiches

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Quick and easy breakfast egg sandwiches with healthy spinach and tomato is the perfect start to your morning.


Sometimes I get so excited for breakfast I have a hard time sleeping in.  Knowing I was going to make these easy breakfast sandwiches made it impossible to sleep! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I can’t skip it and would never order lunch foods at a brunch. That’s crazy!


Quick Egg Breakfast Sandwiches
 
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Author:
Cuisine: Breakfast
Ingredients
  • 2 slice ham
  • ½ avocado, sliced
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • 2 whole wheat English muffins
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup fresh spinach
Instructions
  1. Toast the English muffins.
  2. Crack 1 egg in a small, greased microwave safe mug. Pierce the yolk and microwave on high, covered for 50 seconds, checking halfway through.
  3. Turn egg out onto plate.
  4. Lay the egg, ham, avocado, tomato, and spinach on the English muffin.
  5. Repeat.

 

Healthy Blueberry and Banana Oat Muffins

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Healthy blueberry and banana oat muffins with ground flax seed, no added sugar, and easy prep work. These are the perfect on the go snacks.

Blueberry muffins

Blueberries are the best fruit to pick! Strawberries hurt your back from bending over and apples and pears get too heavy to carry if you pick a lot. A blueberry bush offers fruit at all levels for every different height, so it’s a great activity for even little kids!

I recently had a fun summer outing to Jones’s Family Farm in Shelton, CT. Although my son is too young to help pick the blueberries, he sure had lots of fun eating them! Good thing we had three pickers because he was eating as fast as we were picking!

Blueberry banana oat greek yogurt muffins

Jones Family Farm offers 400+ acres of one of the finest pick-your-own experiences, including strawberries, blueberries, apples, pumpkins, and Christmas trees.  In addition they have a winery, which serves 18 different kinds of wine. Tastings are offered for $12/person and you get to keep the Jones wine glass. Most impressively (ok, maybe not most, but it certainly blew away this Mom) is in the tasting room there is a play area for children! A toy kitchen, a train, books, and other toys occupied my son while Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a tasting. Children must be supervised by an adult, so bring Grandma with you!

These muffins are the perfect healthy snack. There is no added sugar and they are packed with protein-filled oats and ground flax seed. They aren’t too sweet, which I like, especially since I knew my son would be snacking on these. If you’re looking for more of a sweeter muffin, try adding a tablespoon or two of honey or maple syrup!

Healthy blueberry banana oat muffins

Healthy Blueberry and Banana Oat Muffins
 
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Author:
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ⅔ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ½ banana, mashed
  • 1 cup blueberries
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
  3. Combine oats, yogurt, milk in a small bowl, set aside.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground flax seed and applesauce. Whisk together and set aside.
  5. Add egg and banana to oat mixture, stir.
  6. Add oat mixture to the large mixing bowl, stir until moistened.
  7. Gently fold in the blueberries.
  8. Fill muffin tins until ¾ full.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes.

 

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Blueberry banana oat muffins

Yogurt parfait

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July 4th is right around the corner, which is crazy! It feels like we just celebrated Memorial Day Weekend. I hate when the summer weeks fly by, which they always seem to do! For years I’ve never had any traveling plans for July 4th; I have always stayed local, maybe went to a cookout. But this year I’m excited for a long weekend get away with my family in Wells, Maine. We went last year when my son was 3 months old and I’m excited to return to the same resort and make it our family tradition to return every summer! 


When you think of July 4th, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?? Probably fireworks, right?! But before the fireworks there is usually a cookout or BBQ…burgers, hot dogs, watermelon. The works! As with any holiday gathering, it’s easy to get carried away and eat everything! I know my self-control is poor when there is delicious looking food in front of me. To help prevent over-indulgence for your 4th of July picnic, try these healthy Greek yogurt parfaits, made with fresh berries and a drop of honey! You can change up the berries to whatever you have in your fridge and they will still taste delicious!

 

Greek Yogurt Parfait


 Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsps honey
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 cups granola, click here for my homemade granola recipe
  • 1 cup strawberries, washed and sliced
  • 1 cup blueberries, washed

 Steps

  1. Mix Greek yogurt, honey, and lemon zest in a large bowl.
  2. Layer ingredients in cup. Start with Greek yogurt, then granola, then fruit. Repeat a second time.