#Mamavation Monday - I Love Fresh Food!

Happy Monday everyone! How is Summer treating you?

I'd say that Summer has been pretty sweet so far here.

This past few days have brought more clouds and rain than we would like, so I am out enjoying and picking what we can. I love all the fresh local produce.

If you read my post last week you will know I embarked on a week of salads. It was great! ...yes, my husband was a real trooper. In truth they were delicious, contained protein and were full of fresh ingredients. It was also the easiest food prep week I have had for a while. Though we won't be just having salad this week, we will be keeping the greens piled high on the table.

One rotisserie chicken lasted most of the week... dressings were simple (oil and balsamic or lemon juice) or homemade.

The family's favorite meal of the week was a Greek salad with chickpeas, feta, lamb patties and steamed artichokes. My son devoured a whole artichoke himself. I will be posting this recipe later and we have it on the menu again for this coming week. Yes, that is a glass of wine... I guess it is proof that I drink once in a blue moon. It was really good, too.

We also tossed a simple Chicken and black bean salad with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Very tasty! Other nights I just threw leftovers together over salad. My favorite was a lemon juice tossed lentil salad that went nicely over a bed of my garden greens.

Then my favorite night was the spicy Bibimbap dinner! It was a little on the hot side for my husband. I had to make-do with a cast iron skillet to get the rice all crispy. I added a doll-up of fermented pepper sauce and mixed it all up. Filled with cucumber, mung bean sprouts, zucchini, carrots and kimchee... Mmmm... it was heaven!

I hope that gives you some fun inspiration for this week's meal planning. Here is my plan to help get me eating right:

Mon. - Kale stuffed Q-ball squash, Wild Rice, Grilled Chicken
Tues. - Broccoli Frittata
Wed. - Pizza Party!
Thur. - Taco Salad
Fri. - Breakfast for Dinner, waffles, fruit salad, smoothies
Sat. - Lamb Gyros, Greek Salad, Cherry & Biscoff cookie parfaits
Sun. - Tuna Casserole, salad

I am excited to post that I lost 3lbs this week!!! Yup. I said goodbye to Mirena, ate well and got out with my kids to U-pick. Summer is looking fine.

Can't wait to join you ladies in the Mamavation 5K this weekend! I have been breaking in my new running shoes in honor of it.

For this week's topic, Are you overdoing it? My answer is, usually... but not right now. The pace of life right now is ever changing. We eat what we pick and I am outside more with the kids. The good news is I am getting more steps into my day, moving more, but not regularly exercising. Life is just too chaotic! My husband pops in at random times for meals and there is so much to do. I need to push for my strength training, but will not sacrifice my sleep right now. It feels so good to be well-rested.

*This post is sponsored by FFIT and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway