#Mamavation Monday - A Week of Salad Begins

Summer begins this week and I love the chance to eat fresh, simple and healthy.

This week as I was meal planning I kept writing down salads. Not intentionally, I always browse my magazines, Pinterest and blogs for things that make me hungry. This week the variety isn't lacking, but the theme running through most of the week is salad.

Now, if you are thinking of the same old iceburg and grated carrot salads, you would be sorely mistaken! I am going to be maximizing a rotisserie chicken and even going meatless for a few. With the warmer weather here, does your menu change? What foods does your family ask for? My husband and I prefer real food that is simple and fast to eat.

2 cups of fresh lettuce and dark greens goes a long way to fill a plate. This Southwestern Chicken salad was tossed with a simple olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing and was so yummy! Check out the rest of my menu plan for the week:

Meal Plan 6/18- 6/23

Mon. - Bibimbab (not a salad, but a Korean mixed rice bowl. Really good!)
Tue. - Mediterranian Lentil Salad, Baked Sweet Potato
Wed. - Lamb Burgers (bun-less) over a Greek Chicken Salad
Thurs. - Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad with a fresh Tahini dressing
Fri. - Horiatiki Greek Salad (no lettuce), fresh Pita Bread
Sat. - Curried Chicken and Grape Salad
Sun. - Seafood and Veggies baked in Parchment with a Ginger Miso Glaze

Most mornings I have been adding a different juicing recipe to the mix. This past week we fell in love with a "Morning Sunrise" juice from lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit and carrots. Do you have a favorite juice recipe?

Sleep & Exercise

This past week I was working through Bob Greene's book, 20 Years Younger. I am still working on sleep, but was hit with some massive allergies. This meant even when I slept for 8-9 hours a night I was still exhausted. I just need to get a hold of my seasonal allergies - I am taking daily Claritin and Benedryl as necessary. They leave me rather sleepy (even with 2 cups of black coffee) and unmotivated. Can't wait for the cottonwood and grasses to pass so I can be more productive.

This week I will add to the sleep goal with exercise. I want to walk/jog for 1 hour everyday to bump my steps up from 10,000 to 14,000 a day. Luckily, the longer daylight hours will help with this one. I can't wait for the Mamavation 5K at the end of the month and for strength I am still focusing on my core.

So much to do but this work in progress is trying to make the most of every minute. So, what are your goals for the week?

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*Disclaimer - This post is sponsored by Dole 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.