Expectation vs. Reality: The Meal Plan Version

Ok. So here's how last week actually went.

Monday Dinner Expectation: Chicken Spaghetti Squash Bake leftovers.
Monday Dinner Reality: I don't actually think I had dinner that night.

Cathy & Mitch (Olivia's foster parents) came over that night at 7pm for the home visit and to finalize the paperwork for her adoption, so I spent the time from 6:30 when I got home until they arrived frantically cleaning my apartment (which really was already clean, I don't really ever let it get messy because I'm OCD... but I was nervous so I was like vacuuming and dusting and running around like a nervous hot mess) and after they left, I was too excited to eat. Plus my blender had broken the night before....

NOOOOOOOOOOO

And the Universe (read: lots of friends) was telling me to buy the Big Brother version of the Ninja I already have. The like, REAL food processor/blender/all-around-awesome version.

Anyway, at first, in my happy hyper spaz "I'M GETTING A DOG OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG" mode, I went to PetCo and bought a bunch of fun stuff like toys (which she of course refuses to play with. She likes to cuddle and nap and be outside, but toys? Nope), sweaters (because obviously), and her dog tag.

Then I finally was like, STOP SPENDING MONEY and went to Target and spent more money.

*Ta-daaaa*

So, this is pretty badass. It not only has this amazing huge blender/processor piece, it also has two separate "single serve"cups with their own blade and lids which is perfect for my smoothies so I don't have to wash the huge blender every day and risk dropping it in the sink and breaking it. Also it's plastic so I don't risk dropping it in the sink and breaking it.

Anyway I got back home and by that point it was like 10pm and I obviously had to FaceTime Delilah to show her all the new fun exciting things I bought, and so dinner just didn't happen. Whoops.

Tuesday Lunch Expectation: leftovers
Tuesday Lunch Reality: Corporate MVP Luncheon!

Every month our region hosts MVP luncheons to award top performers in various aspects of the business, including Car Sales MVP (a rental employee who refers lots of customers to our Car Sales department, up to an including multiple sales) and Account Executive of the Month (AE is our term for "Car Salesperson" basically - this person would be the AE who sold the most cars that month.)

I didn't even know the MVP lunch was on Tuesday, but JJ (one of my coworkers, an AE) asked me to join him to help present our current contest. I was like, "go hang out and eat for free? OK!" I had brought leftover Chicken Pesto Squash Bake that day for lunch, so I figured if I couldn't get something clean/paleo enough at the Country Club, I'd just chill and have my lunch later at the office. Luckily it was a buffet sandwich style set up and so I got a nice little meal! Boom!

Tuesday Dinner Expectation: Zucchini Bruschetta & sweet potato fries
Tuesday Dinner Reality: I still made this! Woo hoo!
P.S. I just made up the name, because this was one my mom sent me, but it didn't have a name to the recipe. So... whatever!

Ingredients:
Zucchini(s)
Olive Oil
Tomato
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
Mozz Cheese
Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
~Slice zucchini in half. Slice bottom to keep stable if needed.
(totally needed. Sorta awkward.)

The others are in bags because I prepped these Tuesday morning,
so I could easily add the toppings and bake at night.

~Brush with olive oil.
(Nailed it.)
~Top with garlic powder.
(I completely forgot to do this step and didn't realize it until right at this exact moment. Damn.)
~Top with tomato slices, salt & pepper to taste.
(I also forgot to do salt and pepper. I had gone out after work with Wendy and bought all the essentials for Olivia (kennel, dog bed she refuses to sleep in, car carrier she refuses to go anywhere near, dog food, shampoo, brushes, treats, etc etc etc) and my brain was a little distracted. I did add salt to the completed product, which was okay, but it would have been better if it had been baked in from the start.)
~Top with mozz cheese, parm cheese, or a mixture.
(I used both because I'M NOT AFRAID OF MIXING CHEESES. I'M A CHEESE DAREDEVIL.)

~Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Tasty goodness.

My only suggestions for this one (other than to actually make it correctly and not be completely zoned out during preparation...idiot...) would be either to use smaller zucchinis or to maybe even slice them thinner than just in half. Or maybe I just didn't cook them long enough, I don't know. It just didn't seem quite.... perfect. It was still good, don't get me wrong, but it coulda been better if it had been cooked through a little more overall.

Tuesday Night Prep Expectations: Make Chicken Salad w/ Grapes to take to work tomorrow!
Tuesday Night Prep Reality: F this noise I am WAY too tired.....zzzzZZZZZZZ

Wednesday Lunch Expectations: Leftover Zucchini Bruschetta
Wednesday Lunch Reality: Don't remember. Oops.
Wednesday Dinner Expectations: Chicken Salad with Grapes, eaten at work at like 5pm so I'd be full before even heading to Des Moines.
Wednesday Dinner Reality: P.F. Chang's Gluten Free Menu!

Delilah had reminded me that P.F. Chang's is delicious, and they have a Jordan Creek location which is super close to the hotel I stayed at. Their gluten free menu includes two of my favorite things ever, lettuce chicken wraps and mongolian beef. So, when I was about a half an hour away from Des Moines, I called them and ordered take-out, and was able to enjoy a delicious gluten-free meal at my hotel! Yay!

I didn't have a fancy plate to make a pretty picture. 

Thursday Breakfast Expectation: Lara Bar, water, whatever else I can find
Thursday Breakfast Reality: Lara Bar, banana from the hotel, water. This was good! I missed my smoothie though.
Thursday Lunch Expectation: No clue!!!!
Thursday Lunch Reality: a little bit of cheating. But just kinda.

I left Des Moines at noon, knowing it would take me about 2 hours to get back to the office. On the drive I ate a Lara Bar and an extra apple I snagged at the MVP luncheon and had kept in my bag. Past Laura was really looking out for Future Hungry Laura on that one! I was hoping that would be enough to fill me up, but unfortunately I developed a headache on the drive.

I've only had really one bad headache since I started eating clean, and that was after a football game a few weeks ago - I'd had two and a half cider beers (gluten-free) and the next morning I had a horrible migraine. I attributed it to that, but there could have been other factors. I'm not sure. But otherwise, I have been *knock on wood* migraine-free this month. So when I felt this one coming on, I was really disappointed and upset. And especially because Thursday night I was going to be getting Olivia, and I just couldn't bear to be sick. Luckily I had some of my prescription migraine pills with me so I took one of those and started feeling better, but I could tell my body was craving some protein and caffeine.

So when I got back to the office I did two things: Made a pot of coffee (even though it was like 3pm, it was cold and rainy so lots of coworkers shared! Yay!), and went to Runza down the block and picked up a Chicken & Berry salad.

This is the first time I've had fast food since I've started eating clean, and as far as options go, I feel like this was a pretty good choice. Lettuce, chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, cranberries, nuts (almonds? not sure), and some kind of mystery dressing. I only used a very tiny drizzle of the dressing since I have no idea what's in it, so that's where I'm calling it my cheat. But I perked up after eating and was ready for the big night!!

Homecoming!!!

(Okay shut up, she will show up in the occasional post. Like, all of them.)

Friday Lunch Expectations: Leftover Chicken Salad
Friday Lunch Reality: Chicken Salad w/ Grapes, just not leftovers, but fresh! I finally made it! I was too distracted by my adorable new roommate to take any preparation pics. Oops. But recall that I'd actually cut and cooked the chicken on Sunday night and it had been in the fridge since then. The rest was very simple.

Ingredients:
1-1&1/2 lbs cooked chicken cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup red grapes, halved or quartered
1 cup celery, sliced thin
1/2 cup unsweetened dried cherries (optional) (only because I couldn't find them but it's okay cus I don't really care for cherries that much anyway)
1/2 cup roasted, chopped nuts of your choice (I did pecans)
1 cup paleo mayonnaise cottage cheese, NINJA'd into creamy submission
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Combine all into a big bowl. Stir gently, and enjoy!

I just took this pic today. It's all I have left. This is really freaking delicious.

I was hesitant of how using blended cottage cheese would taste in place of mayonnaise, but you guys, seriously, I have seen the scrumptious light. Don't be scared. This is fantastic.

Friday Dinner Expectation: Crock Pot Roast
Friday Dinner Reality: Udi's Frozen Margherita Pizza

I definitely did not make the crock pot roast until today. It smells really damn good right now tho, I tell you what. I'll have that for dinner tonight and lots of leftovers this week. Yay!

Alright kiddos that's it for today. I've got to head to HyVee to get prepping for this week. It'll be a simple prep day since I'm going to make a few easy recipes and I'll have SO. MANY. LEFTOVERS. Plus I don't need to make any more smoothie bags; in the past few weeks I've made so many of them that I've still got at least six or seven in there still. So that's a big time saver.

Anyone have any exciting clean or paleo recipes they want to share? Leave a comment if you've got a blogspot account, or send me a message on Facebook or hit me up on Instagram @Lau3253.

Later!