Dinner Planner - Week of January 1, 2018

Happy almost new year to one and all! January 1 signifies a fresh start to many, although I do think we have many opportunities to wipe the slate and start anew, including every morning! But if you have made any resolutions and they involve improving your health, then I will assume more cooking at home is in store for you.

I have been posting these dinner planners for the last 2 years, and so many of my students and readers have attested to the fact that planning and organization is the KEY to eating healthfully. I have been making a weekly dinner plan on Sundays for over 20 years and it is the only way dinner gets made, given my schedule. Knowing on Sunday what you are cooking for the week will also allow you to go throughout your day without the “dinner cloud” over your head. You know the one that is always nagging, “what are you going to make for dinner tonight?” “Should you start defrosting that chicken?” “Hurry and run to the market before after school pick-up!”

You can also follow me on Instagram where I post my weeknight dinners, as well as breakfasts and anything else that’s inspiring me at the moment. Happy cooking and here’s to your health!

Here’s your dinner planner for the week:

New Year’s Day/Meatless Monday: lentil and brown rice soup (lentils eaten on New Year’s Day are a tradition in my family for a good year), green salad with purple cabbage, carrots, shredded Brussels sprouts and toasted sunflower seeds, everyday salad dressing #2

Tuesday: wild salmon with blood orange, beet and spinach salad, roasted sweet potato wedges

Wednesday: Tandoori Chicken (I’ll make this with breasts and drumsticks), apricot couscous (or plain steamed couscous), sautéed beet greens (if you have greens from making beets last night) and Swiss chard (recipe in my cookbook)

Thursday: stir-fried beef and broccoli, steamed brown rice or cauli-rice

Friday: turkey meatballs with marinara sauce and whole wheat pasta or spaghetti squash, roasted broccoli

Saturday: cauliflower crust pizza, avocado Caesar salad or I might try this cashew Caesar dressing from January ’16 Bon Appetit OR consider a Big Green Detox Salad with Bieler’s Broth!

Sunday: orange-rosemary glazed chicken, millet cauliflower mash or cauliflower mashed potatoes, roasted carrots (see this post for how to roast carrots — you don’t have to make the yogurt sauce)

Prep ahead

Sunday prep:

Make veggie or chicken stock for lentil soup

Soak rice and cook for soup

Cook beets

Make dressing for Monday and Tuesday

Segment oranges

Wash lettuce for Monday and greens for Wednesday