this week's healthy food prep: 8/11

when my preps turn out THIS good, i'm always tempted to drop everything and become a private chef... any takers?

if you were around for the 2018 instagram health/wellness scene, then you vividly remember influencers convincing us bananas are “unhealthy”. that they had “too much sugar” and that there were “much better options”. WTF.

the way i became so violently afraid of bananas that i started replacing frozen bananas in my smoothies with CAULIFLOWER. yes, frozen and raw. and then proceeded to get food poisoning from my purely veggie smoothie (aka soup)… safe to say 2018 was a TIME.

sorry to open this post up with trauma, but as someone who now can’t go a day without a banana (or banana bread), i do love reflecting on growth and healing in my relationship with food. you’ll notice many of these preps include banana bread in some form, and that’s because i always make sure to integrate my favorite foods and flavors each week, just in creative ways.

we’re kicking off mornings this week with my go-to, foolproof chocolate chip banana bread overnight oats recipe. with a great balance of fiber, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs, these will keep you full and satiated all morning long.

while it’s still summer, alllll of the fruit is being integrated into my savory recipes. i always make a no-lettuce salad, and this week’s is a shaved brussels sprout & cherry version. what really makes this one is the ratio of sweet flavors to savory, all paired with herbs and crunchy bites.

the pineapple mango turkey burgers may feel random this week, but they’re such a good summer staple to have in the fridge. when i’m not reaching for them for a quick dinner, i’m pulling out the loaded BLT-inspired high protein pasta salad instead. taking one of my favorite sandwiches and turning it into a pasta salad was a huge win this week.

the day can’t peacefully end until i’ve had my sweet treat! chocolate with a crunch never fails to satisfy me. these chocolate peanut butter rice crispy bars are not only made from wholesome, nourishing ingredients, they’re also a guaranteed crowd pleaser. if i had to pick a handful of my sweet treats i’d want to sell in stores, this would easily make the list.

enough chatting for now— let’s get cooking!

the menu:

• chocolate chip banana bread overnight oats

• shaved brussels sprout & cherry salad

• pineapple mango turkey burgers

• BLT-inspired high protein pasta salad

• chocolate peanut butter rice crispy bars

the grocery list:

note that a handful of these items are pantry staples, so you may already have them on hand and won’t need to purchase :) or if you do need to buy them, i have plenty of other recipes that call for these ingredients, so you’ll have plenty of use for your purchase!

produce:

• 2 bananas

• 1 large bag of brussels sprouts

• 1 bulb of radicchio

• 1 large red onion

• 1 bag rainier cherries

• 1 bunch of fresh dill,

• pineapple mango salsa (if available) or plain pineapple spears

• 1 bunch curly parsley

• 1 handful fresh chives

• 1 container of cherry tomatoes

meat/meat alternatives:

• 1 block extra firm tofu

• 1 pound ground turkey

• 1 package of turkey bacon

eggs/dairy:

• 2 single serve containers (5.3oz) plain greek yogurt

• milk of choice

• 1 container of crumbled feta

• 1 half-dozen carton of eggs

• 1 small log of goat cheese

• 1 block of grass-fed white cheddar

misc:

• maple syrup

• vanilla extract

• gluten-free rolled oats

• chia seeds

• sea salt

• cinnamon

• chocolate chips

• vanilla protein powder

• roasted pistachios

• dijon mustard

• olive oil

• gluten-free breadcrumbs

• coconut aminos

• protein pasta

• lemon juice

• natural creamy salted peanut butter

• 1 jar coconut oil

• 1 box of crispy brown rice cereal

and now for the fun part— recipes below :)