Busy, Busy, Busy...
From "Oh no!" to flow
Some weeks are busier than others in our lives. That is the course, it ebbs and flows but usually you see how it will work out. Other times we can barely breathe because we have such a week before us. That is where I am today. We hosted our Godson and his girlfriend this weekend and we have not seen them in person for two years. We were so excited to spend every minute soaking up one another’s company and we did so without regret.
About three weeks prior my husband and I had the realization that we needed to change our address. We have lived here a short time but some things are not meant to be. Therefore, a fresh start is upon us very soon, we move this Friday. In order to enjoy our weekend with Quinn and Angela and avoid making our current home feel like a moving zone we were committed to keeping it box free until Sunday morning.
Oh, did I mention it is my father’s 80th birthday today!! Yes, this is a celebration we have been looking forward to, as well. We all traveled to Ireland this past May to celebrate his birthday but on the actual day there must be toasts and revelry and love showered all around. I know I am not alone when I say an 80th birthday is something special.
Why Do I Need a Plan?
Due to the quick timing of this move we do not have planned vacation days. Fortunately, I work from home and can juggle my day to fit in some packing. My husband does not. We will continue into each night until it is completed. In this type of situation one can get overwhelmed very easily. When we become stressed we may let important things go such as our daily movement or meal planning. I must keep both of those close or my body may revolt by weeks end. Movement for me is as simple as a long walk, lifting light weights and rolling out the myofascial tissue with a tennis ball. That 30-60 minutes is well spent.
More importantly is the meal planning. The soluble fiber I get from eating beans attaches to the bile molecules (where all of the gunk is) to keep it flowing into the toilet instead of recycling back into my body. When we are stressed, it is easy to fall into junk food that we find comforting until we have an upset stomach. It is weeks like this that my pantry and a few essential produce purchases will get me through, keeping the health of my digestive track in mind is number one. There is no set recipe to follow. It is more or less using the delicious ingredients (pantry or produce) and creating a nutritious and tasty meal. Let me share my plan. It may be of service to you if you’re ever in a similar situation and have only just started with beans.
My plan
Pantry Items
I will use canned beans this week. I have black, pinto, and garbanzo from which to choose. Because I am moving I am happy to use these cans, it’s one less thing to pack. While I love a Sunday pot of beans on the stove, I was in Boston and not at home. Cans or jarred beans make for easy prep and I am grateful for the assist.
I am also preparing rice in the rice cooker and quinoa on the stove for grain options. Both were in my pantry. As are onions, garlic and spices I use regularly, like cumin, chili powder, paprika, and oregano. The rice and quinoa will take approximately 25 minutes to gather, measure and cook. I also have a box of veggie stock in the pantry to make a quick soup or add to my beans if I change my mind and want liquid in the bowls I create. Fortunately, in my fridge I also have the remaining stock I made last week. This gives me options.
Market Shopping/Farmer’s Market
At the market I purchased sweet potatoes, carrots, shallots, salad greens, a cucumber and sourdough bread. I also have mushrooms, red peppers, eggs, parsley, and tomatoes from our farmer’s market in town. This allows for a few mix and match meals.
Meal Plan-Dinners
Monday–sweet potatoes (baked) with black beans over the top that I will cook with garlic, onion and spices, topped with parsley and a salad with apple cider vinegar dressing.
Tuesday–Dad’s birthday
Wednesday–mushrooms sauteed with garlic, shallots and red wine in a rice bowl with red peppers and pinto beans (pantry).
Thursday–quinoa bowl with chickpeas, carrots, tomatoes, and greens, with a tahini, sriracha drizzle over the top
Friday–Moving, you know it's pizza night
Lunches
I made a soup with onion, garlic, red lentils, celery I had in my veggie drawer, a large can of whole tomatoes with the juices, and the veggie broth I made last week with my veggie scraps for the month. Added cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika and greens (spinach usually, but I had swiss chard so I added the leaves cut into ribbons). I will eat that for lunch to keep my energy up.
Breakfasts
Breakfast will be an egg, sourdough toast and a half to one cup of beans from the pot I made last Thursday or cans I have on hand. I will add greens, tomatoes and pumpkin seeds when I’m feeling it. Otherwise, egg and beans will get me through to Friday.
Sleep
During a stressful week or time in your life do not underestimate the power of sleep. For those of us whose mind is racing and we feel like sleep will never come if you get your movement or exercise in, eat a balanced meal and keep the sugary food away the likelihood of falling and staying asleep is greater. Everything is connected. We know this and still it is so difficult to manage during the busiest times of our lives. I am going to try my best to stick to my plan, and give myself a break, if I don’t. I will let you know how it goes.
Monotony and other last thoughts
If you are wondering, “Denise, you will really eat the same breakfast and lunch each day?” Yes, yes I will. I am a creature of habit. Although I love to create amazing meals that I post and share with you, I also have no problem eating something delicious a few days in a row knowing I don’t have to think to prepare it.
For me, planning this out will allow for space in my mind to prepare for other events, like my Dad’s party and things that will make the night a success. Spending my energy on that versus worrying about my meals makes my week go from oh no, to flow!
I hope this post resonates. When you are in a busy time in your life please refer back to help you plan and remember…Start with beans.
Contact
If you have any additional questions on planning for meals during busy weeks and incorporating beans into those meals, please email me at Denisemancieri1@gmail.com. Feel free to comment below if there are topics you would like to see.
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Note: I am not a doctor. I am a teacher and an educator with an earned doctorate in educational leadership. I enjoy research and I can take large amounts of information and parse it out into easily understood and digestible steps so people understand what is happening to their body and possible steps to reverse it with food as medicine. I have healed my own GI issues through choices with food. I followed Karen Hurd’s bean protocol diet, I meditated and still do and I healed. I feel compelled to be in service and educate others as the more people eating beans, alongside a healthy diet and sharing their stories the more people will live a healthier existence. Joy, peace and freedom abound. Please see your doctor and discuss nutritional options before you change any course of action with your health.