Menu planning 31 March - 6 April

Well, we are 4 again!  This will be interesting to see how many things change.

Menu planning continues, but we will have less leftovers.

Some of this menu planning is because Tesco doesn't seem to have what I want to buy - a not particularly unusual event, which is why I only tend to use them when I have vouchers!  I've had to juggle things, until I can get to Aldi on Thursday

Monday Citrus pork chops

Tuesday Cheesy fish fillets

Wednesday Meatloaf (looking at a new recipe)

Thursday Honey mustard chicken

Friday Poached salmon

Saturday Asian meatballs

Sunday Pulled pork

Sharing as usual on Mrs M's Meal Planning Monday

Butter is back!

Finally it seems to be acknowledged that all the low fat information was nonsense!

An article in the New York Times says Butter is Back

Possibly the best bit was 'there's just no evidence to support the notion that saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease'.

I think the best advice is to eat good quality meat and dairy, ideally direct from local suppliers - go to farmers' markets, talk to the producers about they make things.  Replace fake food with real food.

The main villians are sugar and ultra-processed foods (including the low fat foods that are often full of sugar) - however consider just reducing these, rather than going for 'no added sugar' as these raise their own issues that maybe worse than the sugar!

Menu planning 24 - 30 March

It's another of those manic weeks with people coming and going,  need to do a bit of juggling, but I think that it will be acceptable - and if not, they can cook it themselves!

Monday - tuna

Tuesday - Coconut turkey stew

Wednesday - fish?

Thursday - Spiced keema (from nomnompaleo)

Friday -  I have a home shopping evening, so need something quick and easy -Pork burgers

Saturday - We have no children, so I think we will go out, could be the last opportunity for a month!

Sunday - (older child home from uni) Meatza

linking up at usual with Mrs M

Menu planning 17- 23 March

Another busy week ahead, with people coming and going, so need a few easy meals!

Monday - Bacon wrapped meatloaf (as I have meat and bacon that needs using!)

Tuesday - Coconut chicken curry

Wednesday - Caramel apple pork chops

Thursday - Spice up salmon

Friday - Frozen burgers

Saturday - Paleo fish pie

Sunday - Honey ginger apple pork

Sharing as usual with Mrs M - look over there for other menu ideas!

Grain free pancakes

These are easy to make, as long as you mix them well and cook them slowly on a low heat.
You can make them in advance and just reheat them for breakfast.

Take half a banana and mash it, add one beaten egg and whisk.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of nut butter (Meridan make almond butter and cashew butter, as an alternative to peanut butter)
Mix well (you need to blend the nut butter into the other ingredients)

Melt butter into a small pan and drop in a teaspoon at a time - you are going to make like scotch pancakes

Cook slowly until they have cooked enough to move away from the base of the pan and turn them gently

When cooked on both sides, move onto a plate, and continue with the mixture 

- it generally makes 5-6 small pancakes

Serve with butter, maple syrup etc

Menu planning 10 - 16 March

Well, I'm a little better organised this week!

Last week's menu went to plan, these were the new meatballs we had on Saturday.
Asian meatballs from nomnompaleo, much moister than regular meatballs

 We've also tried some new breakfast dishes (hopefully recipes/links will follow) -

Grain free pancakes

Egg Foo Young

So this week

Monday - Tuna

Tuesday - Citrus pork chops

Wednesday - Tandoori chicken from nomnompaleo

Thursday - Shepherd's pie

Friday - Something in the slow cooker as we are at a puppet show - probably pulled pork

Saturday - Curried fish chowder

Sunday - Mozzarella meatballs

Sharing as usual on Mrs M Meal Planning Monday

Menu planning 3 - 9 March

Well, I'm already behind!

Last week went to plan, but I'm trying to do lots of things and the blog got pushed aside.  I had done a menu plan and a Tesco order, but not written it up.

Monday - Poached salmon

Tuesday - Not stuffed mushrooms

Wednesday - Honey mustard chicken

Thursday - Hungarian meatloaf

Friday - Cheesy fish fillets

Saturday - Asian meatballs from Nom Nom Paleo

Sunday - Coconut curry pork

Gluten free foods and the thyroid

I have an under-active thyroid that makes my metabolism runs slowly.  I take a daily dose of synthetic thyroxine and I will need to take this for ever.  However, as the doctors don't know the long term effects of this, they tend to err on the cautious side and only give a dose that will bring your thyroid just into the 'normal' zone.

As part of my research, I have discovered that gluten can have a more severe effect on people who have an issue with their thyroid, and gluten sensitivity is not abnormal.  I have got stricter about not eating foods containing gluten over the last few weeks, although occasionally I do still have something.

If I have piece of cake  at church or a biscuit at a meeting, I have found that my metabolism slows down more, and it can take a couple of days to come back to normal.  Someone asked if I ate items made with 'gluten-free' flour, but I tend to avoid them also.  Last week at the weekly market I attend, one of the ladies had made some gluten-free shortbread after I stopped buying her gingerbread men, so I felt obliged to buy some.  A big mistake - the reaction was much the same as eating a regular piece of cake, so something else to avoid.

I have found that giving up grain based foods is not that hard, but you need to be organised, and plan ahead. I make pots of soup that I freeze in portions for when I need a packed lunch, and we eat a lot of lunchtime salads.  We don't keep cereals in the house, and it is only the children that eat bread - and a loaf will last a couple of weeks.