I’m not fitness expert (and I don’t play one on TV) but I’m on a mission.. to hold my own at this summer’s Miss Nebraska pageant, the two weddings we’re attending this summer, and my good friends Adrian and Emily’s beach wedding in the fall! If Christie Brinkley can pose in a swimsuit in Sports Illustrated at 60, I can certainly eat healthier and rock a suit at the pool this summer!

With the help of my Beachbody Coach Amanda Soltero, I’ve been meal planning using Fixate; recipes focused on clean eating and portion control. The food is great and I’ve really enjoyed the recipes! If nutrition is 80% of the battle in health and weight loss, I’m hopefully taking the first important steps in the journey to become the me I’m more proud of.  It’s not perfect, but I feel good about the results I’m seeing. Here’s hoping this meal plan benefits you as well, and please, give me your feedback!

Every week I choose three meals, a breakfast, and two snacks.  This gives me a little variation so I’m not eating the same thing at the same time everyday, but I’m only cooking once a week and then grabbing and going for work or at night when I’m juggling little guys’ dinners, too. If you don’t like something–don’t make it! If you’re like me, you just won’t eat it and hit up Runza instead. If I make a substitution or have an extra snack (like a much-need trip to Scooters!) I just make sure I’m within my calorie allotment for the day. (MyFitnessPal is a great, free app that shares what your magic number is based on your goals.)

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ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

Turkey Tacos

Fixate Chicken, Apple & Sweet Potato Salad w/ Four-Ingredient Drop Biscuits

Moroccan Carrot Salad w/ 1/2 Turkey Sandwich

Baked Oatmeal Cups

SNACKS: Fruit, Yogurt w/ fruit and granola

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TURKEY TACOS

Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Packet

4 cups shredded lettuce (I get the plastic containers of mixed greens – doubles for lettuce, salads, etc. and a healthier choice than iceberg lettuce)

1 LB ground turkey

salsa

corn tortillas (which taste like crap, but a healthier option than flour tortillas)

Fixate has a recipe for a healthy version of turkey taco meat. I just use a taco seasoning packet, but low sodium if I’ve got one.  Prepare using 1 LB of ground turkey.  Divide into four portions.

For each meal, use 2 corn tortillas, 1 Cup shredded lettuce and 2 TBL salsa (again, Fixate has a healthy recipe; until summer/Farmer’s Markets I just buy fresh salsa from the deli at HyVee).

Calories: 319 per serving.  Recipe courtesy Fixate/Amanda Soltero

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CHICKEN, APPLE AND SWEET POTATO SALAD

Warning: this is a new one for me! I haven’t tried it yet, so fingers crossed!

Calories: 176.  Recipe courtesy Beachbody.

I’ll be eating this with FOUR-INGREDIENT DROP BISCUITS

Calories: 104 per biscuit. Recipe courtesy Beachbody.

Total calories for meal: 280

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MOROCCAN CARROT SALAD WITH SPICED CHICKPEAS

Again, you’ve been warned.. I haven’t tried this one yet. I don’t even know what the hell a chickpea is. Also, cut this recipe IN HALF if you only want four meals – otherwise you’ll be eating this all week long.

Calories: 161. Recipe courtesy Beachbody.

I’ll be eating this with 1/2 a turkey sandwich, using whole grain bread, mustard, no cheese.  Use 2-4 ounces of deli turkey (25 calories per ounce.)

Total calories for meal (based on 3 oz of turkey): 326

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BREAKFAST: BAKED OATMEAL CUPS WITH RAISINS AND WALNUTS

I love breakfast recipes that all I have to do in the morning is grab them and go.  I will bake these tonight and have them ready for the next two weeks.  Cut the recipe in half if you only want 6 of them. I’m also using cranberries instead of raisins because I already have them in my pantry. NOTE: If you like the idea but are worried you’ll get sick of these after a few days, I’ve had a healthy cereal and unsweetened almond milk on hand to substitute here and there. Think Cheerios or something with little to no sugar. Almond milk is 30 calories a cup versus 80 for skim milk.

Calories: 154 per muffin. Recipe courtesy Beachbody.

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SNACKS

A fruit every morning.  I love apples and pears.

Greek yogurt with granola every afternoon. I feel like this gives me a protein boost when I’m dragging around 2pm, and I LOVE the extra crunch by adding granola to it. Fixate offers a yummy granola recipe I really like, but you can also choose a bag of granola at the grocery store to simplify it.

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ALRIGHT, TEAM.. LET’S DO THIS! And again, please let me know if this works for you or if there is anything I can to make this easier or better for you!