Can I still wish you all a Happy St. Paddy’s Day a date late? Well, I’m doing it anyways since I never mentioned it yesterday.
Did anyone do anything fun or festive? Outside of making sure we all had some green on (I never bought Lucas any cute, festive outfits…he just got a random Jets shirt we found in his closet…oops), we didn’t do much of anything. Didn’t even drink a beer?! I really could have gone for a reuben sandwich, but I just didn’t get my act together in time so we missed out on that. Ahh well, it was still a good day!
So I decided to share somewhat of a WIAW sort of post with you guys today, even though it doesn’t include some random snacks and has some food from a couple of different days. I think you’ll still get the gist of it though. Thanks for hosting, Jenn!
I will say though…I’ve really been lacking in the creativity and planning this past week when it comes to food. My veggie intake is lacking, my desire to cook is also lacking, and I’ve been finding myself resorting to a lot more meals that are quick, convenient, and “no frills.”
For example…a quick breakfast option I’ve been enjoying is a Flatout 5 Grain Flax Foldit, filled with peanut butter, banana, and raisins.
Since I keep PB in my desk at work, I just grab the other stuff on my way out the door in the morning and assemble once I’m at work. Quick and yummy.
I had to run out on my lunch hour the other day and never ended up packing a lunch, so I stopped in to Subway for a sandwich. I’ve always been a fan of their Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki, so I got that, loaded with some veggies, and some baked sour cream and onion chips on the side.
By the way…sour cream and onion chips? Heck. Yes. Who else is with me?
An afternoon snack favorite the past few days has definitely been this trail mix from Trader Joe’s. It’s good, and it’s dangerous…before I know it, I’m already a few handfuls in!
Speaking of Trader Joe’s…we just tried out this sweet potato gnocchi of theirs the other night and WOW. Just make sure you go pick up some of this stuff the next time you head over there, okay?
And just a heads up…the bag says there is 3 servings. There is definitely not 3 servings. At least not in our household. 
We threw this meal together super quick (again, I didn’t plan ahead so we were wingin’ it) and I paired the gnocchi with some frozen tilapia that my dad brought over for us recently. I couldn’t tell you the name brand of it, but it was pretty good.
I also, recently, came across a tin of flavored Tootsie Rolls that I’m pretty sure I got from Christmas. They’re stale as stale can be, but I just can’t bring myself to throw them away because they’re still totally delicious.
My love for flavored Tootsie Rolls (specifically, the vanilla ones) runs deep, you guys. And now after reading that old post, I want munchkins.
As I’m writing this post up on Tuesday evening, I’m pretty sure I can guarantee there will still be some sort of chocolate/dessert before the night is over, as this has been the norm these days. Or cereal.
So there’s a peek at some random food as of late. While it hasn’t necessarily been bad, per se, it’s amazing how much different things go when I don’t have things planned or prepped. Hopefully things will be back on track for next week, but for now, we’ll just be plowin’ through this week with what we’ve got and doing things on the fly.
What about you guys? Are you team Meal Planning? Or team Wing It?
I’m definitely team meal planning, most weeks. As much of a pain as it can be sometimes, it sure does make life easier during the weekdays.
I so wish there was a Trader Joe’s near where I live. Then again, it could be very dangerous to my wallet. :-)
I love TJ’s but I’m glad it’s not within a direct route for me because I’d be there ALL the time…
i am team meal planning, otherwise we would be eating popcorn and wine for dinner! When I don’t plan we never have food in the house so meals are less than thrilling.
Hey, popcorn and wine doesn’t sound all that bad? ;)
Those gnocchi look delicious. I wish we had Trader Joe’s in Switzerland!
I am definitely on team meal planning because I don’t have a lot of money and I find that meal planning allows me to save quite a bit on groceries.
However, I have a mixed approach to meal planning: I only plan 4 dinners and 4 lunches each week (breakfast is always the same). This way I can still eat out or be spontaneous the rest of the days. I usually save my flexible days for the weekend and Friday.
That sounds very similar to us! I typically try to plan 4 dinners just because I know there’s usually leftovers or we’ll eat out at some point over the weekend. Great approach!
I am totally a meal PLAN kind of girl :) I just can’t help but constantly think of meals I want to make, so luckily it’s easy!
I lovvvvvve planning. I feel like everything is just so much better and more creative if I do. I also save a ton of $$$, so I can support my kindle one-click habit!
Cattttttt!!! Hellooooo!! <3
Trader Joe’s has some cool stuff
I play for team meal planning or else I tend to go for unhealthy foods! While my meals do tend to feel a little too routine and blah at times, I try and switch things up every week by finding new recipes to make!
This week I’m on team wing it’ish. ;)
Can I also just say that I bought that trail mix over the weekend too, and it is DANGEROUS!
Glad we’re on the same page ;)
Always. Duh.
I’m team having-an-idea-but-mostly-just-wing-it. Like, we have things on hand at all times so that we can pretty much do what we need to, but every now and then we will decide to live dangerously and figure out some sort of plan! I love flavored tootsie rolls! Stale or not, I agree–so good!
Hahahaha, I love this answer Susie :)
I still live with my parents, and cooking usually ends up going to my mom and I, because we actually enjoy it. If there’s something I’ve been thinking of cooking for awhile, I’ll make sure we’ve got everything. But then other times, like this past Monday, we were winging it. My mom originally said pancakes and bacon, but after talking it over (she would’ve had to be in her office working while I cooked), I decided to make Carbonara. Standing over a hot stove flipping pancakes didn’t sound fun to me.
Those are two of my go-to Trader Joe’s products! I actually had to stop buying the trail mix for a while because we were eating wayyyy too much in one sitting :)
Nope, nothing festive here. I was secretly hoping someone would bring festive donuts or cookies to the office, but I had no such luck. ;)
I’ve had that sweet potato gnocchi before, and I agree, not exactly three servings but deeeeeelicious.
For me, meal planning varies from week to week depending on what else is going on! So I think I am team somewhere-in-the-middle haha.
That gnocchi from Trader Joes is AMAZING!!! I added some real maple syrup to the sauce while cooking it and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD!! The only problem is, I could have probably eaten all of it by myself, but I shared :P.
I’m generally on team meal-planning, but if I need to wing it or just crave something other than what I planned, that’s fine. All of your random eats actually look really good, and I definitely have to find those Trader Joe’s finds; they look amazing!
team wing it all the way!
I work almost seven days a week, so I have to meal plan or else I am eating fast food and random snacks.
It looks like you have some pretty tasty meals despite the lack of meal planning! That sweet potato gnocchi is calling to me!
I’m totally team meal plan! I’ve done random weeks here and there where we wing it, and our grocery bill is higher, our meals aren’t as good or healthy, I spend way too much time wondering what I should make for dinner, and I find myself back at the store multiple times throughout the week. Meal planning just works sooo much better for me.
Lately I’ve been team wing it – meaning the past 6 months or so. I do so much better when I meal plan, though! Then I don’t get sucked into going out to eat. This week I made some bulk brown rice and bought a few different types of proteins (fish, black bean burgers, chicken) to eat with it. Kind of boring. I think I’m going to try starting to actually meal plan, though. I’m hoping it’ll save me money AND help me shed some unnecessary weight!
Mmm sweet potato gnocchi sounds incredible! I’m definitely going to keep an eye out the next time I go to Trader Joe’s.
Team Meal Plan! Usually Friday afternoons as my work day is winding down or Saturday mornings I take some time to browse blogs, my pinterest board or cookbook to come up with some different options and make my grocery list. If something calls for an out of the norm ingredient, I try to find another recipe that also calls for it so I don’t totally waste it. I eat leftovers a lot as lunches too so that’s probably half of my motivation for being organized. Oh, and I was making like 3 stops a week to the grocery store and that got old real quick! It takes some time but def pays off.
Wow, it sounds like you have a great system in place! :)
I am “team meal plan,” but I’ve recently started choosing enough meals for the week while NOT specifying which days I am going to eat them. This leads me to be more intuitive and eat what my body is actually craving!
it totally depends on the week — i go from one extreme to the other!
I am SO “Team Wing It” lol… As much as I would LOVE to meal plan for the week, it just doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. Since my 13 month old is still transitioning from pureed food to actual table food, his meals are the only ones that are really planned. Hubby and I do make sure to always have lots of diff. foods on hand each week, so I do have an idea of what to make from week to week, though! Like yesterday, I made a delicious balsalmic lentil saute for dinner (from a recipe I found on Trader Joe’s site – http://www.traderjoes.com/Recipes/recipe/192), and I paired it with some turkey sausage. YUM! Love Trader Joe’s!! Haven’t met a recipe I didn’t like from their site yet!
We are definitely wingin it this week and it’s only Wednesday. Last night I was starving and there was nothing to make so we ended up getting pizza. It was okay but we get so sick of eating out. I made sure to thaw some chicken breast so we can cook that up tonight. I also need to go through my mac n cheese because of the recall (which I need to read about)!
I totally wing it, but always wishing I was on team meal planning!
Normally we are a total wing it for meals kind of family. Not this week though – you’ve inspired me! I wrote out meals for the week (starting today, since we were out of town for a long weekend), and went shopping and bought food to hopefully last us through Sunday.
Tonight I’m making a Mexican lasagna for the first time! We’re trying meal planning to add more variety each week, and to eat more veggies.
I usually like to buy ingredients for dinners and make whatever appeals to me that night. Leftovers are usually used for lunches.
I haven’t eaten at Subway for a long time – probably years now – but that sandwich looks pretty tasty.
Yes love sour cream and onion! We’re a bit of both.. I like to meal plan but sometimes I can’t be bothered so wing it! x
I’m definitely on team meal planning, but I do enjoy some freebie days to just wing it too. As a college student it helps me avoid going out or ordering in when I know I have everything I need to make something delicious myself! Plus, I know it saves me major dough. And mmm that trail mix from TJs! I saw it on the shelves a few weeks ago, but was able to resist it – don’t think that’s going to happen this week ;)
We have been winging meals as well over here and some nights end up with take out. Oh well, you win some and you loose some. Have a great Thursday!
I think I’m somewhere in the middle – I only cook for myself right now, so I don’t really need to meal plan, but I usually only end up rotating between 2-3 breakfasts, lunches and dinners each week. Not the best for variety, but it ensures I don’t end up wasting food, at least!
I am team meal planning in theory, but wing it a lot of the times. I am SO healthy though, sometimes I end up just busting a bag of veggies open and eating that for dinn!
I think we have the same flavor palate – your Subway lunch is exactly what I get whenever I go there (or else the salad version) & I LOVE vanilla tootsie rolls!
Haha, great minds think (and eat) alike! I just had the same sandwich again today, haha :)