Menu Plan Monday: November 23, 2015

Thanksgiving week is here! Get your last minute recipes and healthy eating tips, plus this week’s menu plan and links to love!

“It’s the final countdown…doo doo doo…the final countdown!”

Ok, that’s my attempt to sing the 1980s song as I think about the fact that Thanksgiving is THIS THURSDAY!!! (Anyone else remember that song from color war days at sleepaway camp?!)

Enough with my Monday morning musings. In case you’re still in planning mode and missed last week’s Menu Plan Monday post, I shared a whole bunch of Thanksgiving recipes and tips, so be sure to check them out.

Also, in case you missed the news (and my Instagram post), 2016 has been named the International Year of Pulses! I attended the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council‘s sponsored kick-off event last week and took the Pulse Pledge, which you can take too, starting in January.

This week’s menu plan (see below) is a little lighter than usual with Thanksgiving Thursday night and another family dinner with my in-law family on Friday night. I’m off the hook for hosting this year (whew!), but on Thursday I will be contributing my Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup and a toned down version of these Miso-Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Root Veggies (toned down since my parents aren’t the most adventurous eaters!).

My brother and his family recently moved to Maryland and are coming up for the holiday, which we’re excited about. They’re staying with us Wednesday night, so I’ll be making a pasta dinner for their arrival and hopefully I’ll get around to making my Spiced Pumpkin Bread too!

By the way, if you’re in the mood for a seasonal quick bread, check out these amazing recipes from all my Recipe ReDux friends. Unfortunately I didn’t get around to making a new recipe for this month’s post, but I actually have two new quick bread recipes coming to the blog soon, so stay tuned!

Oh, and on Friday when you’re coming out of your post-Thanksgiving food coma, be sure to tune in to Sirius XM channel 110 for Samantha Heller‘s Nutrition and Exercise show on Doctor Radio! I’ll be a guest talking about eating well for the holiday season!!

Hope everyone has a nutritious & delicious – and fabulous – Thanksgiving! 

Articles:

An Exercise in Self Compassion for Weight Loss @ Avocado a Day Nutrition

Eating Normally Over the Holidays @ Avocado a Day Nutrition (a must-read before Thursday!)

Is Your Child as Picky as You Think? @ Real Mom Nutrition

5 Make Healthy Easy Holiday Food Survival Tips @ Make Healthy Easy

Recipes:

Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Toasted Almonds @ Delish Knowledge

Mulled Tart Cherry Apple Cider @ Love & Zest

Maple Sweet Potato Hash with Fried Eggs and Kale @ Healthy Aperture (I see this in my future for weekend breakfast or weeknight dinner!)

Microwave Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie for One (Pizookie) @ The Pretty Bee

Week of November 23, 2015

Monday: Orange-Maple Salmon, Roasted Broccoli, and Cranberry Chickpea Rice Salad

Tuesday:  Leftovers

Wednesday: Baked Ziti Primavera and side salad

Thursday: Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s house!

Friday: Post-Thanksgiving dinner at my in-law’s house

What’s on your menu for Thanksgiving week?

Tweet me @JLevinsonRD with #DinnerTonight