It turns out this eating healthy thing does require a bit of effort. It’s not that things are difficult to make or even take much time, it’s more the mental fortitude it takes to get out of the rut of oh-just-grab-a-handful-of-XYZ. Luckily I have this space where when I say I want to refocus on eating more whole, healthy foods I feel like I need to stay accountable to y’all. So yesterday, instead of resorting to Clif Bars and Stacy’s pita chips for all day sustenance, I put forth some effort.
The smoothie kick continues! This one has vanilla protein, unsweetened almond milk, half a frozen banana, a spoonful of peanut butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
The mental effort? Overcoming my constant dread of cleaning the blender. The time it took to actually clean the blender? About 30 seconds.
We somehow made it out and to playgroup yesterday morning. I downed two handfuls of lightly salted almonds on the ride over and forgot to take a picture. However, this is a more fun image to look at anyways…
Does anything scream SUMMER more than kids running through a sprinkler? I love those kids and their mamas.
We made it back home in time for lunch.
Greens, Tabouli salad and chicken. Effort? Minimal, thanks to Sunday’s mini food prep.
Hailey spent the afternoon with her BFF which allowed me to run errands AND eat a snack. #winning
I love these Strawberry Power O’s. And yes, my three week old can almost flip herself out of her lounger. I’m going to have my hands full with this one.
Hailey went down at 7:00 and Kaitlyn followed soon after around 7:30. I celebrated with a glass of vino.
Effort for wine is always worth it, but it’s even easier when it comes from a box. Now you know just how fancy I am.
Now dinners, however, do require some effort. I’m not back into the swing of meal planning just yet, so I feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants. It’s not something I’m wild about, but it will have to do for now. While running errands I came up with a simple concept- burgers. They are hearty, David-approved and you can grill them, which means minimal clean up. To keep the meal on the healthier side, I wrapped mine in a collard leaf and paired it with squash and onions from Saturday’s farmers market.
The result? Incredible! It was my first time using a collard leaf as a wrap and I enthusiastically approve. The collard is sturdier than lettuce and almost water proof, which helps it hold in all the fillings in a neat little package. It doesn’t really add any flavor, just a nice crunch. I’ll definitely be doing this more often.
Thanks Jenn for hosting WIAW! Now let’s chat…
What is your favorite kind of wrap?
Have you ever used a collard leaf?
What is your go-to healthy dinner when you have to throw something together last minute?
Millicent Jones says
You are only three weeks in and doing an amazing job mama! Those are two lucky girls! The collard wrap looks DELISH!!! I am going to have to try that very soon.
Jess Mathias says
Totally understand the cleaning the mixer dread. Not sure how you’re cleaning it but I was given a great tip that makes it so much easier. Put some dish detergent in the blender, add water and then add back to the blender base- turn it on and it cleans itself! I love it!
Sarah says
I do this too… Best tip ever!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
I love using romaine lettuce as a wrap for burgers! You can’t beat that crunch. 🙂
Marjorie says
I have never used a collard as a wrap, but what a great idea!
You are doing great as a mom of two! I marvel at what all you do. I think if I ever have another, I am going to try and be less chained to the house. It was probably a first time mom thing, but I was really a hermit with my first one…and I went a little stir crazy.
Jillian @ Baby Doodah! says
Oh my gosh! Marjorie, me too! I spent almost his entire first 3 months of life indoors. I never realized all the fun I missed by getting outside and enjoy the weather (E was born in the summer).
Heathers Looking Glass says
Sometimes wine from a box tastes best! I can’t wait till I can have it again!
Jessica says
We have the same boppy lounger! My 9 day old is already showing signs of rolling too and prefers to sleep on her side, even when swaddled :/ Freaks me out even as a second time mom. Lol. 😀
Ali says
I feel ridiculous when I don’t want to make a smoothie because I have to clean the blender too! You’re right though – it takes about 30 seconds!
Heather says
I’m quite impressed at how much you are doing with a 3 week old and a toddler. I am almost a year in with my first and I still don’t have it together. I have a few good meals I like to throw together that are quick and easy, but my favorite is the Southwest Shrimp Salad that you make, my husband and I both love it! I substitute the shrimp for chicken most of the time, but everything else I keep the same and it comes together in about 20 minutes or less.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I’ve been meaning to try the collard wrap thing! I ever bought some… but then completely forgot and they went bad on me 🙁
Lisa O says
Looks like you are doing a fab job of being a mummy-of-two… you are doing wonders for my pregnancy jitters about the second coming along (my daughter will be almost exactly 2 and a 1/2, so similar to your situation). You approach everything with such sunshine, yet keep things real. Reading this blog is like taking a huge, deep breath and realising on the exhalation that everything is going to be ok. Thank you so much! PS Bring on those lactation cookies in 11 weeks time for me! Yum 🙂
Jill Shelley says
I am so loving my Power Os too….thanks to you! They finally arrived in our town and I bought 7 boxes!
Dr. Adam Kipp says
I sautee collard greens and eat them as a side dish with a little salt, pepper, and balsamic! Love the idea of using it as a burger wrap. They are also delicious in juice or smoothies!
Dominique @ Eat, Pray, Lift says
That collard wrap (and, ok, the burger inside it) looks absolutely delicious! I will have to give that a shot.
Sounds like you are doing a great job eating healthy while also caring for a brand spankin’ new baby and a growing toddler, so major props to you! Looking forward to hearing more about your postpartum nutrition/exercise journey. 🙂
Katie @ Pick Any Two says
Oh my word, I dread cleaning the blender so much you’d think it was an hour-long chore! I don’t fully understand my aversion to it, but it’s strong!
Tia @ Tina and Tia says
I love collards – I usually saute them in olive oil – never thought to use it as a wrap. Great idea!
char eats greens says
Yup, officially love using collards for wraps too (just used them for the first time a week and a half ago!). Why I never tried sooner is beyond me!! I totally want to try those Power O’s. I hope they make their way to Canada very soon! Kids in the sprinkler = amazing, plus, I feel like I’m having fun through them in that picture! haha
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I love that you wrapped your burger in collard greens! I am definitely going to try that the next time I made veggie burgers. Thanks for the great idea 🙂
Matt @ Runner Savvy says
You are doing great!
Jillian @ Baby Doodah! says
I’ve been using romaine lettuce lately for my morning breakfast sandwich and for my lunch. I’m thinking I need to give the collard leaves a try…they look much sturdier!
I have to agree with everyone else – you are doing an amazing job with your girls and keeping everything going. It amazes me that you blog as much as you do with two children. Thank you for sharing the realities!!
Sarah says
My husband and I have a nice little system worked out – he makes our smoothies for breakfast every morning before we run out the door, and I clean the blender in the afternoon when I get home from work (since I get home a couple hours earlier than him). That way it’s ready to go for the next morning.
My favorite wrap lately has been those small corn tortillas. They’re delicious and a nice small size so I don’t fill them up too much. But the collard is a great idea, and so healthy too! I’ll have to try it.
Lindsey says
I love a good wrap! I’ve never used a collard leaf but sounds like something I need to try! When I need something for dinner in a pinch, I’ll make tacos with frozen ground buffalo (so good and lean, trust me!) or ground turkey, or I’ll put cubed tofu into a frying pan with a little olive oil, honey, pepper and chili powder. And the easiest dinner ever to make with a small baby is taco salads – I’ll put chicken breasts in the crockpot in the morning along with a jar of salsa. In the evening I will shred the chicken and put it atop beds of lettuce with some cheese and more salsa. So easy and filling!
cheryl says
lucky you that you have time to even think about errands and dinner…I was pretty much a single mom (married the wrong guy the first time around), had no help, and was back at work by the time my baby was 6 weeks old. She spent the first month of her life in ICU. I sure didn’t have time to “put meals together” or blog about it…
jac says
Just wanted to say that your view is stunning! I am new to reading your blog so I am going back through some of your previous posts. Your house is stunning and your girls are so cute. Looking forward to reading some more 🙂