I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  We did.  I don’t feel as if we went crazy running around everywhere, but we did what we wanted and spent the rest of the time relaxing as a family.  That is the perfect holiday for me!

The Christmas tree is down (but the other decorations are still up – those will come down slowly over the next week a bit at a time), and the living room rearranged.  We have one more day off before we start up with our regular schedule tomorrow.  I’m going to make this short so I can make my family some pancakes before they wake up.  🙂

Wendy of Celiacs in the House is our host for the Gluten Free Menu Swap this week.  She has picked the theme of “Eat more Produce.”  During this season of grand plans and lofty resolutions, this is something we can all get behind!  Even adding a bit more produce to every meal really adds up.  Try it!  We are big salad eaters at our house, but I do try to also add extra veggies everywhere else that I can.   My hubby says I can’t cook a meal under seven colors…  I am a bit of a veggie pusher!  One thing I do to encourage extra veggie snacking in my kids is to have already cut up veggie sticks in the fridge with humus, guacamole or other dips they like (I put the dip into little containers – they can have as many veggies as they want with one container of dip for a snack).  I keep it in the same place in the fridge all the time.  It’s easier for kids to grab a snack that way and they know those veggies are never off limits for snacking anytime.

If one of your resolutions is to make more homemade meals as a family, the January 2012 Gluten Free Dairy Free freezer menu is up at Once a Month Mom to help you out!

Also, if another resolution is to transition to a more whole foods diet for your family, Once a Month Mom is starting a series called “Get Real.”  They will be posting weekly items that pertain to monthly topics to transition away from processed foods and towards whole foods eating.  I’ll be following along and discussing the topics as it applies to gluten free dairy free eating.  It should be a fun year!

Monday:  No school/No work/XC ski meet/strain chicken stock and beef stock – freeze/bake 3 loaves GF bread

Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli over rice

 

Tuesday:  Chamber orchestra/Jazz Band/Newspaper club/Piano lessons/XC ski meet

Sweet Potato Casserole with salad (dressed with homemade Italian dressing)

 

Wednesday:  Mommy work/Dance lessons/Youth Group

Southwestern Noodle Dish with salad

 

Thursday:  Mommy work

Slow Cooker Pork and Apple Curry with salad

 

Friday:  Bake Raspberry Lemon Muffins/SC ski meet

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes, homemade Sweet Potato and Beet Chips and salad

 

Saturday:

Banana Pancakes, homemade turkey sausage, slow cooker baked apples

 

For more Menu Plan Monday menu inspiration, visit orgjunkie.com!