Menu Planning 3/31 & Apricot Coconut Bars

menu planning


Linking up with Jill and Laura for menu planning. Getting better on the meal planning habit as we keep forgetting what our plans were. Tomorrow also marks the start of the sugar detox I am doing with Laura. I decided to take this one step further and also cut out dairy (most if not all animal products) and limit processed foods. Still time to join us, check out this post for details. I love cheese and need to get all dairy gone for my allergies to clear, this will be my toughest meal planning obstacle. With planning I think this can work, my biggest trigger is afternoon snacking so I am going to work hard to keep that under control and have healthy options to quickly grab. What are your on the go healthy options?

Vegan Magnet - We Are Not Ingredients
Very fitting with my weekly goals (Source)

Breakfast
Banana Breakfast Cake (my usual)
Overnight Oats
Smoothies

Lunch/Dinner
Roasted asparagus, mashed cauliflower & lentil loaf - Easter
Spinach & Edamme salad
Spinach Black Bean Corn Salad
Chickpea Veggie Curry
Pad Thai
Black Bean/Sweet Potato Burger & Roasted Potatoes
Grilled Eggplant “steaks”
Banana Oat Pancakes

Snack
Veggies and Hummus
Core Defender Bars – Pre-run “meal”
Apples with SunButter
Brown Rice Cakes with Almond Butter
Pumpkin Granola
Apricot Coconut Bars (recipe below)

Apricot Coconut “Lara Bar”
½ cup dates
½ cup dried apricots
½ cup almonds
¼ cup applesauce – unsweetened
¼ - ½ cup oats depending on dryness desired
¼ cup coconut- unsweetened
¼- ½ tsp ginger

Put all ingredients in food processor and puree until smooth (desired consistency). Pack into parchment lined baking dish 8x8 and place in freezer or refrigerator until set, cut and store in sealed container (mine are still in refrigerator)


How is your weekly menu looking? Anything you want to share?

Happy Easter! Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Marathon Monday and share your week in training.








Comments

  1. Mommy Run FastMarch 31, 2013 at 7:27 AM

    Mmm, I love homemade larabars... just bought a whole bag of dried apricots, too! Best of luck with the challenge, we can do this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenMarch 31, 2013 at 3:28 PM

      Good luck to you too! I have a Costco bag of apricots needed to use some up!

      Delete
  2. SarahMarch 31, 2013 at 7:53 AM

    Your apricot-coconut bars sounds awesome! I've never made "larabars" before with applesauce - I'll have to try it out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenMarch 31, 2013 at 3:29 PM

      I thought it needed a little more sweetness and applesauce just happened to be next to the apricots so in it went!

      Delete
  3. UnknownMarch 31, 2013 at 9:42 AM

    I need to make some homemade bars again. I always feel so much better about it when I eat ones where I get to pick and choose the ingredients! Yours sound delish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenMarch 31, 2013 at 3:29 PM

      I know, I prefer to control what is in them and so much cheaper too :)

      Delete
  4. UnknownMarch 31, 2013 at 6:47 PM

    I really need to make my own snacks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenMarch 31, 2013 at 8:25 PM

      It takes time but I try to make a batch that will last all week :)

      Delete
  5. KristsMarch 31, 2013 at 11:07 PM

    Looks delicious, I'll definitely have to try the apricot coconut bars!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenApril 1, 2013 at 7:57 AM

      They are pretty good, hiding them so they last a few days ;)

      Delete
  6. gschroerMarch 31, 2013 at 11:23 PM

    I make Apricot "Larabars" similar to that but haven't thought to add ginger. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  7. gschroerMarch 31, 2013 at 11:24 PM

    I make Apricot "Larabars" similar to that but haven't thought to add ginger. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  8. jillconyersApril 1, 2013 at 4:12 AM

    The pumpkin granola sounds yummy! Good luck with the sugar/dairy detox. Love the image :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenApril 1, 2013 at 7:58 AM

      I started adding buckwheat groats to my granola for a little crunch, love it. Making some this afternoon :)

      Delete
  9. HelenApril 1, 2013 at 3:51 PM

    I've pinned your recipe - I'm just missing the dates from my pantry so my next shop I'll be picking some up and checking this out - they sound delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenApril 1, 2013 at 5:40 PM

      Thanks :) I try to keep dates on hand for all my experimenting!

      Delete
  10. Miss PricklyApril 1, 2013 at 6:34 PM

    I just made these - they're great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownApril 2, 2013 at 12:54 PM

    Pinned those bars for later use. They look deeeeelish! Good luck on your sugar detox. Plus cutting out dairy? I don't think I could do that! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach JenApril 2, 2013 at 3:43 PM

      The dairy is the tougher part for me but I have done it before so I know I can. I was at the store today and the yogurt was calling my name :(

      Delete
  12. UnknownApril 2, 2013 at 12:55 PM

    Pinned those bars for later use. They look deeeeelish! Good luck on your sugar detox. Plus cutting out dairy? I don't think I could do that! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousApril 5, 2013 at 2:03 PM

    Love the "We are not ingredients" pin. I was behind someone in Zumba who had a shirt on with a picture of an egg and a pig. The shirt said "Ham and Eggs: A one day commitment for a chicken, a lifetime for a pig".

    I love cauliflower so much can't believe I haven't tried it mashed yet!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Heather @Gluten-Free CatApril 6, 2013 at 10:27 AM

    Love this recipe! We must have been on the same wavelength this week. I made raw apple pie bars this week. They've been a great grab-and-go snack. I'm making yours next. LOVE apricots! Would you be interested in linking these up to Raw Foods Thursdays? We'd love to have you! http://www.glutenfreecat.com/2013/04/raw-foods-thursdays-4413/
    Have a great weekend!

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  15. cindyApril 11, 2013 at 9:45 AM

    Oh, yum! These bars look great!!! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :)

    Really looking forward to seeing what you bring to the party this week! It starts Thursday evening!

    Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. eRecipeMay 22, 2014 at 7:38 PM

    I'd like to invite you to join our site www.erecipe.com . I really enjoy your blog and recipes and I think the over 8,000 unique daily visitors to eRecipe will too.
    By joining eRecipe, we will provide the Nutrition Facts for every recipe you post in which you could customize and add to your blog. Viewers need and love to know the nutritional facts. Its a free service that we offer to blogs and recipes we really love. It looks professional and your members will love it.
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