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
Overnight Oats
Smoothies

Lunch/Dinner
Roasted asparagus, mashed cauliflower & lentil loaf - Easter
Spinach & Edamme salad
Spinach Black Bean Corn Salad
Chickpea Veggie Curry
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. Mmm, I love homemade larabars... just bought a whole bag of dried apricots, too! Best of luck with the challenge, we can do this!

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

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

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

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  3. 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!

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

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  4. I really need to make my own snacks!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  9. 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!

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

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  10. I just made these - they're great!

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  11. 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! :)

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    Replies
    1. 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 :(

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  12. 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! :)

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  13. 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!

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  14. 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

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  15. 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

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