Clean Eating Challenge

The Moores have had a BUSY November so far and with the most wonderful time of the year upon us, it's about to get even busier. We spent last weekend in Atlanta for our Goddaughter's baptism and this past weekend in Dallas visiting friends who just adopted AND had a baby! When you are with friends you haven't seen in a long time, there's always an excuse to eat dessert and drink those few extra beers. Such a wonderful time we had! But after two weekends away, Mark and I were adamant about cleaning out our systems and eating a super clean diet until Thanksgiving. Travelling tires us out so combine that with indulging a bit more than usual and we are tired, bloated, cranky lovies.

Mark is always game for a healthy challenge but I needed one more person to keep me accountable and my blonde sister (Sophie) was the lucky one! She is the ying to my yang and my accountability partner in so many areas of my life. We decided on Sunday to do this clean eating challenge together in our respective households- everything is more fun with a friend! We came up with guidelines and a shared Google document with our meal plan/ideas for the week. Our focus is lots of lean proteins, vegetables and fruits that are low in sugar and packed with fiber. Since we're really trying to eat clean, we also cut out dairy (eggs are liquid chickens, and therefore, considered a meat), complex carbohydrates and starches. This should go without being said, but ice cream night is cancelled this Wednesday as well as next and sugary treats have been put away in hiding. Sadly, the wine that we both love to sip on while cooking dinner has also been cut out- but just for this challenge!

The meal plan that Sophie and I came up with is so tasty and incorporates bursts of different flavor every night. It just proves that a healthy menu doesn't have to be a lackluster one. Here are some of our dinner choices:

Grilled Ribeye

Baby greens with plum tomatoes, sweet red peppers and dijon balsamic vinaigrette

Turkey Meatloaf

(minus cheese and breadcrumbs, add mushrooms!)

Pan roasted green beans

Grilled chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Pistachio Pesto

Romaine with plum tomatoes, avocado and lemon vinaigrette

Ginger Garlic Shrimp

Roasted broccoli

Lean Sirloin Burgers with Guacamole

Mexican Chopped Salad

Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The best part about this challenge is that 2.5 days in and I feel so great! I don't feel as bloated as normal and when I'm full at dinner, it's not the same kind of full as when I go for that extra helping of my dad's Penne a la Vodka or that extra piece of perfect pizza with roasted mushrooms and arugula. I never weigh myself. As in I never do it. Ever. I know it sounds crazy, but my weight usually fluctuates within a 10 pound range and as long as my clothes fit me the same, I feel like I am on track. But when we got home on Sunday, I was curious as to what the scale said. I wasn't mad, but I was on the upper end of my 10 pound area and just feeling blah. Fast forward to this morning (Wednesday) and taking into account that I probably have some extra water weight this week, but I was seven pounds lighter than I was on Sunday! I realize a lot of this is water weight but results are results and as someone who has lost 40 plus pounds in college, seeing my weight go in the right direction in numbers is remarkable and encouraging.

I am by no means a health expert and cannot promise any sort of results. I am just sharing what works for Mark and I when we are trying to detox after lots of over indulging.

Here's to eating healthy before the Holidays!