Included in this grocery guide:
Weekly menu
Grocery list
A glimpse at the one thing that drastically changed how much time I spend in the kitchen on weeknights
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
A glimpse at this week’s recipe details
With the arrival of the warmer weather arrived, any doubts you had on Vitamin D and its impact on mood have probably been completely addressed. My guess is that all of the smiling faces of people out walking their dogs, riding their bikes or going for a run have shown you that the sunshine has great power. It seems like overnight, the trees went from barren and brown to bright and flourishing with lots of beautiful colors decorating the branches. I am in awe of the seasons, how they were created, with each of them having their specific purpose and intent. Spring is full of life, signifying energy and beauty. The days start to get longer and the desire to spend more time outside is strong. Whether biking, walking, running, or basking in the sun is your thing, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the great outdoors. And despite this shift in how you will use your free time, I am dedicated to making sure you are able to use your limited free time just as you choose while still enjoying a healthy and delicious meal every night of the week!
For those of you who are new here, welcome! We are glad to have you join the community of people who are interested in living a healthy and nourished life so we can continue to flourish. And for the community, I am wishing you a joyful Saturday filled with all of your favorites! Some of my favorites from this week included a fun game night with friends playing psychiatrist (if you know you know!), visiting a friend’s Spring garden & greenhouse, and celebrating two friend’s birthdays with a murder mystery dinner. While this week was filled with fun events, there are many weeks that are a bit more mundane, but still fun in their own ways. A change in season often invites in many new plans and get togethers. Don’t forget to answer the question of the week to share your exciting plans in this new season!
Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this guide so you can discover how I drastically decreased the amount of time I spend in the kitchen during weeknights.
Question of the Week
Comment below! What’s one fun thing you’re planning for the Spring?
Menu
Let’s make it easier for you to eat healthy, nourishing meals every day this week!
Before we jump in to the details, here are a few things to note so that we can make these recipes work best for you1:
Dietary restrictions? All meals are gluten-free & dairy-free optional and packed with veggies. For a more plant-forward option, swap the protein for beans.
Each recipe yields 4 servings—2 for dinner the night you cook and 2 for lunch the next day.
Cooking solo? You can freeze two servings for later or share meals with a friend.
For families, simply double the recipes to get two full meals on different days.
Grocery list
To make your grocery shopping easier, I recommend copying this and adding it to your notes on your phone.
Fruits & Veggies
1 container of raspberries (breakfast)
1 bag of apples (breakfast)
1 bag baby red potatoes (breakfast)
5 avocados (breakfast, tacos)
1 bunch cilantro (tacos)
1 bag of mixed greens (breakfast, pesto wraps, pasta, Japanese bowls)
4 Japanese purple sweet potatoes (Japanese bowls)
1 bunch of broccolini (Japanese bowls)
1 bunch of chives (Japanese bowls)
7 mixed bell peppers (pesto wraps, tacos, Teriyaki bowls)
1 container of multi color cherry tomatoes (pesto wraps, pasta)
4 English cucumbers (nourish bowls, tacos, Teriyaki bowls)
Protein
1 carton eggs (breakfast)
1 container cottage cheese (breakfast)
1 lb 93/7 ground turkey (Japanese bowls)
1.5 lb chicken thighs (pesto wraps)
2 lb chicken tenders (pesto pasta, Teriyaki bowls)
1 pack of chicken meatballs (nourish bowls) [I love Amylu or TJ’s version]
1 lb 93/7 ground beef (tacos)
Frozen
1 bag of California vegetables medley (Japanese bowls, nourish bowls)
1 bag of frozen broccoli (pesto pasta)
Packaged goods
3 seed mix of chia/flax/hemp (breakfast) [This is an added bonus, but great nutrients]
Japanese BBQ sauce (Japanese bowls) [We use the Bachan’s brand]
container of hummus (nourish bowls)
container of basil pesto (pesto wraps, pasta)
1 big pack of tortillas (pesto wraps, tacos) [I love the Siete tortillas]
1 box of GF pasta (pasta)
Teriyaki sauce (Teriyaki bowls) [I love the Primal Kitchen version]
Pantry staples checklist
peanut butter (breakfast)
quinoa (nourish bowls)
vanilla protein powder (breakfast)
hot sauce (tacos)
white or brown rice (Teriyaki bowls)
crunchy chili oil (Japanese bowls, Teriyaki bowls)
extra virgin olive oil (Get $5 off of Graza here)
spices: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, taco seasoning
“We have really enjoyed the recipes we made! Love the limited ingredients; Everything has been super easy.”
Tyler & Caroline, business professionals
Join 280+ people who are dedicated to living healthier as part of their full and wonderful lives so they can continue to feel good and flourish!
This one thing drastically decreased how much time I spend in the kitchen on weeknights
Eating a healthy meal shouldn’t have to mean compromising your evening plans or spending hours in the kitchen after a full and busy day. I am going to let you in on a little secret… I don’t spend more than 15 minutes in the kitchen during the week night. Even for someone who enjoys cooking and eating healthy, I have very little motivation to do it after a busy day of working. I created a system to not let my lack of motivation or energy during the week get in the way of fueling my body well.
In my next post, I’ll reveal the simple prep strategy that slashed my kitchen time in half - without sacrificing flavor or variety!
All the best,
Grace Barker
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Looking to save extra time while cooking - The Kitchen Conversion Companion may be of interest to you
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Looking to eat more protein? You have to check out this post
Want to save a few bucks on your publication next month? Share grace & greens with your friends! Refer a friend
This week’s recipes
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