Welcome to Mindful Menus - A Menu Planning Blog Roll to inspire health through real food!

It is my hope that this blog roll will inspire others to health through menu planning and to introduce you to the joys of menu planning. Yes, there are joys! If you are new to menu planning, I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Don't forget to keep checking back as menu plans are added. 

 
Well... Fourth of July is over and I am kind of sad.  I LOVE the holiday.  It is definitely a day that kids AND grown-ups enjoy.  We had a great overnight at my brother and sister-in-law's house.  They KNOW how to do parties right.  We spent the day eating, enjoying the pool, eating, visiting, eating, hanging out, eating, well, you get the picture.  We didn't have to leave the house to watch fireworks.  The children were so tired from the sun and swimming that all they wanted to do was watch a movie.  The adults hung out outside talking and watching the neighborhood displays going on all around us.  At times, we felt the need to duck, as they were coming from all directions!  We spent today hanging out around their pool.  It was a perfect way to end the holiday weekend.  I hope you had a memorable day with family and friends celebrating our country's independence. 

I liked how I did my menu plan the last few weeks... with no specific meals assigned to days, so I am doing it again. 

Here's what's on menu this week and if we don't get to it, you may see it again next week:

• Free-For-All Monday - fruit, cereal, or whatever floats your boat, cause I am not cooking, nor do I really feel like eating after the 4th of July. 

• Bobby Flay had a 4th of July picnic menu in the Parade magazine last week .  It looked so good that I thought I might try it this week.  Grilled Salmon with Mustard Barbecue Sauce - I have done a dijon maple glaze for salmon in the past and liked it, so I think I'll like Bobby's.  His uses honey for sweetness... black bean and corn succotash... roasted sweet potato salad - I am basing mine roughly on his version.

• DH loves Chicken Caesar Salad, so this is for him.

• Vegetarian - Omelets with shallots, spinach and feta... mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

• Vegetarian - POW (Pizza of the Week) - One homemade no sauce mixed mushroom, roasted asparagus, garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella and another one with red sauce, turkey italian sausage, mozzarella and fresh basil.

Until next time... Eat REAL, Eat WELL- Cheers!!!

Menu Planners: Please join me by linking your healthy menu plan via McLinky on Sunday evenings. I usually have my menu plan up by 9pm... If you're not ready until Monday evening... No worries, just please do it!

A few "rules" for joining in Mindful Menus...

*Please post only menu plans that are healthy and focused on REAL food.

*You must link back to the blog roll so that everyone can explore all the menu plans available. This is such a great way to get new menu ideas, new recipes and meet other like-minded people.  To link back, please grab a Mindful Menus button (in the sidebar on the right) for your post.

*If you link up and are on Twitter, please let me know by comment with your twitter name or tweet to me @chivetalker.  I would love to tweet a thanks to you for joining in and I want to add you to my Menu Planners List