The Wedding Diet: Week 3

Hey, Ally here, back with another week of easy recipes and grocery lists for you and your wedding/ bikini season/any reason diet plan!  New to the wedding diet? Start back at week one >> here << or read about my recent engagement >> here <<

Not going to say much about my progress this week because frankly I went to Mexico for a bachelorette party and it all went down the drain.  Basically starting from scratch here, (and kind of considering a Whole 30 plan) but mostly my “diet” has just been abstaining from alcohol since the trip. Not too hard considering the 4 AM Cancun club nights…

ANYWAY, here we go!  This week we’re exploring some of my favorite bloggers’ recipes 🙂

The Wedding Diet: Rules

1. Repeat after me: this is not a crash diet, this is not a fad diet, this is not a starvation diet.  The only way this is going to work and impact us long-term is if it is delicious, satisfying food that keeps us full and happy and healthy.
2. I’m shooting for 1,300- 1,600 calories per day of real, whole foods.
3. This is not a specialty diet.  I don’t have any allergies I’m taking into consideration.  This is not gluten free, paleo, whole 30, dairy-free, carb-free, or anything else.  I eat meat, I eat dairy, I eat carbs.  Everything in moderation.
4. The only things I’m saying “NO” to are things like white pasta, white rice, white flour, white sugar, etc.  Anything process and refined is a no-no.  Carbs aren’t the enemy as long as they’re complex carbs like whole wheat bread, brown rice, ancient grains, and natural sweeteners like honey or agave.
5. Cheating is built-in. You get one night out at a restaurant and you also get built-in flex points every day to ensure you can still live your life. Have that glass of wine or fancy coffee drink.  No need to beat yourself up over it 🙂
6. I work all day, so lunches will be portable, and then I go home and cook dinner for me and the fiancé, (weird to say, right?!) That being said, the meal plans and grocery lists are for 1 person for breakfast, lunch and snacks, but 2 people for dinner. Adjust accordingly.
7. No weird ingredients you can’t find at the store and no difficult cooking techniques.
8. I keep things EASY & cost-effective.  Breakfasts and snacks are something simple and easy to take on-the-go, and I meal prep my lunches for the week on Sundays.  Breakfasts and lunches will be repetitive to save on cost and effort, but you’ll get to have fun at dinner, promise 😉
9. I highly recommend Kombucha in the mornings! It has tons of health benefits like increased metabolism and immune system, as well as a little caffeine for a boost.  It’s fizzy and tangy and cold, which is exactly what I crave when I wake up.  You can find it in the grocery store near the orange juice.
10. Save yourself time & effort and only grocery shop ONCE a week on the weekend 🙂

The Wedding Diet Meal Plan: Week 3

Sunday (aka Day 0) To Do: 

1. Grocery shop! (Grocery list at the bottom of the post)
2. Cook the Healthy Shrimp & Fried Rice Meal Prep and pack them up in Tupperware for lunches this week.  I love this recipe from Damn Delicious 🙂
3. Wash and dry your berries and portion them out for snacks this week.
4. Pack up 5 yogurts to bring to work for breakfasts.
5. Make your turkey & cheese roll-ups for snacks. Divide the turkey slices into 5 equal portions.  Top each portion with a slice of deli cheese and roll them up like long cigarettes. Keep them in plastic bags or containers!
6. You may need to freeze some of the meat you’re using later in the week. Check the expiration dates!

Monday (Day 1):

• Breakfast: eat a greek yogurt during your morning routine, as you’re walking out the door, or on your way to work.  Feel free to use some of your flex points to have coffee, juice or a bottle of Kombucha to wake you up!
• Morning Snack: about 1.5 hours after that you’re going to start feeling hungry.  Snack on your berries!
• Lunch: Chow down on your (damn) delicious Healthy Shrimp & Fried Rice Meal Prep.  It only needs about 1 minute and 30 seconds in the microwave.
• Afternoon Snack: Snack on your turkey cheese roll ups! The protein will help you keep going until dinner time.
• Dinner: Tonight you’re making Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs from the Bewitchin’ Kitchen. Serve over cauliflower rice for a filling, paleo meal.  Save the leftovers in Tupperware so you can have it for lunch later in the week.
• Flex Points: You have 50- 450 flex calories, (which will get you to a total of 1,200- 1,600 calories).  A glass of red wine is only 120 calories, so have two or three if that’s your thing.  Or maybe you could snack on some dark chocolate.  It’s Monday, treat yourself!

Tuesday (Day 2):

• • Breakfast: eat a greek yogurt during your morning routine, as you’re walking out the door, or on your way to work.  Feel free to use some of your flex points to have coffee, juice or a bottle of Kombucha to wake you up!
  • Morning Snack: about 1.5 hours after that you’re going to start feeling hungry.  Snack on your berries!
  • Lunch: Chow down on your (damn) delicious Healthy Shrimp & Fried Rice Meal Prep.  It only needs about 1 minute and 30 seconds in the microwave.
  • Afternoon Snack: Snack on your turkey cheese roll ups! The protein will help you keep going until dinner time.
  • Dinner: Pinch of Yum’s Pesto Asparagus Noodles honestly look like a low-carb dream. Put cheese and bacon on anything and it’ll be awesome. Enjoy 🙂
  • Flex Points: You have 120-520 flex calories, (which will get you to a total of 1,200- 1,600 calories).  Maybe a skinny frappucinno was calling your name today- hey, it’s okay!

Wednesday (Day 3):

• Breakfast: eat a greek yogurt during your morning routine, as you’re walking out the door, or on your way to work.  Feel free to use some of your flex points to have coffee, juice or a bottle of Kombucha to wake you up!
• Morning Snack: about 1.5 hours after that you’re going to start feeling hungry.  Snack on your berries!
• Lunch: Chow down on your (damn) delicious Healthy Shrimp & Fried Rice Meal Prep.  It only needs about 1 minute and 30 seconds in the microwave.
• Afternoon Snack: Snack on your turkey cheese roll ups! The protein will help you keep going until dinner time.
• Dinner: Hellooooo soup and salad situation of my dreams 🙂 Pinch of Yum will delight you again with this Spicy Carrot Soup which you should totally pair with an easy side salad.  Whip up an easy homemade dressing: 2 Tbsp olive oil + 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar + 1 squirt honey + 1 squirt mustard + salt + pepper.
• Flex Points: You have up to 320 flex calories, (which will get you to a total of 1,200- 1,600 calories).  I don’t know about you, but hump day just screams for an ice cold beer.

Thursday (Day 4)

• Breakfast: eat a greek yogurt during your morning routine, as you’re walking out the door, or on your way to work.  Feel free to use some of your flex points to have coffee, juice or a bottle of Kombucha to wake you up!
• Morning Snack: about 1.5 hours after that you’re going to start feeling hungry.  Snack on your berries!
• Lunch: Chow down on your (damn) delicious Healthy Shrimp & Fried Rice Meal Prep.  It only needs about 1 minute and 30 seconds in the microwave.
• Afternoon Snack: Snack on your turkey cheese roll ups! The protein will help you keep going until dinner time.
• Dinner: Okay, yes, I’m obsessed with Pinch of Yum recipes. Tonight you’re making Sweet Potato Gnocchi. Don’t be scared! She makes it really easy for you 🙂 Tutorial video >> here << Save up your leftovers for lunches this weekend!
• Flex Points: You have up to 320 flex calories, (which will get you to a total of 1,200- 1,600 calories).

Friday (Day 5):

• Breakfast: eat a greek yogurt during your morning routine, as you’re walking out the door, or on your way to work.  Feel free to use some of your flex points to have coffee, juice or a bottle of Kombucha to wake you up!
• Morning Snack: about 1.5 hours after that you’re going to start feeling hungry.  Snack on your berries!
• Lunch: Heat up your leftover Curry Chicken Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice!
• Afternoon Snack: Snack on your turkey cheese roll ups! The protein will help you keep going until dinner time.
• Dinner: Happy Friday! Make it feel fancy with these Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps from Gimme Some Oven, another one of my fav’s.
• Flex Points: You have 100- 500 flex calories, (which will get you to a total of 1,200- 1,600 calories). It’s Friday, let your hair down a little. Have a glass of wine, heck, have two.

Saturday (Day 6):

• Breakfast: Ahhh, finally the weekend 🙂 Start the day off right with filling and delicious BREAKFAST TACOS from How Sweet Eats.  And you’re on a diet. You win.
• Lunch: Heat up your leftover sweet potato gnocchi and relax 🙂 No more cooking today
• Afternoon Snack: Snack on an apple to keep you going until dinner!
• Dinner: Go out! You deserve it. You have 170- 570 flex calories to spend on a delicious meal and maybe a cocktail 😉

Sunday (Day 7):

• Breakfast: Ahhh, finally the weekend 🙂 Start the day off right with filling and delicious BREAKFAST TACOS from How Sweet Eats.  And you’re on a diet. You win.
• Lunch: Heat up your leftover sweet potato gnocchi and relax 🙂 No more cooking today
• Afternoon Snack: Snack on an apple to keep you going until dinner!
• Dinner: Get ready for guilt-free Italian night with Damn Delicious’ Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan
• Flex Points: You have up to 270 flex calories, (which will get you to a total of 1,200- 1,600 calories).

The Wedding Diet: Grocery List

P.S. Let me know how it’s going on here or on social media @allyscooking!