Being on the road as much as I am, the temptation of fast food is always there. These are some simple lunches I've put together lately and I thought it may inspire some of you!

I have been on a quest for a good boxed mac and cheese for you know, those moments when nothing else sounds good and you need something easy to throw together.

Well thank goodness for Target because I finally found one to try and guess what? It is super good!

Salsa Chicken is SUCH an easy dinner recipe, but it gets old, so I decided to kick it up a notch.

Yesterday I finally went to get a second opinion on my heath.

Here's a brief recap of how it went…

These winter months get TOUGH. We crave creature comfort foods that often aren't the most nutritious.

Here's a super simple throw together meal to warm you up on these cold winter days.

This recipe has been all over my for you page on TikTok so I decided to give it a whirl. It honestly couldn't be easier.

We enjoyed ours with smoked venison and they were amazing. I ate just about the whole bag of them and will definitely be making them again.

If you are ever in need of a quick and easy meal stop when you are out and about I recently discovered that Five Guys has a burger bowl option. It is great for a gf, df, alternative when you are on the go. You can choose if you want a hamburger or a cheeseburger and all of their toppings are free, so you can have it all!

About a month ago I started going to see Naturally Rach in St. Paul (check her out here) and have been doing bi-weekly cupping and energy work. I cannot recommend it enough. I had no expectations going into my first session. I only wanted to try it out and see if I could feel a difference in my body and my autoimmune flairs. I have been doing so good at keeping my flairs in check with what I am eating I wanted to see if this could also relieve some inflammation.

This recipe is so bold and flavorful you are going to love it.

Layer rice, pickles, pickled onions, pork, mushrooms/onions, and avocado. Top with GF yum yum sauce and a drizzle of coconut aminos.

I am obsessed with Sushi lately. I can't get enough, so when I stumbled upon this recipe I knew I could simplify it to make it more doable for a weeknight dinner.

Rice at the bottom, add shrimp, avocado, jalapeno, matchstick carrots, cucumbers, and fried onions. Drizzle with sriracha mayo and coconut aminos. Top with Black Sesame Seeds if desired.

This is one of my go to winter crockpot recipes. It is so easy and it makes wonderful leftovers.

Toss it all in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours, shred chicken and mix it all together.

Top with Coconut yogurt/sour cream, avocado, jalapeno, cheese/cheese substitute

Enjoy!

Serve with mashed potatoes and boiled carrots. A true Minnesotan delight.

Enjoy!

Recipes and re-defining how I cook and use ingredients has been an insanely important part of this journey. I couldn't control my symptoms naturally if it weren't for how I was fueling my body. I can now completely control my autoimmune flares with just the food I consume.

I am not on a huge budget, so all of these recipes are doable and affordable. AND GOOD! If you didn't know they were dietary restricted you wouldn't be able to taste the difference.

It's been quite the month. I am so proud of this AIP journey. I have never once said I was perfect on this protocol, but I did the best I could to stay on track throughout the month and I absolutely learned how to clean up what I cook again and rethink how I fuel my body. It isn't about weight loss, but overall health and I think I am learning to find a good balance. I have also learned the hard way that dairy and gluten are for sure triggers. When I have been exposed or eaten anything my symptoms get significantly worse in the evenings. I still have not tried incorporating any eggs yet. My plan is to stay egg, dairy, and gluten free for the foreseeable future.

At my thinnest I was running 100+ miles a week. I was fainting because I wasn't eating enough. I was socially isolated because I had to eat different than my peers (especially in college). I was the thin. I ate bagels and doughnuts and all I did was run and lift. I had so much empty space on my calendar during college that's all I did. I'd spend 3-4 hours a day running and in the gym. I'd go back to my apartment, eat, shower, and go to bed.

I had no confidence. I was just trying to fit in.

I can't believe it's been almost a month of this new lifestyle. It has definitely been a journey. Never in my life did I think I'd be scouring the aisles for vegan cheese options or dairy free milk alternatives, but here I am.

One of the biggest things I knew I didn't want to have to give up was living life while trying to heal my body. I know that with enough planning and advanced prep (even though I know I don't want to do it sometimes) I can do the things I love and not feel isolated or alone because I can't eat anything provided. I also need to get over the stigma of bringing food for myself to eat.

Last weekend I went on a girls weekend camping to see a concert I've waited over two years for so I knew I wasn't going to miss it.

Breakfasts are hard, so I have been rotating sausage patties and sweet potato hash with a nut milk from the Goodery. Both keep me full for a long period of time which I love. I just miss the sweet part of breakfast and eggs. I really miss eggs.

This protocol isn’t easy and I am definitely bending a few of the rules to make it fit my lifestyle and it still isn’t easy.

I have completely eliminated grains and dairy. I MISS CHEESE SO MUCH! But I already feel a difference and I know as I continue on the journey it’ll get easier. I will post the recipes I use each week in hopes that you will find some inspiration and try something new!

Here’s what I ate Week 1-