The Fresh 20: Update @thefresh20

Wanted to post an update, as I am still using The Fresh 20 for meal planning!  I will admit that not every week is as perfect as the first; Dan got sick one week so we didn't cook as much, and I was traveling for work and basically skipped a week.  :(  Nevertheless, having a meal plan makes grocery shopping easier, and we bought fewer items so even the bit that went to waste wasn't much.  We're still saving money, and I love collecting these weeks of recipes so I can do them out of order if I want, especially when I'm traveling and can't cook for a week.

Now that we've established more of a routine, I choose an average of 3 meals per week and just go from there.

As I've said before, the recipes don't always knock your socks off, but it's good, unprocessed food, and it's a MENU.  I get home from work and know exactly what needs to be done.  I can even prep in the morning, especially if I was too burned out the night before to do it.  Win!

Here are a few dishes I remembered to take photos of...  Note: I usually photograph Dan's portion because I plate his up prettier than my own, and he gets a larger portion than me.

Tangy Pork Tenderloin (w/Squash & Fennel Potatoes)

I marinated the tenderloin the night before, so it had time to get nice and seasoned.  It was also very juicy once cooked!  The squash wasn't my thing, but the fennel potatoes were pretty good.  I should have let them spend some time under the broiler to crisp up.

Hot Chicken w/Feta Kale Couscous

This recipe was supposed to be Hot Chicken Legs with Blue Cheese Kale Potatoes, but Dan prefers white meat and I dislike blue cheese, so we altered it a little using chicken breast and feta!  We didn't have potatoes, so I used couscous instead.  Dan LOVED the variation with couscous and gobbled it up.  He said he'd like to have this couscous again.  (We had leftovers, and he ate them all.)

Moroccan Turkey Stuffed Acorn Squash

This one was not our favorite, though the squash "boat" was really cute.  We just can't wrap our head around "sweet" dinners.  The turkey was tasty, and I barely noticed the quinoa (which is a feat for me, a hater of quinoa), but the sweetness of the squash and the cinnamon in the spices just didn't match up with our tastes.  Meh.  But I imagine someone else would have loved this meal!

Penne with Pancetta, Mushrooms, & Sage

Dan went back for seconds on this one!  I wish the photo was better.  It was super fun to make, because I got to make a wine reduction and do much of it in one pan, so I felt fancy cooking it.  Dan loves mushrooms.  I actually think I'd made this with an alfredo or red sauce instead of the reduction and enjoy it even more.

I've noticed that with the Fresh 20's "For One" menu sometimes you end up with some extras of the ingredients.  One week it was a half head of broccoli, another week it was half a grapefruit.  But if you can find a way to repurpose it (like eating the remaining grapefruit as a breakfast or snack), it won't go to waste!

Disclosure: This blog post is completely independent of any connection to The Fresh 20.  I bought my own three-month subscription in an effort to cook fewer processed foods.  I also do not share the recipes as they are a part of the Fresh 20 subscription.

The Fresh 20 @thefresh20

A coworker recommended The Fresh 20 to me, knowing I want to cook more meals at home.  I liked the idea of having a pre-set grocery list of 20 unprocessed ingredients, with a handful of meals planned for the week.  Dan and I want to save money and eat less "fast casual" food.

I chose the Fresh 20's "For One" menu, because we don't need to cook for a family of four.  My hope was that since this smaller menu was billed as two servings (one for dinner, one to pack as a lunch) it would suffice for myself and Dan.  The recipes were also fresh and healthy enough to fit within my Weight Watchers requirements!

The grocery list took me longer than my usual shopping trip; part of this was the finding fresh ingredients I was unfamiliar with as I don't buy a lot of produce.  I got in and out of the grocery store in 45 minutes (usually it takes me about 30), though I know I'll get better.  The Fresh 20 also uses seasonal ingredients, so I can look for items at the farmer's market too.  The cost estimates from the shopping list were also fairly accurate; I spent under $35 total for all the ingredients.  It would have been even less if I had the option to buy smaller bunches of the vegetables at my store, i.e. one carrot instead of a bundle!

I also found I was able to finish most of the week's prep the very first night, so it was a lot more assembly than cooking when each meal rolled around.  We ate them a little out of order, and not five days in a row, but it WORKED!

Meal #1: Foil Wrapped Chicken & Vegetables (w/Brown Rice)

This one was tasty, but I should have added some more chicken to satisfy Dan's appetite!  I was happy with how easy it was, and my photo doesn't do it justice.  When I plated it up, Dan immediately walked to the dining room table, a place we don't usually eat... so I'd say this cooking at home thing is a winner!

Photo would have been better minus the foil, sorry!

Meal #2: Mexican Chicken (w/Warm Bean Salsa)

This recipe called for shrimp, but we decided to substitute chicken breast instead.  This was super easy, and Dan liked the seasoning on everything.  Black beans are one of his favorites. Instead of serving plain brown rice, I added some cilantro and lime juice to mimic the rice at Chipotle.  Dan loved this enough that he said he'd eat it again; it was his favorite of the week, and probably mine too.

I appreciated that the recipe used a half can of the beans and tomatoes, and that the remainder of the cans will be used for a later recipe; I hate wasting food and overcooking for two people!

This is Dan's portion... I added a bit more chicken and rice for him!

Meal #4: Chicken Broccoli (w/Soft Noodles)

This one was super easy, and I happened to have organic wheat udon noodles in the pantry.  Score!  The chicken was the same from Meal #1, but spent more time in the same marinade.  Dan really liked the flavor, and he even ate the leftovers I left in the pan!  This one definitely had an Asian flare.  (Note: we did not eat chicken three nights in a row, there was a gap!)

Mmm...  udon noodles.

Meal #3: Sausage Radish Bake (w/Sweet Potatoes)

I really liked the turkey sausage and apples, not sure about the radishes and the meal itself.  I think I might have liked the mixture on a hoagie bun or something.  It was alright.  It was Dan's least favorite of the week, though I really liked the turkey and flavor.

Meal #5: Mushroom Chili

This vegetarian chili just wasn't for me.  For Dan, however, who loves mushrooms and beans and whatnot, this was the perfect recipe.  My Mom gave me a small Crock Pot (our main one is huge) and this fit perfectly.  The recipe didn't call for the slow cooker, but on a lazy Sunday it was the perfect alternative way to make it.  So not my favorite, but Dan thought it was good.

All in all, I am excited about my first week with The Fresh 20!  I think the "For One" menu, with a little added protein, is perfect for a busy, working couple.  I don't have enough leftovers for lunches since Dan is eating the 2nd serving, so I may occasionally cook a little extra so I have a small portion for a packed lunch.  I think the 4-serving family meals would yield too much for us, defeating the purpose of this fantastic freshness and variety each week!

Disclosure: This blog post is completely independent of any connection to The Fresh 20.  I bought my own three-month subscription in an effort to cook fewer processed foods.