Monday Motivation and Easy Weeknight Meal

It's Monday again. If you're anything like me, you dread the previous comment just a bit. The first day of the new week is usually a difficult one. You have to remind your body to get up when the alarm goes off, you have to remind your brain that you have a job to do, and sometimes you have to remind yourself that the motivation you had last week IS still there!!

So, when does that motivation become a habit?

Most say that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (or break an old one). Others say that it takes 3 cycles of this 21-day cycle to fully form (or undo) a habit. Either way, we all know that it takes time, patience, and consistency to develop good, lasting habits.

I wish I had the answer. I wish I could write something here that would tell you EXACTLY how to form all the good habits that you want to be a part of your routine. Honestly, I am still working on mine. If you have great things that work for you, please share!

In honor of another Monday and another work week ahead, I have pulled one of my go-to weeknight recipes that is quick, easy, healthy, and pretty yummy (I am biased, of course). When I cook during the week, I skip all the hoopla. I keep my recipes simple. Simple ingredients and simple process.

Weeknight Marinara Sauce with Whole Wheat Pasta and Broccoli
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
20 oz Ground Turkey
1 Jar of your favorite Marinara Sauce
1T Italian Seasoning
a pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 Package Whole Wheat Pasta
1 Bag (3 Cups) Ready-Steam Broccoli
Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Fill a large pasta pot, or stock pot, with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, brown turkey over medium heat. Season with Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper if desired.

Once water is boiling, prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, add pasta sauce to turkey and continue to cook until heated through (about 5 minutes on medium-low heat).

Drain pasta and steam broccoli. **Mine takes about 2 and a half minutes. If you are not using ready-steam broccoli, add broccoli to pasta water for the last 2 minutes of cooking time.

Serving Suggestion:
Mini-Portion (21-Day Fix Approved)
1/2 Cup (or 1 yellow container) pasta, 1 Cup (or 1 green container) broccoli, 3/4 Cup (1 red container) sauce. Top with parmesan cheese (1/8 Cup or 1/2 blue container).

Traditional Portion
1 Cup pasta, 1 Cup broccoli, 1 Cup sauce. Top with parmesan cheese.

Happy Monday!