Primal Lasagna Zoned

So four days into this zone mini-challenge (and 75 days into the 90 days). It's amazing how far I've come. I still don't love zone, and I still struggle to get in all of the days blocks, but I'm trying it and it seems like this has kicked my body into high gear. I've lost several pounds in the four days and food-wise feel pretty good. Last night dinner was my job and I was craving Italian comfort food. What's better than lasagna? Primal lasagna!


Primal Zone Lasagna
2 sweet peppers
1/2 sweet onion
eggplant (1 1/2 small or 1 large, approx 9oz)
minced garlic to taste
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
3 tbsp grapeseed oil (or your favorite fat) 
3/4lb ground beef
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
4 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded)


1. Preheat oven to 375F2. Slice eggplant, peppers and onions into thin slices.3. Heat the oil in a sauce pan over medium heat, add peppers, onions and garlic.
4. Cook until vegetables soften and remove the vegetables from the pan.
5. Brown ground beef in the same pan from the vegetables until cooked through.
6. In a 7x11 (2qt) baking dish, begin layering the lasagna.

- 1/2 cup tomato sauce

- a layer of eggplant, overlapping slightly

- the sauteed vegetables
- ground beef
- ricotta cheese

- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- the remaining eggplant

7. Spread the remaining 1/2c tomato sauce over the layered eggplant. 

8. Bake at 375F for 50 minutes, or until eggplant looks done

9. Remove from oven, increase temperature to Broil (500F).
10. Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese

11. Bake for five minutes, or until the cheese is melted and browned. 

Makes 4 large servings, each containing
Protein: 4 blocks
Carbs: 2 blocks
Fat: 6 blocks

Truth and Consequences

I guess it took some shame and embarrassment to get me back to blogging. I got complacent and didn't think I was all that interesting, but I should have known that at least some of the benefit to blogging was the accountability I felt with having to write down what I was eating for all the world to see. 

I was plugging along, seeing great results in my weight and performance and attaining goals until ... the vacation. John and I went to Vermont for what was supposed to be a mini romantic retreat for three days last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I had already planned on it being a time for some treats, but I couldn't foresee the devastation that awaited me. 
Eight days later, here I am. I'm up way more pounds that should be feasible in a week. I'm unhappy and embarrassed and disappointed in myself. Was that first treat dessert at the amazing farm-to-table restaurant worth it? I'd say yes. Was the emotional, guilty-feeling, closet-eaten dessert the Nth time worth it? No. Not even a little. 

Luckily for me, Jason has challenged the group to a week of strict zone paleo. The timing couldn't have been better. The fridge, freezer and pantry got their desperately needed clean outs again. The menu got planned and the groceries got shopped. 
So ... I'm back on track at the moment and holding myself accountable again. There's only three weeks left in this challenge I'm not going to negate all of the hard work I've put in over the last 10 weeks. I have a plan for zone and will work it for at least this week and adjust as necessary.