And one thing I have realized this weekend is that healthy stuff can take longer to prepare. Not that I am complaining. That is just an observation. I would never complain during Complaint Free Week (going on right now! Want to join?).
But I have had an incredibly busy but blessed week, running around training a 15-person choir from the Kenyan orphanage we support, and speaking all over the place, and having my husband's surprise 40th birthday. And it's in these busy times that you realize it's hard to just grab food that is healthy. You can grab a piece of fruit, but vegetables need to cut up. Other stuff needs to be cooked. No wonder people eat so many chips and cookies, etc.
So what I want to do is to start preparing more food so that I have it on hand for the weeks that get out of hand. I like feeling that I am eating properly, but I don't always feel that. And I want to start eating a little bit better more consistently.
One thing I'd really like to try that I haven't tried much is Smoothies. Laura over at Mad Enough Tips has a great recipe here, and lots more at her site. I want to start reading her more and using some of her great tips!
This week, then, I'm going to do Smoothies for breakfast for myself. And what shall I do for dinner? I need to make things that give me leftovers, so that I have meals in my freezer for next time my week gets out of hand. Here goes:
Monday: Beef in the crockpot. I'm going to use beef with stock, a little bit of red wine, some golden mushroom soup, and some onion mixture in the crockpot. It tastes yummy. Add some potatoes and carrots, and you've got a meal.
Tuesday: Beef pies. With the leftovers, I'm going to make some beef pies that will do us for two meals. One I'll freeze. I usually just freeze the filling and then fill the pie crust when I need to eat it.
Wednesday: Salmon. We haven't had fish in a while, and we need to. I think fish should be eaten once a week for health reasons, though my family doesn't agree. But they'll tolerate salmon. I marinate it in soy sauce, honey, and ginger for the adults, and make it plain for the kids. Put lemon and green onion on top, and it's great.
Thursday: Hummus, black bean dip, salsa. This is my weird meal. I'm going to make a ton of hummus, black bean dip, and other dips for pita breads or vegetables. And that's going to be our dinner. Then I'm going to freeze the leftovers. They all freeze well, and then when I want a snack, I'll have some hummus on hand. Much better than chips. Eat it all with veggies and you've got a pretty balanced meal. I'll probably buy some sourdough bread to go with this meal, too, to make the kids happy. It's not a traditional dinner, but it will fill up my freezer with potential snacks.
This weekend I'm speaking at a homeschooling convention and a women's retreat, so I don't have to cook. But what about you? Have any smoothie recipes you want to share? Or any advice on healthy snacks? I'd love to hear them!
I love your website! (I found you through strivingwife.com) My husband & I have been married 7 months now and you talk about all of the things I wonder and have questions about! I'm so excited to take your tips and advice and put them into practice! What a blessing you & your site are! Thank you! :)
I love smoothies! They're a great summer breakfast for me out here in AZ because they're nice and cool. I guess I do things differently because the base of mine is generally yogurt (fat free plain, but I buy a good brand). I throw in some sort of leafy green (usually spinach, kale is too strong), and frozen fruit. My favorite is strawberries, but I've used almost everything. I add in a little milk or juice to thin it out, and sweeten with liquid stevia. I like the idea of adding an avocado- I don't like the flavor of bananas in things, so I never use them.
We've been having smoothies for breakfast for ~5 years. We make our own yogurt and then dump in whatever fruit is on sale at the grocery store. Usually apples, pears and then some "flavor" fruit (strawberries, mangoes, blueberries, kiwis, etc.) Mine gets poured into my cup and then the rest of the family gets a banana. (I dislike bananas.)
About Me: I'm a Christian author of a bunch of books, and a frequent speaker to women's groups and marriage conferences. Best of all, I love homeschooling my daughters, Rebecca and Katie. And I love to knit. Preferably simultaneously.
Stumble It!
I love your website! (I found you through strivingwife.com) My husband & I have been married 7 months now and you talk about all of the things I wonder and have questions about! I'm so excited to take your tips and advice and put them into practice! What a blessing you & your site are! Thank you! :)