Yesterday I went shopping and my kitchen was primed for batch cooking: Apple Cranberry Slaw for a vegetable dish that lasts many days, Pineapple Fried Rice because my husband loves sweet and savory dishes and I wanted to sneak extra fiber in, Grilled Batch Chicken to help me feel strong and stable. Creative, delicious, and nutritious - this virtuous meal plan was supposed to feed my household for the next few days. But, the best laid plans... By the time I got home I was exhausted; so I melted cheese on tortillas in the toaster oven and plopped on the couch to watch “Elementary”. Tomorrow I’ll have an instant powdered green drink because I didn't have time to prepare vegetables today. Food is supposed to be flexible. Yes, you may have a health goal that requires eating more vegetables, but eating the exact quantity of vegetables at this very moment isn’t important. Here are a few tips to help you take the labor out of vegetables.
Order a green powder or pills that you can toss down when you can’t cook vegetables. Through this dispensary you can order my favorite green powder and search for your own supplement treats.
Make your vegetables dense – one single piece of broccoli can have as much nutritious as a whole leafy green salad. Other dense vegetables include cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy and kale.
When you do cook, buy extra and cook it all. 1 head of broccoli may be fine for dinner and lunch, but if you cook three at one time then they’re ready o eat anytime.
Grab a carrot, a stalk of celery or kale and munch while you clean the kitchen. Food doesn't have to be chopped, diced, tossed and flavored. Kids, especially, are much more likely to eat a kale leaf than a kale salad.
Frozen vegetables count too. Frozen broccoli is processed right off the fields so many of the nutrients are preserved more than if it sat in the produce section for a week. It's easy to grab a handful of frozen broccoli and toss it in any dish, or let it thaw and add salad dressing.
Tonight I may, or may not have the energy to cook. This doesn’t mean I’ve fallen off the wagon, thrown away my health. I’ve simply switched to my version of fast food - quesadillas and green powder. Hopefully I’ll cook that food before it goes bad!
This was a newsletter from June of 2022. To receive the next newsletter direct to your inbox sign up here. Sincerely, Anna Rathbun, NC Every Meal is an Opportunity to Feel Better
even if it's powder and water just shaken in a jar!
