Planning a tasty and nutritious dinner takes a bit of thinking as well as a grocery list, trip to the store, and cooking session. These 5 steps will keep you organized as it all comes together. 1. Plan your menu. Think about good balance, color and flavor. Simple is best. For example: Chicken Baked in the Oven, or Grilled Outside Brown Rice Steamed Green Beans or Broccoli Orange or Apple 1% or Nonfat milk 2. Look in your pantry, fridge and freezer. See what’s already there and buy only what you need. For example: Buy a package of fresh skinless chicken since … [Read more...] about 5 Easy Steps to a Tasty & Nutritious Dinner
Tomatoes Check All the Boxes of Fresh, Delicious, and Convenient
Imagining meals without tomatoes is hard for me to do. Sometimes I add them to my breakfast with a sliced cucumber and dollop of hummus. Other times I add them to my lunch sandwich -- to make a tasty ELT. At dinner, tomatoes pop up in a side salad, sauce, soup, or just on my plate and ready-to-eat. I don't think I'm alone in counting on tomatoes to be there for me. Maybe you can relate. I've had quite a few grocery store checkout line chats and/or farmer's market chats with total strangers who share their 'tomato love stories' with me. See how many varieties you know here. Fresh and Delicious … [Read more...] about Tomatoes Check All the Boxes of Fresh, Delicious, and Convenient
5 Nutrition Lessons I Learned in Spain and Portugal
I took a vacation to enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and culture! Every once in a long while, my husband and I take a fancy vacation during Spring Break. He's a college professor and since I work for myself, we can make it happen. A few weeks ago, we had the amazing good fortune to visit northwest Spain and north Portugal. In Spain, we stayed in a lovely and very historical city called Salamanca. In Portugal, we spent a long weekend in beautiful Porto. The Foods of Spain and Portugal are Mediterranean Cuisines You may already realize that Mediterranean style nutrition is my thing and so I … [Read more...] about 5 Nutrition Lessons I Learned in Spain and Portugal
Pancakes Packed with Nutrition
If you're a busy person - and who isn't - then pancakes can make a great meal for you. The options are endless for what can be mixed into a pancake or what can be scattered on top of a pancake. It's a savory and nutritious pancake when you mix in sauteed onions and mushrooms, shredded cheese, or even chopped up Korean kimchi before cooking. It's a mildly sweet and nutritious pancake when you mix in blueberries, raspberries, or a mashed, ripe banana before cooking. Don't forget to sprinkle some herbs and spices into your pancakes, too. You can even get totally funky with pizza pancakes. … [Read more...] about Pancakes Packed with Nutrition
Mason Jar Salads
This is a guest blog by Kaylie Chrismon. One of the worst things about packing a healthy lunch is having a soggy salad. When your salad sits in salad dressing all morning, the spinach and lettuce become wilted and you may even throw it out and choose a not-as-healthy option. Putting your salad in a mason jar and layering the toppings appropriately can keep your salad crisp, fresh, and perfect at lunchtime. Mason jars are also convenient and reusable. How to build your mason jar salad from the bottom up: Bottom layer: your dressing – putting dressing in the bottom keeps it from … [Read more...] about Mason Jar Salads
Mediterranean Meals are Healthy and Satisfying!
Mediterranean Meals Begin with Mediterranean Ingredients I often recommend meals made from Mediterranean ingredients. Why? They are full of flavor, full of nutrition and easy to learn to cook. Also, they use familiar ingredients that you can find quickly and inexpensively at an American supermarket. For a start, look at the ingredients in my photo at the left. More Mediterranean Ingredients To learn more ingredients that are used in the Mediterranean area of the world, think of the flavors of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, North Africa and what grows locally there. The list … [Read more...] about Mediterranean Meals are Healthy and Satisfying!