Cooking Healthy Made Quick and Easy
By Stephen R. Farris
There may be many times that you feel like the energy has literally been sapped right out of you. It might be to the point that when you get home, the last thing you feel like doing is cooking a meal for the family, and on top of that, fast food just doesn't sound appealing either.
So what do you do?
You could try something new, like making meals with very little to zero prep time in order to keep you and your family nourished when you're feeling drained.
Stocking Up
First things first. To make things easier you should have some of these items in stock in your pantry, fridge, and/or freezer. Those items should be proteins, starches, fruits and vegetables, condiments, herbs and spices. So the next time you're out grocery shopping, make a list that includes items from these categories so that basically all you'll have to do is be creative and throw something together.
Proteins to Keep on Hand
No need to go overboard, just keep it simple. So here's a few proteins you should keep handy; salmon, chicken, turkey, beans, eggs, blocked or shredded cheeses.
Starches
Starches you should stock up on could include frozen corn, whole wheat bread, pre-made whole wheat pizza crust, instant brown rice and quick-cooking pastas.
Fruits and Vegetables
Buy them fresh when possible, but frozen will work just as well, such as frozen spinach, carrots, broccoli, peas, green beans, greens, etc. Canned or dried fruits are good to have in the pantry and will keep for long periods of time. However, they may contain more sugar than you want in your diet. Many grocery stores carry frozen fruits, such as peaches, berries, mango and others.
Condiments
The staples are mustard, mayonnaise, olive oil, and vinegars (white wine, balsamic, red wine). Most of these can be used to whip up a quick and delicious salad dressing. Herbs and spices you can choose include most any that you find flavorful to bring a little more zest for those quick meals.
You can always look up recipes online to follow using the ingredients you've purchased for meals that take less than 30 minutes to prepare. You might even make your own little quick and healthy eating cookbook as a go-to source on those days you don't feel like spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in North Little Rock, Ark.