I Don't Cook

Confession:  There is a reason why I do not post many recipes.  Recipes are hard for me.  Even with teenage boys, I have figured out that not cooking actually works best (clever rationalization).  Sometimes I cook (define “cooking”) and mostly I don’t (define not "cooking").  I only post the recipes I have actually made.  I made real lasagna the other night, yet, I did not post that one because that would not be considered “healthy” for my website by all viewers opinions and because I do not follow a recipe.  I am talking real, traditional lasagna, made with ground beef, canned tomatoes, my seasonings, part skim ricotta cheese, mozzarella and parmesan.  You see, for two 14 year old boys and a fabulous husband, this is defined as healthy because 1) They eat a huge salad with it and 2) It keeps one of my sugar craving sons out of the pantry for less healthy choices 3)  A small piece of homemade lasagna and a big salad for many of us is a whole lot healthier than other things we might eat!

So what does it look like in my house during a typical week?  First of all, there are no typical weeks! My family will tell you that I cook amazing foods one week and then the next week I have no idea what to make.  Well, I am embellishing with the “amazing foods” part.  I think it is mostly the fact that they see I have food prepared and flowing each night!  That is “amazing food”!

I do have food on the table each night.  I really do "cook"; and it is as simple and healthy as I can make it.  Time is valuable.  It seems when I spend too much time trying something wonderful, they do not enjoy it anyway.  I wanted to share how I pull off healthy food preparation and eating without “cooking” for my family with my full time work, more work, and community involvement.  

1. Always in my fridge are leafy greens of some sort whether it be one or more of romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, and/or mixed greens.  Also, always baby carrots, some type of tomato sitting out, cucumbers because they eat those, hummus and greek yogurt, some type of berry and frozen if not fresh, sometimes citrus, sometimes apples, pears, always bananas to mix in fruit smoothies.  You get the picture- I HAVE MANY FOODS WE CAN EAT RAW, BY THEMSELVES OR AS/IN A SALAD.
2. I always have tortillas.  I do not eat tortillas.  I choose not to eat many foods, except on occasion.  I give them to my kids.  Why would I give to my kids what I choose not to eat?  Did I mention they are teenage boys?  I should mention that I am not.  I can make them a quesadilla in minutes (Whole Foods makes tortillas without hydrogenated oils (corn is better, but my kids do not like those so I meet them where they are)).  Quesadilla:  Thinly chopped or sliced leftover grilled chicken, tiny, tiny, tiny chopped onions, and Colby Jack cheese.  Put those three ingredients in the tortilla and fold it over or sandwich the ingredients with another tortilla.  Heat until crispy on each side in a sauté pan on the stove.  You know what the best part is?  THEY EAT THIS WITH SLICED AVOCADO or GUACAMOLE IF I MAKE IT, OR BABY CARROTS, OR SALAD.  EASY PEAZY.
3. I always have peanut butter, I always have whole wheat bread and I always have bananas.  PEANUT BUTTER TOAST WITH SLICED BANANA ANYONE?!  PB has save my life since they were in Pre-K.  It is near and dear to my heart.  Sure; almond butter is more “superfoodish”, but not if it doesn’t get eaten!  Buy real all natural peanut butter. If your kids don’t buy into that yet, mix half the junky stuff with half the real stuff to start and progress from there.  You know the drill.  I love peanut butter.  It goes with a spoon, with an apple, with toast, with jelly, with bananas, with crackers and it makes a mean fruit smoothie! 
4. Always frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, Chobani blueberry greek yogurt, and who keeps drinking my organic apple juice!?  That is for my smoothies!
5. Nachos- I know; too much cheese.  However, it is better than other things if you open fat free canned beans, have your own taco meat made from ground turkey (Which I almost always do and I store it prepared and ready to heat from the freezer), and grate your own cheese.  I make taco meat with ground turkey, and season with cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper and a little cayenne pepper to your spicy taste, then add water and a little cornstarch to thicken. YOU DO NOT NEED A TACO SEASONING PACKET.   By The way, now you can make crispy tacos, or soft tacos served with tomato, avocado and romaine lettuce side.  Yes- almost always with veggies and you know what? Sometimes they just want homemade nachos and that is OK too!
6. Homemade chicken nuggets NEVER FAIL.  EVEN FOR HUBBY.  Buy chicken breasts, prepare all of them at once by cleaning and cutting into nugget size cubes.  Prepare the egg and water bath in one bowl and then the bread crumbs in another bowl.  Bread crumbs: Panko bread crumbs, parmesan, salt and pepper.  1) Dip nuggets in egg/water and then in bread crumbs.  2) Pan fry/sauté in canola or olive oil (either) until golden brown and cook through.  Why are these nuggets so amazing?  Because….YOU CAN SERVE WITH WHOLE WHEAT PASTA AND SALAD OR BABY CARROTS, YOU CAN SERVE CUT UP IN PASTA, YOU CAN SLIVER THOSE NUGGETS AND MAKE A SANDWICH, USE YOUR IMAGINATION.  THESE ARE NO FAIL CHILD HAPPINESS.
7. You grill it; they eat it and all of these make something fabulous meals as leftovers.  Flank steak http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/marinated-flank-steak1 , grilled chicken http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/basic-chicken-marinade  salmon.  The flank steak is a winner and always serve with a veggie and a starch.  Sunday night dinner success!  One of my twins ate all of my salmon one night and one likes the leftover idea of salmon croquettes   http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/salmon-croquettes .  Keep allowing your children to try new foods.  They will surprise you one day by eating all of their salad or eating all of your salmon!   Think spinach salad with your homemade honey covered roasted walnuts and blueberries is only good for mom?   Think again.  At least one of your children will indulge in this!  They will ask you to please make your homemade olive oil salad dressing http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/heart-healthy-salad-dressings , they will reach for fruit…but not when girl scout cookies are in season. I am just saying! 
8. REMEMBER THAT A SANDWICH AND FRESH VEGGIES IS BETTER THAN TAKE OUT MOST OF THE TIME.  
9. I can recreate grilled chicken about ten ways in two seconds.  1) Tortilla soup  (I make it without a recipe and my kids LOVE it…(I will try and pay attention next time and write it down and post it for you) 2) Quesadilla 3) Sandwich 4) In pasta with red sauce  5) On a spinach salad 6) In a pasta with olive oil, and garlic, salt pepper, fresh veggies such as sautéed spinach or make it greek with olives, feta and tomatoes, and cucumber 7) On top of bruschetta http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/tomato-and-basil-bruschetta 8) Think Kids…with a baker and baby carrots 9) Chicken Cesar salad 10) Dipped in barbecue sauce.
10. Homemade meatballs http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/my-meatballs1 . Make them,         freeze them, defrost and serve them: In pasta, salad, sandwich, pizza  http://www.healthinspires.com/recipes/pita-pizza , by themselves.  Lifesaving!  
11. I typically have roasted veggies premade in the fridge and waiting to be reheated, sometimes I have wild or brown rice and pasta already made as well.  That helps with all the ways to recreate meals with leftover grilled chicken and more in a flash.    
12. Confession….I sometimes buy those Buitoni ravioli for my kids. Why?  SERVE WITH SALAD!  You must know my food style by now!  I can make a tomato sauce in two seconds (never buy pre-made spaghetti sauce…it is junk).  I sauté minced garlic in olive oil, pour in a can of tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, basil and done.  Even easier; use garlic powder instead of sautéed garlic.  Use the can/type of tomatoes of your choice.  My kids prefer no lumps and this makes great pizza sauce as well.  

Some of these food ideas are for my kids, and some for my husband and me.  Think of the opportunity to serve foods with fresh fruits and veggies.  It is like taking the “good” with the “bad” even those are not the words I prefer.  One time my child said to me “Mom, don’t put your issues on me, and let me enjoy these foods; I am a kid!”  They are both lean and mean healthy kids.  I lead by example and try not to say too much.  I give a friendly reminder sometimes when I say , “Hey, how about something green with that?” and they respond with at least a few bites of veggies.  I do eat differently than my children with many more veggies than they could ever imagine eating at this point, yet they do like veggies.  I am happy to accommodate them (different meals) and you certainly need to do what is right for you and your family.  Most people may disagree with my approach, and that’s OK.  I do what works for me and my family.  I like salad and I like fish.  I cannot expect two 14 year olds to have this most nights.  I also like pizza…but you have to choose what goes in your body and how much. We are adults for goodness sake.  Lead by example and they will learn.  You don’t have to “cook” to eat healthy.  What you do need in order to eat healthy are the right foods, in the right portions, ready and available to eat,  and a plan of what’s for dinner. 

Health Inspires.

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