My Weekly Must Do's

I really love to cook...or I used to before I had children. Not that I still don't love to try new recipies or cook a great meal- don't get me wrong. The thing that I don't like now that I have two little ones is that I never have enough time to either 1) shop for the items to cook a detailed menu or 2) stay in the kitchen longer than 15 min!!! You moms know this! I'm always getting interrupted by someone needing something- food, drink, fed, changed, answer the phone, etc. Not that I'm complaining....it is just where I'm at in life...and I know I'm not alone.

I've noticed that when I'm hungry I really don't care what it is...I will eat it. If it is easy and quick I will eat it. Not always good or healthy but that is the truth of it. Now that I'm back to my healthy eating ways (no more pregnancy hormones to blame for junk) I have incorporated a few things on my shopping list that I always, always get and a few things that I always, always make on Sunday (sometimes Monday) nights.

For starters...I always buy fresh carrots (already washed and cut up - either the baby carrots or the sliced carrot chips) and brocolli heads. Then once a week I steam the entire back of carrots and at least 2-3 heads of brocolli (we love it). Once it is done I add a little olive oil and some seasoning salt for flavor and put them into bowls and shake until covered. There! Vegtables for a week!!!

Second thing I do is buy fresh fruit- mainly grapes, apples, bananas, nectarines, strawberries, and blueberries. Usually 2-3 of these for variety and whatever is on sale is what I usually buy. Then once a week I cut them up, chop off the stems, get out the seeds, take off the vine, etc. That way they are immediately ready to eat. Sometimes it is fun to throw them all in a container for a fruit salad. This way at each meal all I have to do is take out my container of fruit (along with my veggies) and serve!

So that takes care of the fruits and veggies for my family. Next, I usually make 12-18 hard boiled eggs. I peel them, rise, and throw into a plastic tub in the frige. I love eggs for a quick breakfast (with some w. wheat toast) cut and warmed up with a little bit of salt and pepper. Great way to sneak in a fast breakfast with lots of protein. Or my new favorite summer thing (and Mark's favorite snack at work) is egg salad. I made it by cutting up several eggs and tossing in a few tablespoons of mayo (I use the kind made from olive oil) and a dash of salt. Again, tons of protien and you can make several days of it and have it ready in the frige for a quick meal or snack.

My favorite is to put egg salad in a whole wheat pita with some spinach and a sliced pickle. It is sooo easy and incredibly yummy and healthy. You can also make up chicken salad or just use leftovers from the night before (chicken, roast, steak, even hamberger) and put it on a pita with some spinach (a little ranch or salad dressing won't hurt). All very easy and healthy ways to reuse leftovers.

One more thing...I always keep a bag of ground flax seed in the frige. So if I make pancakes, pizza dough, home made chickn cord on blue, chicken parmesan (did I mention I have great friends who give me lots of yummy recipies?? :>) or anything that requires bread crumbs or dough I always throw some in. That at least adds something good into a meal that could not be so great for you. Of course when I make these I always substitute applesauce when it calls for oil and olive oil when it calls for butter or oil and the low fat cheese isn't that bad either. Plus our favorite pizza is cheese and green peppers...it is a veggie too you know! :)

So if you haven't noticed I don't mind leftovers...I used to hate them as a kid (don't we all) but now if I don't have to cook a meal and I can get a healthy quick meal on the table- I'm all about it! Maybe some day I will wake up and realize what I'm eating and think 'gross'...sure it was quick and healthy but what were you thinking!!! But I doubt it b/c to me if it is quick and easy I just don't care...and to be healthy makes it even better!