Just like life, food can get complicated. Getting back to basics is important on so many levels and food is one area that often benefits from simplicity. Making veggies, fruit, lean protein, healthy fats and complex carbs a priority is a great goal to have. Simple menu choices help us stay on track. During the week, my menu plan is pretty basic with tried, tested and true recipes that I know are easy to prepare and a hit with the family. I save new recipes for the weekend when I have more leisure time to experiment and enjoy my time in the kitchen. I often turn on some music and let the creative juices flow.
Another benefit of keeping things simple is avoiding highly processed factory foods. As we consider what goes into our cart during our next grocery store trip, take a moment and read the ingredient lists. While the nutrition facts table offers a good deal of information, I start with the ingredient list. Do I recognize the ingredients? Would I cook with these in my own kitchen? How many forms of sugar or preservatives are in the item? What about artificial flavours & colours? These are important questions to ask before popping something into your cart. Sticking to packaged goods with 5 or fewer ingredients is a simple way to ensure the food you are taking home is less processed.
Simple snacks & meals:
• Hard boiled eggs & cherry tomatoes
• Raw almonds & an apple
• Carrot & celery sticks with hummus
• Grilled fish & steamed veggies
• Roast chicken, mashed sweet potatoes & broccoli
• Swap out regular pasta for chickpea or lentil pasta for added protein & fibre – add lots of veggies to the sauce & make it the feature item on your plate – not copious amounts of noodles.
Photo by Melanie Lim on Unsplash
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