First off, I love the fact that she is real. She isn't saying, "Hey let's all eat organic carrot sticks to get healthy!" She is realistic about life, about budgets, and about the fact that sometimes you just want to eat nachos! That doesn't mean that the nachos can't be somewhat healthy though! I like the recipe she posted today, about making taco seasonings from scratch, rather than those prepacked bits.
A few years ago I started trying to make more things from scratch. I try to have on hand a lot of spices and things that I need to do that. It really seems more expensive at first, but once you have those items on hand, it can be a lot cheaper than always buying the package for Taco mix, the package for this, the package for that. I have been inspired to attempt to make more things from scratch, including my spaghetti sauce, cupcakes...just about everything!
I'm not perfect by any means. We have a handy supply of Kraft Dinner and Lipton Sidekicks in our pantry-because sometimes you just don't have the energy to make it all from scratch and hey, it tastes good! However, rather than those being a staple in our diet, they have become an exception.
Part of this is due to the fact that upon moving to Canada, my life transformed dramatically over the space of a few years. When I moved here, I weighed in at about 180 pounds. I'm not kidding. It may not have seemed like it, but it's true, I was up there, and not healthy, and eating terribly. You can read more about my transformation on this post, but in short, I wasn't doing great. I worked hard, and over a period of years, I am what I am now. I credit eating better, exercising, breast feeding, and a lot of hard work to the transformation, and I am so much happier. I feel better, have more energy, and just have a better life overall. I also really like the way the food tastes as I have been attempting to cook it lately!
In honor of Food is Fuel Friday, I would like to post my idea for how I make one of my favorite from scratch meals: Spaghetti.
I love to make Spaghetti! It's an easy meal to whip up and you can basically use whatever you have on hand! Since we started cooking healthier, I don't ever use the canned sauce, I make my own.
Sauce:
- 1 can of organic tomato sauce-I buy it in bulk at Costco...super cheap and GOOD!
- Whatever veggies you have on hand! We usually use mushrooms, peppers, and sometimes other random veggies!
- Basil
- Oregano
We like to top it off with some parmesan cheese and it is delish! Easy, cheap, and delicious! That's my kind of meal. I always have the things on hand to make spaghetti, so I can do it in a pinch!
What is your favorite meal to make in a snap?
You make spaghetti the way I do. I like to switch it up, sometimes meat, sometimes not. We always use whole wheat pasta noodles too :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite recipe (and something I made a lot) used to be my friend Gina's tomato basil soup. I would have to dig out one of my cookbooks to post the recipe but if anyone would like it, just ask. It was awesome and made enough to last several days. I hear you on the eating healthy thing. It's amazing how just thinking about what you're putting in your mouth can inspire you to make better choices. One of my best friends is a personal trainer (and nurse :) and she used to teach people the basics of eating healthy so when I lived in Georgia, I was really good. :) I'm still pretty good...but always have room for improvement. :)
ReplyDeleteI make our meals from scratch, but it does take more time and effort. I sometimes wonder how I'll continue that with two little ones! The key for me is meal planning. Since we have nothing really canned though I always joke to Steve that we'd be hooped in an earthquake! We'd be eating dry cereal and canned tomatoes. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have a great sundried tomato pesto pasta that is easy to make it a hurried night...let me know if you want the recipe. Post more of yours, I love getting new ideas!
It's these little changes that make a big difference. When these ones become common practice, we'll whip up new ones to keep ourselves getting better. And our children won't remember Mac And Cheese as being flourescent, but as being creamy, and saucy and made with real cheese.
ReplyDeleteIt kind of seems like a no-brainer.
I love this pasta recipe. And I love how many different ways I always find people making spaghetti. Some people love the chunky sauce, and some people actually blend the veggies up in a blender- a great trick, of course, for tiny picky eaters who leave the chunkies on their plate.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and your enthusiasm. It is so much easier to embark on these journeys when we know we aren't alone.
And, on a side note, I can't imagine how hard it is to move away from everyone you know and love, but we're glad you're here- and doing better. <3