Daily Meal Deal

While you are transforming your life, you’ll want to start thinking smart about meal preparation.  Most advertisements, diet books, media success stories and programs attempt make you think that meal preparation needs to be scripted.I learned to cook from and 80 year old blind woman.  I cooked and cleaned for her and she paid me a modest salary.  I learned so many valuable lessons from her and actually should have paid her for her wisdom.  There is nothing scripted about daily cooking. We are going to make this work for you.  We are going to begin by using what you have already in your kitchen.  As we use this food, we will replace it with healthier versions of the same food.  We are using and not wasting, and we are beginning to make subtle changes in our decisions that will ultimately affect our health, well-being, weight, and budget.  One caveat is that you should not feel compelled to eat things that are not healthy such as items that are full of fat and sodium.  Go ahead and purge those items that are truly not worth eating. It is a one-time waste and you won’t be buying these items again. So purge them as you go.

In addition, if you begin to think creatively and use what you have on hand in the kitchen, you will spend less on eating out and you will begin to eat healthier.  All of these changes are embedded in the Transformational Organizational process.

Okay, let’s get started…let me give you an example. Follow along and adapt as necessary.

Since I am going to be busy all day, I wanted to be proactive about lunch and dinner.  Come the dinner hour, if there isn’t something already planned, then I choose the quick fix which is to run out and pick up something in the fast food market.  BOOO.

So I have learned that planning for meals ahead of time is helpful both timewise, fuel wise and budget wise.  So this morning I assessed my pantry and grouped my foods together.  Theming is a great way to prepare a meal.

Here’s what I did…

Two cans of similar soups:  Group your soup

Tomato based,

Beef based

Chicken based

I chose tomato based soups today.  I had several varieties of tomato based soups with vegetables and pastas.  I opened them and poured them in the pot.  Then off to the refrigerator to find what vegetable items needed to be used.  I found a half a bunch of celery, half an onion, some garlic cloves, a portion of cooked baby carrots (I cook a plethora of vegetables at the beginning of the week for side dishes and lunches.  I usually eat them with some yummy brown rice).    I also found a half of serving of broccoli. Usually these items would have been thrown away but not in my kitchen.  I just gave them a rough chop and added them to my pot of soup.  Then I went to the herbs and spices.  These do have a shelf life so get the most from your herbs by using them when they are fresher.  I like to use mine within a year so I intentionally spice up my life with herbs and spices.  So what would go good with tomato based soups.  Think Italian or what you would normally use in spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce.  Try that oregano, thyme, pepper, garlic powder, etc.  I also used some spinach and herb seasoning that I had on hand.  OMG, it smells so good was the soup cooks.

While I was chopping, I took the half of loaf of artisan bread sitting in the back of the fridge, and popped the slices on to a cookie sheet and baked them until they were golden brown and crispy.  I like crunch with my soup.

Then I grabbed a couple of cans of fruit from the panty, pineapple and mandarin oranges.  I opened them, put them in a pretty bowl, and then added two handfuls of grapes.  Back into the fridge as my fruit servings for my meal.

Voila!  My meal is going to be ready when I am ready and I don’t have to really think of it again until I get hungry.  Now, I can go about my day without having to stop to prepare something or spend the extra time and money to go out and buy something.

When we replace these items while we are grocery shopping, we will then purchase low sodium soups and choose healthier foods in which to keep on hand. Just this small change will add up to big rewards later.

Update:  I just went in to get my glasses and saw the bread next to the stove top and with the soup smelling so delicious.  I just scooped some up in  a small bowl and had a quick snack. It was delicious.  I tempted myself with something healthy and delicious and I actually ate it.  What a wonderful way to cook at home and save money. In fact, this meal cost me less than 5 dollars to make as I used a coupon for the soup.  It was a great way to increase my veggie intake, use leftovers that would ordinarily be thrown away and I have something for my family to eat without stopping to cook something.  I only used one pot and therefore no mess.  Lastly, I have something nutritious on the stove and just in case someone pops in, I can offer them a lovely meal with no preparation and no stress.  How impressive!! Open a bottle of wine, place the fruit on a few lettuce leaves, pour the soup in a tureen and serve the toast on the side.  You are amazing….truly!  No script required.

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