Sometimes I have a challenge problem. I set things up in my mind (let’s do 15 days straight of yoga!) and inevitably fall short (oops, totally forgot to practice on Saturday). I think it’s left over from my all or nothing mentality when it came to health. I’m happy to have found a more balanced place when it comes to healthy eating, but sometimes I still set myself up for the challenges. Another challenge I signed up recently was Diana’s Eat in Month.
I signed up in hopes of getting our budget off to a nice start in 2013 and to bring healthy, home cooked meals back into the norm. 9 days in, I’m happy to report I’ve stuck with this challenge, and it really hasn’t been difficult.
I thought it would be great to use this WIAW to share some of the tips I’ve relied on.
Have coffee, tea or your morning beverage of choice readily accessible.
Half a banana and green tea.
You’ll be less likely to reminisce about your daily trip to Starbucks or drive through Dunkin Donuts if you have a warm beverage already in your hand.
Make meals fun. Splurge on a few fun foods that you don’t usually buy. This week for me it was fresh, organic blueberries (I usually buy frozen).
2 scrambled eggs with peppers, topped with salsa. Half a grapefruit and blueberries on the side.
Utilize leftovers and embrace off food combinations. Spinach and jalapeno “salad” isn’t exactly a usual around here, but it was decent (I’ve had a thing for pickled jalapenos lately) and it checked off my mental “eat some green” requirement.
Leftover pot roast and potatoes with a spinach and jalapeno “salad” on the side.
Plan ahead to have snacks that are easily accessible. This means at home, in the car, at the office, etc.
Popcorn with nutritional yeast
I downed the popcorn and nooch yesterday and I forgot to take a picture of the handful of the Blue Diamond Pepper and Rosemary almonds I ate while in the car. I keep a tin or two of almonds in my center console at all times. You never know!
Have fun and try new recipes, but be aware you aren’t going to want to cook a big fancy dinner every night, so embrace your slow cooker. Yesterday I used 100 days of real food’s crockpot chicken. It took about 5 minutes to set up and literally fell of the bone once it was done.
I returned the bones to the slow cooker with celery, carrots, onions and herbs, added water almost up to the top and let it cook on low through the night. I woke up this morning to the smell of incredible chicken stock, ready to be used in tonight’s soup. So remember to stretch your dollar by not letting any food go to waste.
Crock pot chicken with Sweet Baby Rays, smoky bacon quinoa and roasted broccoli.
Plan to use side dishes that are easy to make. Perhaps it will be fun to cook an elaborate meal on the weekend, but weekdays are busy, which is why it can be so easy and tempting to eat out. Give yourself a break by using quick sides, like roasted broccoli or quinoa, which cooks up in less than half the time of rice.
I should note that I have two eat-out passes this month. One is for David’s birthday and another is a freebie, which we have yet to use. So far it is shaping up to be a challenge I can stick to!
Do you have any tips for making eating at home easier?
blackhuff says
I love how you are using your slow cooker. This is a real life saver for me who works full time and save money.
Whenever I cook rice, I use my microwave rice cooker which is far quicker and easier than cooking rice on the stove. Since electrical stoves are big thing here in South Africa, I decided to go gas. I find with gas cooking, cooking is far more faster and easier as well.
Brittany says
I love my gas stove top, too! It’s spoiled me and I’m not sure how I’d do going back to electric.
Susan @ Real Life Travels says
Does this include lunch? Do we have to to wait till Feb to grab lunch and gab?
Brittany says
You could come over for afternoon tea and gabbing?? 🙂 It sounds very British doesn’t it?
Brooke Dixon says
How do you roast your broccoli Brittany? It is a staple in our home and I’m looking for a new way to cook it! Great job!
Brittany says
I toss it in olive oil, spread on a foil lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Then I roast it at 350 for about 30 minutes or until it’s as crispy as I’m in the mood for. 🙂
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Cooking at home is fun for me, but I can see how people think it’s super time consuming. I really don’t have much time during the week either, so I’ve been trying to find little shortcuts to speed things up. Using quinoa is great because it cooks up in 12 minutes. Roasting veggies is another favorite – 15 to 20 minutes and they’re ready. Grilling tofu on my grill pan is so convenient – 10ish minutes and I have perfectly cooked tofu.
Jessie says
Mmmm.. Popcorn!!!
Kerry says
Love your blog! I just ordered some nutritional yeast and am looking for ways to use it. Do you use microwave popcorn or do you pop your own?
Brittany says
I usually pop it myself, but yesterday’s was leftover from family so I used the microwave version. I usually pop stove top, but I’ve heard people have a lot of success with making their own microwave popcorn, like this: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/microwave-popcorn/
🙂
Katy @ MonsterProof says
I’m bad about this, but I’m much more successful if I meal plan. That way I definitely have all the ingredients, and don’t have to worry about WHAT to cook when I get home from work. That, and I’m fortunate to have a toddler that loves to cook, so I tell him we’re going to and then there’s no going back. 😉
Brittany says
Oh I hope H learns to love to cook! I would love to have her help me in the kitchen. That’s so cute!
Karen says
Everything looks so good! I try and use the crockpot as much as possibly but I think planning ahead really helps out. At least once a week the hubby will ask if we can have something different from what I had planned on Sunday but we usually stick with our meal plan.
Sarah says
I’ve never tried nutritional yeast on popcorn- sounds delicious! We eat in most of the time- it’s just easier with a little one around. We do try to do a special Saturday night meal that we cook together- a little date night in-house.
Lauren B. says
Great idea for making stock in the crockpot! I just tossed out some bones and now I am kicking myself!
I have started meal planning on Sunday and shopping on Mondays for the week. It’s been really great for efficiency and not making so many trips to the store with a 4 month old! I also have been prepping veggies ahead of time when I get a free moment- which also helps with grabbing snacks that are ready-to-go!
We typically only eat out once a week, so it’s a special treat that I look forward to!
Paige @ Your Trainer Paige says
Great tips, Brittany! We try and eat in during the week, but usually on Friday and Saturday, we go out. It’s a good balance, I think.
Sarah says
The key to my eating in this month so far has been my husband’s broken foot. Since he is unable to leave the house, it seriously limits the opportunities for dining out 🙂
So… I guess my tip is to cause bodily harm to a member of your family… That doesn’t sound so good now that I’m typing it.
Marci says
i am very impressed! i could maybe eat in for a month, but my husband couldn’t last three days. just no interest. it’s hard!
Angela says
smoked bacon quinoa?? Sounds amazing! Is there a recipe link to that?
Brittany says
I wish it was a recipe! It was a packet I had from Urbane Grain!
lauren says
Meal planning helps a lot. I try to plan more than we need incase we aren’t in the mood for something. I also make larger batches of stuff like chilli and quinoa turkey meatballs to freeze extras for a night I can’t get it together.
Do you have details on that chicken stock; how big is your crock pot, how much carrots, celery, onion?! I’ll get a chicken next week just to do that!
Brittany says
I returned the chicken bones to the crock pot (it’s a regular sized -I think 7 qt? – crock pot), then added 1 chopped carrot, 1 chopped large celery rib, 1/2 onion, chopped (it’s all I had left), 1 bay leave, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp parsley, 1/2 tsp salt (or more if you want) and pepper. I filled it with water until it was about 1 inch from the top and let it cook on low from about 8pm-8am. Drain, sieve and it is ready to go!
chelcie @ chelcie's food files says
i always embrace the use of my crock pot for quick, easy , and healthy meals! i’m obsessed with it!
Amber @ Mommy's Me Time says
GREAT ideas! I totally agree that it’s all about planning ahead a bit and being prepared with things in your house that deter you from going out! I definitely need easy go-to recipes so that going out doesn’t feel that much easier than cooking my own meals!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
Great tips, Brittany! Simple dinner sides are key for us too, and I love the crock pot. I’ve never been a big coffee person, so I don’t have the Starbucks temptation. 🙂
Danica @ It's Progression says
Awesome tips! The biggest thing for me to dine-in and eat healthy regularly is to plan ahead…weekly meals, yes, but some nights I literally make a (at least tentative) plan of what each of my meals/snacks will be the next day. It helps so much to think it through and I’m much less likely to grab something easy and less healthy!
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
Great tips! My biggest is to pack my lunch. Eating out at lunch really adds up!
I did go to Starbucks today though…
Ashley says
I make up a trail-mix at the beginning of the week that I leave on the counter. Not only is it a quick, convenient snack, but it’s a constant visual reminder to eat healthier.
Maria says
I didn’t sign up for Eat In Month exactly, but have found myself following it anyways, which is crazy for this girl who lives off of Subway sometimes twice a week! The key for me was just keeping a well-stocked frig and pantry of things I love to eat. Also, even though I hate doing it, food prep is key. Grabbing fruit and veggies is so much easier when they are already washed and ready to go.
But that being said, I’m heading out to dinner tonight for my husband’s birthday and I’ll be savoring every bite (and the fact that I won’t have to clean my kitchen!).
healthy weight loss plans by experts says
Good post. You have given some really wonderful tips and I am looking forward to add some in my own diet plan.
Eating 4 Balance says
That chicken stock sounds great. I’ve been making broth with just chicken and water and I LOVE it just like that. Vegetables kick it up even further though. Those additions sound awesome.
Serena says
WOW! I NEED a crockpot!! I LOVE that you were able to make chicken stock while you were sleeping!! Looks delicious 🙂
Gina @ Health, Love, and Chocolate says
I love how simple slow cooker recipes are after getting the prep work done. And the nooch/popcorn combo is so good!
Ashley Brown says
One should have to go for some special cooking classes to learn how to cook such healthy food. BRITTANY, You must share some recipes too.