Tasty Rainbow

One of my new year's intentions is to focus on my health. That means staying active, remembering to breathe and relax, and eating right!

And I think I've been doing pretty good in that area so far. As long as I take the pressure off of making a fancy meal, with lots of ingredients, or variety, or prep time, I actually enjoy cooking! A lot! Never thought I would say that...

And it is really easy to cook REAL food with a small amount of time and ingredients. No fancy recipes and no strange ingredients (unless you count sunchokes which are so flippin tasty!). Just simple stuff you can find in any grocery store. I'm no expert, so if I can figure this stuff out, anybody can.

Last night we had one of my standard go-to meals: chicken thighs, potato fries & gravy. But I changed it up a bit by adding some sweet potatoes and beets to the mix (mmmm...baked beets....). And I cut up some of the beautiful and colourful carrots I've been getting in my organic box, and sauteed them up with a bit of brown sugar and maple syrup.

I didn't get a picture of the meal in its entirety because it was too damn good and it disappeared right away. Even Lucas inhaled everything on his plate. He needed a little encouragement with the carrots when he tried to use the "I'm full" card, but once he took one bite he quickly stuffed his mouth full!

Success!!

Next I want to try cooking a whole chicken! Yikes! Wish me luck...

How are your new year's goals coming along?

Are you trying to eat healthier this year?

later loves

Tell A Story - Life Lesson

I think it is important to teach children how to feel comfortable in the kitchen. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, all of those things. It goes hand in hand with teaching kids about what is good for their bodies, what kind of fuel will make them healthy and strong, and what isn't & won't.

I myself am NOT an expert in these areas. I don't have a meal planner, I plan meals the day before. I don't try fancy recipes, I make the same 7 meals over and over again. And I struggled for a long time before I got in the habit of eating food that made me feel great.

And I laboured for a long time under the belief that cooking meals needed to be inventive and varied. And it always frustrated me. Until I had a mental shift. Cooking for your family does not have to be complicated! It can be simple and easy, and fresh and whole. I don't use packaged sauces, I don't buy frozen dinners, I don't buy strange crackers with 30 ingredients. But I do buy ice cream and my weight in smoked salmon and coconut shrimp. And I do make a home-cooked meal almost every weeknight. And I enjoy it now! And I hope that Dude picks up on that, and in turn benefits from it.

We made Rice Krispies on Grey Cup Sunday, two batches! And took them over to Gran & Grandpa's house to share with everyone. I let him measure the ingredients, dump them in the pot, and stir. Lots of stirring. And his attention lasted the whole time, and he was engaged and excited. We did fractions! Ha!

And then we made some more a couple days later, and he remembered his measurements. And he was still happy and excited. He was getting too close to the hot burner for my comfort level, but he's learning. He'll make mistakes I am sure, but at least he is trying. And I got to teach him how to make the easiest dessert ever, a lesson he will hopefully carry into adulthood which will come in handy when he is a bachelor and needs to bring something to work for a potluck, or BBQ to impress someone he likes.

That's me...always thinking ahead.

Rice Krispies Life Lesson...

later loves