Break Out Of Your Food Rut!
On Our Minds
Everyone we know is gearing up for something in September- whether it's school, work or just coming back down to reality after a relaxing summer vacation. It's back to the grind and back to routine.
With September usually being a month of new beginnings, it makes sense to us that it is internationally known as "Self Awareness Month". It's a time to self-review, to explore the why's of your habits and patterns, identify strengths/weaknesses, and set new goals. Whether you're starting college, starting a new job, or trying to be a better version of yourself this year it's imperative to "check in". What do you need to grow? How do you communicate? Do you feel comfortable asking for help? Are you getting enough sleep?
Know yourself in order to grow yourself
In Good Health,
Lisa Brown & Jennifer Medina
Break Out Of Your Food Rut!
Feeling bored with your current go-to meals? No inspiration in the kitchen? Read on for our top tips for breaking out of your food rut:
1. Hit the books:
Dust off your old cookbooks and pick a recipe you haven't tried before (or haven't tried in a while). Or, skim through the pictures to find inspiration. Tired of your cookbooks? Pick up a new one or visit Pinterest for some new ideas.
2. Swap it Out:
Swap your usual salmon for halibut, brown rice for farro and spinach for swiss chard. Boom- new meal.
3. New Food Challenge:
Next time you're at the grocery store or farmer's market, pick out a food you've never tried before. No idea what to do with an acorn squash? Buy it. Then, ask Google what you should do with it. Give yourself 3 minutes to search then pick a recipe- the most popular ones come up first anyway!
4. Buy a new kitchen gadget:
Try something new with a spiralizer or Air Fryer. Give the oven a break and give a grill pan a try. Get out of your comfort zone!
5. Add some spice:
Breathe new life into your usual dishes with fresh herbs- they are SO much different than the bottled stuff. Or, try a spice you've never used before. For example, paprika has a really nice smoky flavor and is great with meat, soups and stews.
6. Go Out to Eat:
What better way to get inspiration? Try to recreate your favorites at home. We love helping our clients recreate their favorites!
7. Get Some Help:
In a food rut because you're simply too busy to do any of the above? Get some help from a meal delivery service. We've shared some tips on trying these out in a previous newsletter, and there are always new ones hitting the scene. Having the ingredients measured out and ready-to-go makes it really easy to get comfortable in the kitchen, try new recipes and spark some creativity.
How do you get out of your food rut? We'd love to hear from you!
Quote of the Month
"There comes a day when you realize that turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there is so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on."
—Zayn Malik
Please Join Us in Hurricane Relief Efforts
As we all know, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma were the only Category 4 Atlantic storms to hit the United States in one year. We cannot heal the heartbreak, but please join us in supporting relief efforts to care for victims and rebuild the affected areas. To find an accredited charity to donate to, please use this link.
Thank you.
Recipe of the Month:
Kung Pao Chicken Stiry Fry
Total active time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 3/4 lb chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
salt and black pepper as needed - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped into bite-sizes
- 1 zucchini, chopped into halves
- 2-3 dried red chili peppers (to taste) found in Asian section of grocery store
- 2/3 cup roasted cashews (or roasted peanuts)
- sesame seeds and chopped green onions, for garnish
Sauce
- 6 tablespoons tamari (or low-sodium soy sauce or Bragg's liquid aminos)
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper chili flakes (to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup water, plus more as needed to thin out sauce
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for the sauce. Set aside.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of sauce.
- Add oil to a wok or large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes, or until the chicken is starting to brown.
- Toss in the zucchini, bell peppers and dried chili peppers (if using) and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the chicken is cooked through. Pour in the remaining sauce and add the cashews. Toss everything together and allow sauce to bubble and thicken. Season with salt, pepper or additional red pepper chili flakes as needed.
- Remove from heat and serve warm on a large platter or over zoodles, cauliflower rice, quinoa or regular rice or noodles. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
Recipe courtesy of www.lifemadesweeter.com