A Quick (& Healthy) Meal

A Quick (& Healthy) Meal

A Quick (& Healthy) Meal

I grew up without much crap around the house and because of this fact, my sister and I would buy a whole tub of Haagen Daz or Sara Lee Brownies and eat it in one sitting. We'd feel sick. Then we'd do it again until I learned to stop so I wouldn't feel sick (seems obvious I know). We had healthy meals and to this day, I can’t eat a lot of greasy processed food. For that I’m thankful, but I’ve shifted and have tried having chocolate and unhealthy snacks around the house (my partner’s a Type 1 diabetic so this is my reasoning). I figure if the healthy and unhealthy is available, my boys will learn to choose the healthy, because the unhealthy makes them feel weighed down and sluggish. This is my logical brain at work and has been an ongoing experiment in teaching my boys to make decisions and learn whether they're right or wrong. They need to start small and build up (thanks Maggie Dent!).

Both my kids by growing up like this (I'm assuming), eat a wide variety of healthy food and 80% of the time definitely make healthy choices. As they grow they really need more energy and are putting the two together. I help with as much support on this front as possible and have discovered that if I make healthy choices EASY ie ‘grab-able’ and fast, they will take this route very often. We always have chopped up fruit in a container in the fridge, chopped veggie sticks (in water makes them even colder and crunchier), bliss balls ready to grab and ripe avocados for a quick avo smash.

Fried rice has become our new grab and go snack using up plain rice from past meals. So how do I do it?

Fry up some veggies (ideally chopped super tiny just in case you have super picky eaters!) in ghee/coconut oil/olive oil and be sure to include onions (and garlic and ginger) as caramelised onions add so much flavour! The more colours the better although they aren't as 'hidden' then! I swap peas for edamames (you can buy them shelled and frozen in your local Asian grocer). Add small bits of bacon/ham for more flavour. Add soy sauce (or coconut aminos which is a healthier option) and be sure it's full of flavour. Push everything to the side of a pan and crack 1-2 eggs and give them a quick whisk. After a few minutes when they're cooked, mix it with the veggies and add your leftover plain rice (otherwise make this before so it's ready fast!). Boom. Delicious hot or cold. In the lunch box or out. On the run or at home. As a side or your main meal.

This is a work in progress towards ensuring we all make delicious and healthy choices and I can only get them started, the rest is up to them. Share your easy and healthy recipes with us!