YES, Cooking Healthy for One or Two Can Be Easy, Fast, and Yummy!
Do you believe that you are important enough to be a priority in how and what you cook or eat?
Aging Gracefully demands the busting of false paradigms in all areas of life and what we eat is a biggie.
Please read on.
In my wonderful Facebook group of 50+ers, https://www.facebook.com/groups/LifeSizing/
I am going through the R section of my book which stands for ROUTINE. ie, our lifestyles. Recently, I did a video post on asking this question,
ARE YOU A PRIORITY?
The reasoning for this question is obvious to most of you in that unless we truly CHOOSE to make ourselves a priority, significant lifestyle changes are unlikely to manifest in anyone’s eating habits.
I believe there are 3 pillars to Wellness in Aging Gracefully:
1. Seek to achieve a balanced life in all areas
2. Implement or apply acquired knowledge
3. Choose to prioritize yourself
You see, it is not enough to merely read this post without a decision to do what it takes to become healthy and stay healthy. An exceptionally essential “ingredient” to Healthy Aging is choosing to cook or to eat healthy. Sounds rather unrealistic right, but how to do this for just one or two?
Here’s how:
Step number one is to PLAN your healthy meals even if it is to order out, make yourself a priority by choosing wisely. Randomly grabbing whatever at the end of your day when the absolutely last thing possible for you is to even think about cooking is a trap leading to failure and guilt. I get that!
In this post, this week’s worth of meals is the tip of the iceberg regarding the answer to cooking and eating healthy for one or two. Again, in my book, Design Smarts, chapters 12, 13, and 14 are detailed explanations on how and why HEALTH is the New WEALTH.
So from this one turkey breast done simply in my crock pot with the added broths, produce meals for 5 nights and my lunch for 3 days.
Meal Number One
Meal Number Two
My favorite and often way of cooking for us is when there is only one pan. Yes, this is so possible! With leftover turkey or chicken (can be of course from purchased roasted chicken) I simply saute’ fresh spinach in a small amount of olive oil, sprinkled with garlic salt. Optional is fresh squeezed lemon juice. Turn off burner.
While still hot, over cooked spinach, add leftover turkey or chicken, added small amount of favorite tomato sauce (I used tomato vodka sauce from Sam’s) sprinkled with fav parmesan or Romano cheese. Cover to let flavors blend.
Purchased this sauce from Sam’s. A little bit gives a huge flavor punch along with saving calories.
So you see, it’s definitely possible to cook and eat healthy even while living super buy lives. But, the biggest obstacle is your decision if you a priority enough to choose to do this for yourselves?
Nothing in life, absolutely nothing in life moves forward without our decision to choose a new way or to remain in the same path forward. This is why the motto of my group is, “We do more for ourselves, so that we can be more for others.”
Lastly, what’s better than a satisfying healing turkey or chicken soup? This is the final meal from cooking once then eating and enjoying many, many fast, healthy, easy, and healthy meals.
And you all can too!
Living and loving life together,
Mitzi
P.S. Please Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, like my Facebook page & join my new Facebook group!
These are such good ideas, Mitzi. Thanks for the encouragement to eat healthy, and to prioritize ourselves!
Your are so welcome Leslie! I learn so much from others so it is always a priveledge to share my successes in cooking healthy.
I really believe that we make cooking healthy way too complicated. Like all of life, it is a mindset and likewise like all of life requires planning and preparation. The rest is a slam dunk.
Great inspiration for the new year!
Awesome to hear Tiffany! We all need each other for sure to learn new ideas on how to do it better and better.
Great options, Mitzi! We use the Instant Pot a lot and have discovered the joys of lot of healthy and flavorful ethnic dishes, I’m fortunate to have my adventurous and health-minded adult children here at the moment contributing to the cooking! We tend to freeze leftovers in individual portions for grab and go lunches and dinners when time for cooking is limited.
Of course I knew you would have a handle on the cooking in your home! Would you believe my elderly mom before she had to go to the nursing home after breaking her hip,would cook for herself and freeze portions for later. She called them her healthy TV dinners……:) And yes, there are raves about the instant pot. You have also trained your adult kids well to participate not just be there at dinner time which is such a win win for everyone.
I eat healthy but being a pre-diabetic, I cannot eat cheese or most things that I like. What I need is a lesson in utilizing spices correctly.
Great Job on Your Recipes ?
From what I understand Jannuth, it is your daily allotment of certain types of foods. The one recipe that has cheese is really almost a garnish, hardly any at all but merely to add a punch. I do use a lot of fresh lemon juice, flavored oils…basil or garlic being my favs. I am doing more cooking for my Facebook group videos so check it out.
I’m going to make them all! Thanks Mitzi.
Great to know Anne cuz this makes it all work it!
Lately more than ever I really believe that self care is the most important thing and needs to be priority 1, especially when things get super busy and it tends to fall off the plate (pun intended). Great article, tips and reminder.
Thanks Mary Ann and I could not agree with you more. Busy career women I believe are the worst for making or taking the time to eat for their health and not merely their hunger. It all catches up sooner or later as we all know cuz we have all been there!
These are such good ideas! Thanks for being so positive and encouraging.
You are so welcome Lisa! I realize your challenge with all these different diets in your home. Suggestion, how about having everyone take a night to plan, shop, and cook a dinner each week?
After looking at your dinner photos, I instantly became VERY hungry! I plan on cooking a turkey breast and then trying some of your menu ideas using my new crockpot. Thanks, Mitzi!
So awesome to hear Sandy! I would love to know how yours came out. Please share with our group sometime. xo