You cook what you have.......

I love to cook! I love grocery shopping! Food is more then a neccessity to me but is rather a hobbie (obsession if we are to be honest). It then seems only natural that I often find myself sharing recipes, swapping tips and ideas and most recently (since I have made such drastic dietary changes over the past year) BEING asked for help. People want to know how to cook healthier, what are the first things I would suggest changing, how to make the much loved family recipe and make it better for the body or my fave, how to get the family to cooperate. My answer is simple; You cook what you have!

If you are like most Americans your pantry is stocked with all the greatest pasta/rice/grain box mixes on the market. You have cans of, well, EVERYTHING, even if you dont really know what the food inside is suppossed to resemble, but, the kids eat it, and to adults it is often nostalgic of childhood and most importantly IT IS CHEAP! You may also have a mini bakery in your pantry with boxes to help you make muffins, cookies, cakes, scones, brownies etc. with just adding a few ingredients you could open a bakery. And of course let's not forget the typical freezer, pizza, ready made individual portioned complete dinners, ice cream, processed meat pieces (fish sticks, nuggets, meatballs) and of course a bag or 10 of frozen veggies. For the few that use the fridge for more then soda and milk you may find lunch meat, cheeses, yogurt and LOTS of condiments!

THIS IS WHY IT IS SOOOOOO HARD TO COOK HEALTHY! I sincerely believe people are seeking out healthier lifestyles these days. We are ready for a change. How can anyone take these "staples" and turn them into a dinner to be proud of feeding your kids? Please, don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to any of these items. I totally get the budget constraints and the appeal of a box of food that can "fill" your family for under $4. What I don't get is how to take these ingredients and turn them into healthy options. When asked what the first thing to do to change a diet my answer is simple! CHANGE YOUR SHOPPING! It is pretty impossible to feed your family food you are sure isn't healthy when it isn't in your hands!
If you buy a bag of frozen chicken rather than a bag of nuggets you save money. If you take said chicken and grill it, bake it, slow cook it, or even cut it up bread it and fry it you have changed your diet for the healthier side! If you stop spending money on the prepackaged dinners and invest in a few freezer containers you can cook double a typical dinner and freeze the leftovers to create your own micorwave dinners. Yes, I know it takes a little practice and it absolutely takes a little more time but only in the beginning. Once you learn the money saving tips and the time management skills of healthier eating you will not look back.

Again, I know this isn't that simple for most of us. It is a jumping of place and as you shop each week for what to feed your family consider changing a couple specific items each time. Before you know it your freezer and pantry can be equipped with the food neccessary to actually create a quick healthy meal from scratch. It is a lot to consider but the bottom line is that if you dont have healthy ingredients to start with how can your end product be healthy? Save your favorite frozen pizza for an INTENTIONAL purchase to splurge and keep the freezer space free for the yummy veggies, meat, leftovers, and muffins you made. I'm just saying if you want to chagne the way you eat CHANGE WHAT YOU HAVE TO COOK!

OKAY< I am off my soap box for this evening. Thank you for listening to my ramblings....