My Quirky Nutrition Tips
I often get asked about what I eat and how I manage to prepare healthy yet quick and convenient meals. And occasionally I get funny looks in the kitchen at work because people aren’t used to seeing such plain, whole foods. So I thought I’d come out of the closet with some of my nutrition tactics. Maybe you do some of these too, or perhaps you may consider adopting some of these strategies. I just can’t be held accountable for any strange looks or comments you might get as a result. And if you have any equally strange, yet effective, practices, I’d love to hear them.
· One packet of taco/fajita seasoning lasts me at least 3 times. We make taco something-or-other at least once a week (healthy versions of course). To make it a quick dinner, we use the taco seasoning packets. But due to the sodium content, we only use about 1/3 of a packet with each package of lean ground turkey/beef. I don’t miss the excess sauce at all.
· Kid size dishes. I often use my son’s dishes to help keep portions small. Especially for small treats.
· Small forks and spoons. To slow down the eating process, I use salad size forks and teaspoons to help make individual bites smaller.
· Steamed veggies at work. I fill a sandwich bag with raw veggies and when I get to work, I put about 1 tablespoon of water in the baggie, zip it up except for a small crack, then microwave for 1.5-2 minutes. Vola… steamed veggies!
· Basil and tomatoes make everything better. I love the taste of basil, especially with some diced tomatoes, fresh ground pepper, and a touch of olive oil. Have you ever noticed that when you buy basil at the grocery store, you typically get a big bag or plastic container of it even though your recipe calls for a couple tablespoons? And depending on how fresh it is, the rest only lasts 5-6 days. So to prevent the waste and jazz up my food, I often add basil and diced tomatoes to chicken, fish, and steamed veggies.
· Egg white omelet without having to dirty a pan. I have this small, round Corningware dish that is good for the microwave. I spray the bottom/sides with butter-flavored no-stick spray, put in my egg whites and whatever veggies I have on hand (usually spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers). I usually put it together the night before. Then in the morning after my workout, I pop the bowl in the microwave, cook for 3 minutes (stir once or twice), and BAM… an egg white omelet. Depending on how hardcore I am with my diet, I may or may not add a tablespoon of shredded cheese. Oh, and of course Tabasco.
· Cottage cheese… my daily dessert. I usually need to have an evening snack around 8pm. My staple is a cottage cheese/yogurt mix (1/2 cup total) or cottage cheese w/ a little Splenda and cinnamon. In both cases, I also top with a ¼ cup of cereal (Kashi Go Lean, Trader Joes Fiber Os, other high fiber/healthy cereals). I absolutely love cottage cheese with cereal! My husband tolerates my strange eating habits for the most part but he thinks this one is really weird. I say ‘hey, don’t knock it until you try it!’
· Spray dressing is the best invention ever! There are more and more of these on the market and we have about 4 different flavors in our fridge. I tried making my own… didn’t work so well. If I don’t use a spray dressing, I still measure my dressing. Sometimes just half the suggested serving size is plenty.
I’m sure there are other strange little things I do to keep my calorie intake in check and make a clean eating lifestyle tolerable. But these are more of my everyday ones. Maybe I’ll post a “part II” when I come up with new ones or think of others I do on occasion. Again, I would love to hear yours.
