My Go-To Meal: Roasted chicken is one of the meals I make the most frequently. It is so easy and delicious. Salt the chicken front and back, then bake at 375 degrees for about 1.5 hours. Save the carcass for bone broth.
How nice of her to pose for me!
Below are some other ideas to whet your appetite and spark your imagination in coming up with food options that are definitely tasty and not boring.
Stir Fries – Beef, chicken, or pork cut into small pieces, cooked in a wok or skillet, then added to vegetables such as carrots, celery, bok choy, spinach, onion, garlic broccoli, zucchini, which have been sautéed. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and coconut aminos (optional). Serve over cooked cauliflower rice (Trader Joes has organic cauliflower rice in the frozen section) or cooked *shiritake noodles.
*Shiritake noodles are made out of yam flour and have only 1 gram of carbs. They don’t have much flavor, so they need to have a sauce or topping, but they have a nice mouth feel for those who miss pasta. They are also a great prebiotic, feeding the good intestinal bacteria.
Bowls – One dish meals like chicken curry with vegetables served on a bed of cauli-rice or shiritake noodles; or for a refreshing summer supper a scoop of tuna or chicken salad, some avocado, blueberries or strawberries, maybe some cold leftover cooked vegetables, or handful of olives served together on a bed of lettuce.
Stews or Soups – Can be cooking all day in the crock pot. Many possibilities with different meats, vegetables, herbs and seasonings.
My favorite is crock pot chicken soup made with bone-in thighs, with chopped celery, carrots, onion, and maybe chopped cabbage, kale, spinach or zucchini (depending on what I have and am in the mood for) covered with water. Add a bay leaf or two if you have them, and salt and pepper. Cook all day. Remove the bones and skins before serving.
Plates-A protein*, at least 1-2 vegetables or side green salad (with a couple of toppings such as cherry tomatoes, green onion, avocado, black olives, nuts, etc.); some good fat like olive oil, some herbs & spices, and occasionally sweet potatoes; Cappellos fettucine tossed with extra virgin oil, garlic & basil; quinoa, beans, or lentils.
*Think roasted chicken – whole or pieces, crock pot roast, grilled meat, grass-fed hot dogs (Applegates), baked pork chops, meatloaf made with almond meal instead of breadcrumbs; served with steamed zucchini, sautéed asparagus, roasted beets and carrots or brussel sprouts, butternut squash, eggplant, broccoli, etc.
Entrée Salad: See this post for more info. But basically this is a bed of lettuce topped with protein and a few other tasty ingredients.
Mexican:
Fajitas with seasoned meat or shrimp, onions, green/yellow/red bell peppers, guacamole, salsa, cheese if tolerated. Serve with coconut or cassava flour tortillas or on lettuce leaves.
This is my favorite party or large group meal: Taco Bar with seasoned ground, shredded, or cut up beef, turkey, chicken, pork, or shellfish; with toppings such as lettuce, cheese, dairy-free Daiya cheese, tomatoes, avocado, onions, black olives, limes, cilantro or jalapeno. Can be served as a salad on lettuce or more of a taco style on large lettuce leaves. Or on grain-free tortillas. Corn taco shells can also be used, and refried beans and rice can be added for the non-Paleo people in the crowd. The meat can cook all day in a crock pot for convenience.
Italian:
“Spaghetti”- Meatballs or ground beef in marinara sauce served over spaghetti squash, or zucchini noodles made with a spiralizer, or kelp noodles, or shiritake noodles.
Food does not need to be boring. It is so easy to get in a rut, yet so needless with all of the options available. I hope you branch out a bit, and even share new go-to’s. It also should not be a stressor. Choose one of the above today and experiment.
Cheers!
Check out some of my other articles on food:
Grab & Go Food Ideas for Travel & Busy Times
Quick Meal #1-Super Entree Salad
For More Recipes:
Check out these websites:
http://nomnompaleo.com/
http://drhyman.com/blog/category/recipes/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/recipes-home/
