Caroline's Survival Guide To Eating At Home All Day
Like many of you, we've been cooking a lot more than we ever have and it’s amazing how time consuming it can be to eat well and wait in line at the grocery store! I found a couple of recipes this week that allowed us to double up on ingredients and make a large batch to serve over a few days. It saves us time in the kitchen and we aren't scrambling to figure out our next meal. Both recipes are vegan and from one of my favorite cookbooks, Green Kitchen Travels. The lunch is light, the dinner a little more comfort food-y but still very healthy.
Aside from set meals, I've found myself doing A LOT of “grazing” lately, especially because we have an open plan house where the kitchen is always in eyesight. And my weakness is chocolate. So, I experimented this week with a couple alternatives that have helped me straighten out a bit between meals.
Make Breakfast For The Week
I'm not very hungry first thing in the morning, but I like to have a little something to get me going. As you probably already know, I'm a big fan of this Rawnola recipe that I shared a little while back. It's super easy to throw together and chances are you have all the ingredients on hand. I like to make a big batch at the beginning of the week to sprinkle over coconut yogurt and fresh fruit.
Make Up A Mid Morning Matcha
When I need a little boost mid morning, I've been making a new matcha recipe with Moon Juice's Brain Dust. I don't drink caffeine often, but Matcha has just enough kick to get me going, plus it's filled with antioxidants, and has anti-aging and calming properties. I like to add in Brain Dust for my mental stamina so I can tackle my to-do list.
Heat the plant milk in a small pitcher or saucepan. Put the Matcha powder, Collagen Protect, and Brain Dust in a small bowl. Add in a small bit of the milk and whisk gently to create a smooth paste. Add the rest of the heated milk while whisking until smooth. Pour into two tumbler-style mugs – these pretty Spako ones are the perfect size.
Matcha can have a fairly strong taste, so if you want to sweeten, add a dribble of honey or agave. I also take two capsules of Moon Juice's SuperYou to help reduce stress and enhance energy, mood and focus.
Throw Together A Light Lunch
By the time lunch rolls around, I usually have a few balls in the air and no time to step away and make a proper lunch. To keep us fueled, Jeffrey and I have been batch cooking grain bowls and salads at the beginning of the week. One of my recent favorites is the Quinoa, Almond & Mint Salad from Green Kitchen Travels. The uniquely delicious mix of sweet raisins, salted crunchy almonds and fresh herbs is addictive. Plus, the quinoa adds a protein boost to hold me over until dinner.
Keep Afternoon Snacks On Hand
By the afternoon I find myself grazing the fridge and pantry for something to snack on and until this week, it's not been the best choices... chocolate, a slice of toast, chips... ugh! In an effort to keep me from losing it for the rest of the day, I've been stocking up on fruit and nuts that I can nibble on. It only really works if I prep ahead of time and keep apples and almonds near my work area.
End On A High Note - Make A Nourishing Dinner
Times like these have me craving meals that are grounding and nourishing – the classic comfort foods that you can only have at home. I just made the Vegan Sweet Potato & Aubergine Moussaka from Green Kitchen Travels. It was just what I needed to end my week - a delicious blend of eggplant, lentils and sweet potatoes. Bonus: there was just enough leftovers for next day's dinner.
Tip: my lunch and dinner recipes both called for eggplant, so I batch cooked the eggplant together. This cut down on time and dish washing and that's a big win in my book.
When it comes to sitting down to eat, we've been mixing it up and trying to eat one of our meals outside if possible. Being amongst nature instantly changes my mood and helps balance any stress or anxiety that has been brewing. We're so lucky to call Santa Barbara home and I'm endlessly grateful to have this as my view while enjoying a home cooked meal. I hope you've all been staying healthy. I miss seeing you at the store and out and about and can't wait for the time when we can reconnect in person.
Sending love,
