I love to cook. I always have.
I used to bake all the time, but that usually means sweets and things I try not to eat, so I don’t do that too much anymore.
I used to cook all the time, too, but as the kids have gotten older and our lives have gotten more crazy, it has been so much easier to eat out or to default to the old standbys (spaghetti, pizza, quesadillas, sandwiches, etc.).
Since moving to a whole food, plant-based diet I have discovered three things: 1) I still love to cook, 2) I have to be able to cook in order to eat well , and 3) I still don’t have time. And number three doesn’t play well with numbers one and two.
So what’s a busy mom to do?
I have found some pockets of time where I have an evening I can cook a meal. And since my whole family has not net joined me in this eating plan, when I do make something, I have leftovers.
And some leftovers freeze really well.
Like Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Burritos. I made up a whole recipe, ate one burrito, rolled up the rest of the burritos individually in foil, and put them in the freezer. They have reheated wonderfully in my toaster oven.
Another one is a Veggie Burger that I found. It is delicious, great to warm up in the oven or on the grill. Once again, I made the whole recipe, grilled them all (or rather, had Mike grill them), then froze them individually. (Side note: I substituted 1 Tablespoon of flax-seed and 3 Tablespoons of water for the egg the recipe calls for.)
Other times I have made something for a meal, I have shared it with another of my friends for lunch the next day, and she has done the same with me.
I have also learned to have something like quinoa or rice cooked up in the fridge that can be thrown together with fresh veggies and a can of beans and eaten over a salad, in a wrap, cold or warmed up.
And of course, it is always a good idea to have crisper drawers and kitchens full of fresh fruits and veggies to grab on the go, along with some natural peanut butter, almond butter or hummus.
So while time isn’t always on my side when it comes to cooking, there are lots of ways to still have the healthy food I want to eat at my fingertips.
And, when I do have time to cook, there are tons of new recipes for me to try. Which, for someone like me, is always a fun adventure.
Are there other ways that you have found to help yourself eat well when your schedule is crazy?