It’s National Nutrition Month- Spring Cleaning Your Cooking Routine
Do you have spring cleaning on your mind when March rolls in?
Just like it’s important to periodically deep clean and purge unnecessary clutter around the house, it’s helpful to reevaluate your meal planning, shopping and food prepping routine too. Having CF means your nutrition needs are high, but you may not have a lot of time or energy to spend in the kitchen. Here are a few simple steps for spring cleaning your cooking routine as we head into this new season.
Step 1: Take inventory of your pantry
It might sound scary, but now’s the time to venture into the depths of the pantry to see exactly what you have, then strategize how to use it (or if necessary, toss it!). Save money as you work through shelf-stable items before purchasing duplicates and remember to re-stock those healthy staples that make fast weeknight meals, like this sheet pan dinner a breeze. Some of my favorites to have on hand are canned tomatoes, coconut milk, vegetable broth and nutrient-rich whole grains like quinoa. Email me at Michele@GoodnessGirl.com to get my FREE Pantry Guide!
Step 2: Embrace seasonal produce
One simple way to get out of a cooking rut is to switch up your go-to fruits and vegetables based on the season. Bonus: this also means fresher and less expensive finds! Try this simple grilled vegetable and lentil salad for a simple spring main or side dish that will get rave reviews. My family also loves big salads with seasonal fruits and vegetables like this one featuring kale and blueberries which come back in season in March. Add a handful of slivered almonds or chopped walnuts for some extra healthy fat.
Step 3: Find a meal planning method that actually works.
Remember that meal planning is key to staying on track with healthy living goals so if your current setup isn’t working, it might be time to switch gears. Make it a goal to find an approach that feels doable -- and more importantly, sustainable -- in the long term. Consider what time of day your energy is high or you have the most time to prepare. Maybe that is a weekend morning or afternoon. If this is something you struggle with, you might consider outsourcing. Try out my meal planning program to save time so you can focus on improving your culinary skills and enjoying home-cooked meals over endless recipe searching.
Dedicating time to freshen up your cooking routine can produce results that last. A simple, well-planned menu and well-stocked pantry will reduce your stress in the kitchen and limit the need for grabbing something unhealthy or doing a lot of fast food takeout.
Set yourself up for success in your CF nutrition routine by choosing one of the above steps and diving in- which step will you tackle first?