What are You Going to Eat?
I have no idea what happened to my generation in comparison to my mother's generation. Maybe the introduction of the microwave jacked us up. Whatever the reason, coming up with meal ideas or what to eat I cannot do to save my life. Well, I guess if I was saving my life I could come up with something.
My point is, I know I and others I know, constantly struggle to come up with meal ideas. We cannot even choose a place to eat out without it being a painful process.
The challenge is magnified when it comes to healthy selections. Do you relate?
Well, lucky for you, I have suggestions to deal with the constant struggle.
Constantly Struggling to Come Up with Meal Ideas?
Give the follow suggestions a try if you find that you are constantly struggling to come up with meal ideas:
Refer to healthy lifestyle books with recipes. That means no “lose weight in ten, thirty, or some other number of days” books. Such books appeal to your make-it-quick sensibilities. Instead, focus on books focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle. One example is Misty Copeland's Ballerina Body: Dancing and Eating Your Way to a Leaner, Stronger, and More Graceful You. You MUST make the Black Bean Soup with Lime Shrimp on page 155. It's hella good! Check out the recipe below. I'm trying the High Energy Jam next. Make sure you grab a copy of the book to try Misty's 21 Day Meal Plan. Recipes are included for each day.
Use recipes from books geared towards athletes. A long-time friend of mine gave me Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes for Christmas. I am not fast, but the food in the recipes in the book are healthy and good. Try the Garden Gazpacho in the soup section. I am not a fan of cold food, but this soup is the real deal. My friend highly recommends the peanut sauce. In fact she said, “It's outrageous!” Even if you are not a runner, this is a great book. It is filled with tips for the meal preparation.
Check out books that offer suggestions. Check out my book, Diet-Free Me. Additional suggestions are in the book. It is great advice from someone who understands struggling to come up with meal ideas.
Misty's Black Bean Soup with Lime Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (2 for soup, 3 for shrimp)
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped (3 for soup, 1 for shrimp)
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp chili powder
salt (for soup and shrimp) and pepper (soup); I rarely cook with salt, therefore I only put a dash of fine sea salt on the shrimp
2 cans (15 ounce) black beans – I used Eden Organic Black Beans No Salt Added
1 can (15 ounce) fire-roasted diced tomatoes; I used the Hunt's 100% Natural variety
1/2 cup heavy cream
5 cups organic low sodium vegetable broth by Pacific
hot sauce
zest and juice from 2 Limes (shrimp)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
16 pieces jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined, and butterflied; Our grocery store did not have jumbo shrimp so I used 32 ounces of medium sized shrimp
Soup Preparation
In a soup pot heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for a few minutes, until the onions become tender.
Add the black beans to the onion mixture. Use a rubber spatula or potato masher to mash half the beans.
Pour in the tomatoes, heavy cream, and vegetable broth. Let the soup come to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 11 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Shrimp Preparation
In a large bowl, combine the garlic with the olive oil, lime zest, crushed red pepper, parsley, and a sprinkle of salt. Add the shrimp to this mixture and toss them until they are coated; remove the shrimp.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Flip the shrimp, add the lime juice, and cook for another few minutes, until the shrimp are opaque.
Add the hot sauce to the soup and adjust the salt and pepper to your taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each with 4 shrimp.
What about you: What have you tried when struggling to come up with meal ideas? Share in the post comments.