Find yourself eating the same 5 meals rotated week after week?

Trying to eat clean and grilled chicken breast getting old?

I feel ya!!

Meal prepping is great and super budget friendly.  However, so many people have shared with me how overwhelmed they get with choices and by default just stick to what they know.

I felt the same way when I started, but because I was determined to stay on a healthy track my husband and I got creative.  

Here are a few suggestions to diversify your healthy meals:

1. Be Adventurous

Go outside your comfort zone and try new things. Yes, I’m talking to you meat and potato eaters. Spinach dip stuffed mushroom caps are delicious!

If you are a frequent flyer of fast food… be patient with your pallet.  It may take some time for your body and mind to enjoy vegetables and fresh proteins because chemically your body craves the junk.  I didn’t say it would be easy… be willing.

2. Add Accessories!

Dips, spreads, sauces, salsas OH MY!!

Hummus and Pesto are my faves.  I add it to veggies, fish, steak, chicken, and shrimp.  You can by all means make your own, but I’m usually on a time crunch so I just buy Sobre Hummus (they have a ton of yummy flavors) and Classico pesto.  

Here are a few other yummy recipe options. (You can make bulk and freeze for later use)

Spicy Thai Peanut Dip

• 2/3 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup chili garlic sauce
• 1tsp soy sauce
• *whisk & chill

Hot Sauce/salsa (Warning:Spicy)

• 1 pablano pepper
• 2 anaheim peppers
• 6 serrano peppers
• 4 jalepeño peppers
• 1 bunch celantro
• 8 pods garlic
• 4 or 5 cans of stewed tomatoes
• 3Tbsp Olive oil

 * Wash peppers and remove stems. Place peppers in a food processor and chop fine. Coat the bottom of a 6 qt pot with olive oil, add peppers, and sautee on med heat until soft (5-10 mins). While peppers are cooking- clean the garlic and cilantro. Add cilantro, garlic, and 2 cans of tomatoes to the food processor and chop fine. Once peppers are soft add the cilantro, garlic, and tomato mixture to the peppers.  Puree 3 or 4 more cans of tomatoes. Add to peppers and simmer 10 mins. (add more tomatoes if too hot)

3. Switch it up with various cultural cuisine inspirations.

What are you favorite types of foods? You don’t have to have spinach and chicken for every meal.

I love Cajun, Mexican, Italian, and Asian cuisine.  This doesn’t mean I only have spicy food, burrito bowls, stir fry, and pasta, though I do love those choices.

One of my favorite dishes is baked fish with a mango salsa and you can add a side such as Mexican Cauliflower Rice. (https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-mexican-restaurant-style-cauliflower-rice-253477)

My mango salsa recipe: (mix all ingredients)

•  3 mangos diced 
• 1 medium bell pepper (I usually choose red or green for color variables)
• 1/2 cup red onion chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
•  1 jalepeño seeded and minced or chopped finely
• 1 large lime, juiced (or about ¼ cp lime juice)
•  Salt to taste (about ¼ tsp)

Here are a few flavor profiles you can try if new to spices:

Mexican: cumin, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder

Italian: basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme (I use McCormick’s Italian seasoning blend).

Asian: ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili sauce

Mediterranean: parsley, garlic, rosemary, sage, lemon, sea salt

Cajun: cayenne, garlic powder, salt, black pepper

4. Change up how you Plate It!

   Enjoy your leftovers in a variety of ways so that your senses (sight and taste) don’t feel like you are on repeat.  For instance, I made pulled pork sliders for dinner one evening, but wasn’t feeling it for lunch so I used some of the pulled pork, added some chopped red onion, and pickles on a bed of mixed greens, drizzled with pickle juice for a yummy salad.  You could also make yummy pork tacos with a veggie slaw.

How did I achieve this without blowing the budget on a ton of groceries? Effective planning.  When you sit down to plan your meals for the week, think about how ingredients from one meal can complement ingredients from another meal. For example, if my week plan involves shrimp pesto zoodles and steak with summer veggies and hummus then I would consider a nice shrimp wrap for lunch one day with hummus and cucumbers.  And the cucumbers I could be using in a salad for a different meal or as a snack.

Now that you have some fun ways to change it up- Go out and enjoy your food! Bye Bye Boredom hello happy meal time!! Remember it can be yummy and healthy.