So it occurred to me that with the New Year coming, a lot of people are going to be making New Year's Resolutions. With that in mind, I think it makes sense to start officially posting my recipes the first Monday of the New Year. Hopefully this blog can help people that want to be healthier, eat healthier, lose some weight, whatever for the new year.
In preparation for the first week I have compiled a list of things that you will need, but will not be purchased on a weekly basis. These are kitchen staples and can be bought in bulk because I will be using this stuff stuff for a lot of different meals in a lot of different ways. You should have plenty of all of this stuff before you attempt to make any of my recipes.
Cooking Oils
I exclusively use two cooking oils:
1. Olive Oil- I use olive oil for everything including cooking and sautéing at lower temperatures, in marinades, sauces, dressings, to finish off dishes, to shave, etc. Buy some good olive oil and buy a lot of it. This is the good stuff.
2. Canola Oil- I use canola oil for higher temperature cooking. Olive oil, while great, has a low smoking point and when it smokes it looses its nutritional value and flavor. Canola Oil can be used at very high temperatures and is perfect for the highest temperatures like pan-searing meats. Again buy in bulk and keep it around.
Another really healthy alternative to using oil for sauteing is cooking in chicken broth. I have cooked in chicken broth at various times and it gives your food a nice, but different flavor and texture than oils. I suggest you try it and see if you like it. Its not perfect for all dishes but I will try to point out where chicken broth could be used as an alternative.
Herbs and Seasonings
Salt, Pepper, Sea Salt- Absolutely buy in bulk. I recommend those huge Sea Salt and Pepper grinders from Costco (Kirkland Brand I think). Pretty much everything needs to be salt and peppered and it lasts for ever, so stock up.
Garlic Powder, Cumin, Cayenne Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, (Lawry's) Seasoned Salt
Its worth building up a nice spice cabinet. This is the best way to bring out the natural flavors in your food in a healthy way.
Fresh Garlic- Bad breath, good taste, use liberally.
Soy Sauce- for cooking and marinades
Carbs
Brown Rice
Whole Grain Pasta
I don't believe in "no-carbs." I don't even believe in the no carbs after dark rule. I work out early in the mornings most days of the week so I find myself needing carbs for dinner to energize me for my morning workouts. HOwever, if I am going to have carbs I prefer to also get the nutritional value that brown rice and whole grain pasta give you.
I have also been meaning to try Spaghetti squash and will be doing that soon. My understanding is that its a bit more labor intensive but a nice pasta substitute. More on this in a week.
Hardware
A good, large non-stick pan, a pyrex baking dish, oven trays, saucepan, blender
A great knife- I cannot describe how great it is to have a really good knife. I was given a beautiful WUSTHOF knife from a family friends a few years ago for Christmas and it is one of the best presents I have ever gotten. It really makes a difference for slicing meats, I don't know what it is but nicely sliced chicken just tastes and looks better that chicken that has been torn apart by a dull knife. It is worth it to invest in a good knife if you are going to make cooking a priority in your life.
Energy
Bring it everything you do.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
HELLO AND WELCOME
Hello all and welcome to my new blog! I am very excited to get started and share my passion for healthy living with anyone who is willing to listen.
So here's how my blog is going to work- I am going to give myself a $75 budget per week to make 3 meals a day for the 5 days of the work / school week. Thats 5 bucks a meal- cheaper than eating the two slices of bread and rat meat you get at most places around your school or work. But here's the rub- my meals are going to be healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make.
I will post my grocery list at the beginning of every week on Sundays. Throughout the week I will post the meals and recipes made with that grocery list along with pictures of the highlights. Expect updates a few times a week with meals and recipes. I might even add some fitness and style tips throughout the week, if Im feeling particularly saucy.
This is a blog for busy people looking to eat delicious, healthy meals on a budget.
So lets get a few things on the table (before we get our food on the table)!
Who Am I and Why Would You Listen to Me?
To start, my name is Miles and I am a second year law student (thats "who" I am, not why you should listen to me). I am also a former college football player who has been involved in all areas of physical fitness from playing organized sports in high school and college, to doing p90X with my buddies, to Yoga, to running. You name it, Im willing to try it. In order for your body to be able to do what you want it to do, it is essential to give it proper fuel. There is a misperception out there that eating healthy means starving yourself and being miserable all the time because you can't "enjoy food." Im here to show you that healthy eating doesn't mean starvation, it means eating ALOT of healthy, delicious and nutritious food, consistently throughout the day.
Healthy eating does not mean doing some fad diet that is infeasible and leaves you starving, frustrated, and ultimately defeated. If it was, then this blog would be a lot easier. I would post the same recipe for cabbage soup every meal, every day (an actual advertised diet). Healthy eating means eating well-balanced wholesome meals. It means listening to your body and giving it exactly what it needs to function at its highest level. It means putting in a little extra effort into your daily routine in order to be healthier and happier.
So why would you listen to me? I have no idea, but I truly believe what I am saying and I have found that, at least in my own experience, quality of life DRAMATICALLY increases when you are eating right, exercising, and living healthy.
Why Am I Doing This?
1. I Am a Health Nut
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a health nut because I am narcissistic and love staring at myself in the mirror (though I will admit it is nice to admire the fruits of your labor from time to time). I am a health nut because I feel physically, mentally and emotionally stronger when I am eating right, exercising, and taking care of my body. MIND AND BODY ARE ONE- that is more than just a meaningless mantra.
2. I Love to Cook
Now I must admit that I have a particular cooking style that I rarely stray from. You won't see a lot of (any) heavy creams, sauces, sugars, etc. in my dishes. Obviously, these things can turn wonderfully healthy ingredients into a caloric disaster. But more importantly, it is my firm belief that eating and cooking should be simple and fresh. I believe in using super-fresh ingredients, well-seasoned to compliment the natural flavors, and perfectly cooked. Its that simple. I draw largely from Napa Valley style and Catalan traditions. At the foundation of almost all my dishes is a fresh piece of meat, seasoned or marinated to compliment the natural flavors of the meat, and cooked at a temperature which maximizes moisture and taste. This style of cooking is healthy, simple at its core, and actually doable for those of us with busy schedules.
3. Its Been a Goal of Mine- and Goals are Good
Several of my friends and my sister have awesome blogs and they inspired me. I am also a "goal-oriented" person. So by setting the goal of being dedicated to this blog I will force myself to stay on budget, eat healthy, and try new recipes. I have found that when you are accountable to someone or something outside of yourself you are far more likely to succeed. So even if no one reads this blog (which is a serious possibility) I am still benefitting because I have a weekly goal to meet.
4. I am Selfish
I must also admit that I hope other people will read this blog and respond with their own recipes, ideas, and tricks. I already steal ideas from basically everywhere (Friends blogs, Men's health magazines, infomercials, etc.) So if you read this and want to share you ideas with me, I WELCOME IT!
5. I Need a New Hobby
I'm not a 1L anymore, I have time for things like this now!
A Final Word of Caution
Everyone's nutritional needs are different and vary according to size, weight, activity level, fitness goals, etc. I am not claiming that this is a way to gain weight or lose weight or ANYTHING. All I am claiming is that this is a well-balanced approach to eating that will support a variety of different lifestyles. If you are looking to lose quick weight before some big event, this is not the blog to follow. This is a slow and steady approach to healthy living- THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
So here's how my blog is going to work- I am going to give myself a $75 budget per week to make 3 meals a day for the 5 days of the work / school week. Thats 5 bucks a meal- cheaper than eating the two slices of bread and rat meat you get at most places around your school or work. But here's the rub- my meals are going to be healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make.
I will post my grocery list at the beginning of every week on Sundays. Throughout the week I will post the meals and recipes made with that grocery list along with pictures of the highlights. Expect updates a few times a week with meals and recipes. I might even add some fitness and style tips throughout the week, if Im feeling particularly saucy.
This is a blog for busy people looking to eat delicious, healthy meals on a budget.
So lets get a few things on the table (before we get our food on the table)!
Who Am I and Why Would You Listen to Me?
To start, my name is Miles and I am a second year law student (thats "who" I am, not why you should listen to me). I am also a former college football player who has been involved in all areas of physical fitness from playing organized sports in high school and college, to doing p90X with my buddies, to Yoga, to running. You name it, Im willing to try it. In order for your body to be able to do what you want it to do, it is essential to give it proper fuel. There is a misperception out there that eating healthy means starving yourself and being miserable all the time because you can't "enjoy food." Im here to show you that healthy eating doesn't mean starvation, it means eating ALOT of healthy, delicious and nutritious food, consistently throughout the day.
Healthy eating does not mean doing some fad diet that is infeasible and leaves you starving, frustrated, and ultimately defeated. If it was, then this blog would be a lot easier. I would post the same recipe for cabbage soup every meal, every day (an actual advertised diet). Healthy eating means eating well-balanced wholesome meals. It means listening to your body and giving it exactly what it needs to function at its highest level. It means putting in a little extra effort into your daily routine in order to be healthier and happier.
So why would you listen to me? I have no idea, but I truly believe what I am saying and I have found that, at least in my own experience, quality of life DRAMATICALLY increases when you are eating right, exercising, and living healthy.
Why Am I Doing This?
1. I Am a Health Nut
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a health nut because I am narcissistic and love staring at myself in the mirror (though I will admit it is nice to admire the fruits of your labor from time to time). I am a health nut because I feel physically, mentally and emotionally stronger when I am eating right, exercising, and taking care of my body. MIND AND BODY ARE ONE- that is more than just a meaningless mantra.
2. I Love to Cook
Now I must admit that I have a particular cooking style that I rarely stray from. You won't see a lot of (any) heavy creams, sauces, sugars, etc. in my dishes. Obviously, these things can turn wonderfully healthy ingredients into a caloric disaster. But more importantly, it is my firm belief that eating and cooking should be simple and fresh. I believe in using super-fresh ingredients, well-seasoned to compliment the natural flavors, and perfectly cooked. Its that simple. I draw largely from Napa Valley style and Catalan traditions. At the foundation of almost all my dishes is a fresh piece of meat, seasoned or marinated to compliment the natural flavors of the meat, and cooked at a temperature which maximizes moisture and taste. This style of cooking is healthy, simple at its core, and actually doable for those of us with busy schedules.
3. Its Been a Goal of Mine- and Goals are Good
Several of my friends and my sister have awesome blogs and they inspired me. I am also a "goal-oriented" person. So by setting the goal of being dedicated to this blog I will force myself to stay on budget, eat healthy, and try new recipes. I have found that when you are accountable to someone or something outside of yourself you are far more likely to succeed. So even if no one reads this blog (which is a serious possibility) I am still benefitting because I have a weekly goal to meet.
4. I am Selfish
I must also admit that I hope other people will read this blog and respond with their own recipes, ideas, and tricks. I already steal ideas from basically everywhere (Friends blogs, Men's health magazines, infomercials, etc.) So if you read this and want to share you ideas with me, I WELCOME IT!
5. I Need a New Hobby
I'm not a 1L anymore, I have time for things like this now!
A Final Word of Caution
Everyone's nutritional needs are different and vary according to size, weight, activity level, fitness goals, etc. I am not claiming that this is a way to gain weight or lose weight or ANYTHING. All I am claiming is that this is a well-balanced approach to eating that will support a variety of different lifestyles. If you are looking to lose quick weight before some big event, this is not the blog to follow. This is a slow and steady approach to healthy living- THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)