IT’S WEDNESDAY!!!!
Normally that enthusiasm is expressed on Fridays or the weekend in general, but the fact that the week is half over is enough to get this Texas girl hoppin’!
Let’s talk about food in bowls. Little-known (although probably very obviously observed on the blog) fact about me: I adore eating out of bowls. If someone offered me a steak-in-a-bowl I would totally hit that. No shame!
Yesterday’s lunch was the final bits of the veggie-fied marinara and gemelli pasta dish I created on Sunday, but was still just as good as ever. Probably because it was in a bowl and that’s just what food in bowls does to me.
Since I worked out in the morning I decided to not risk a super rainy lunch walk and read in my car for an hour. I haven’t just read a book outright in forever! I am catching up on all of the half-finished ones I’ve collected over the past couple years and am hoping to start some new ones ASAP. I was such a voracious reader growing up…my dad would have my sister and I write book reports every week in the summer, but I never thought twice about it. I was always reading 2-3 books a week anyway!
Dinner was another version of food in a bowl using this spice packet:
I have to admit, sometimes I pull a Sandra Lee and just go crazy over spice packets! I just wanted a quick dinner that would be good, but I wanted to make sure it was healthy too. The directions on the back called for ZERO veggies, and recommended pan-frying the chicken in a bunch of oil. I decided to take my own route! Enter lightly sauteed onion and broccoli slaw:
After sauteing the vegetables I sauteed the chicken chunks in a plain nonstick skillet. Once the chicken was cooked through, I added the sauce (mix+soy sauce+sugar+water) and the veggies and cooked until the sauce thickened. I decided to serve with white rice because I didn’t have the patience to deal with brown last night:
It was so good! If I had only been making it for myself I would have added another pinch or two of red pepper flakes, but some people just can’t handle the heat so I didn’t 🙂 Totally kidding babe! Seriously though, I love taking dishes like General Tso’s Chicken and making them a little healthier without sacrificing any of the flavor. And sometimes I like the full-fat, full-sugar, full-of-life counterparts. Depends on Boulder County you know 😉
What’s your favorite way to health-ify your meals? What’s your best trick for sneaking veggies in and reducing fats? I think it takes a couple things:
- A great nonstick pan. You don’t need oil and fat as much for the cooking process. Not that it’s bad to add fat, but you only want a little for flavor.
- A full freezer of frozen veggies. This isn’t a MUST HAVE but it sure will help, especially if you’re in a time crunch! Add them to pastas, sauces, soups, or just warm and eat on the side.
- Reduce the amount on unnecessary ingredients. The recipe on the General Tso’s spice packet said to bread and pan-fry the chicken. I knew that it would take longer, be messier, and was really not needed to enjoy the flavor, so I didn’t do it!
- Substitute healthier options for the necessary ingredients. This is an example of subbing brown rice for white rice…which I didn’t do, but I was well aware of the OPTION. Know what you can use instead of not-as-healthy ingredients to up the nutritional value of the dish.
- HAVE FUN! I would never recommend eating something you hate simply because “it’s good for you.” That doesn’t mean we should eat fried chicken every meal (or does it…?) but try different combinations to find the things you love that make you feel good too. Food is an incredible art, and we are all artists. Have fun with it!
The stir fry looks great!
I used to read 2-3 books a week too growing up – of course, that was way before cell phones, computers, more than 5 t.v. channels and food blogs!
I need to start reading before going to bed again!
My husband can’t even stand ONE red pepper flake – I go through the big Sam’s club size in a couple months!
I agree! Eating out of bowls is wayyyy more fun than on plates. And your pasta = perfection. I’m a pasta girl fo sho.
I love your ideas — and I do the same thing. I love to add extra veggies and take out unnecessary ingredients. Although I love to cook with a little oil or butter — to me it adds so much flavor!
I love eating out of bowls too — it is easier to hold a bowl and eat than it is to eat with a plate in your hand. Maybe if I actually sat at the table and ate like a human, this wouldn’t be a problem. But, since I eat in the car, in front of the tv or computer or in bed (yikes!) — I need a handheld meal – aka in a BOWL.
I love that you and Katie are both talking about substitutions today! I think increasing the veggies and decreasing the fat for not just stir fry (but most recipes) really does a great job to pack nutrition in (especially in a bowl, hehe)
This meal is right up my alley 🙂 I’m all about adding extra veggies whenever I can, especially foods like spinach which wilt down to practically nothing (much easier to get past the husband that way!).
I am a little bit bowl obsessed too, so much better than the over rated plate!
I think the thing that I do most often in an effort to make things healthier is to simplify. Too often, if there are too many ingredients I can’t taste them all anyway!
I also like to add bulk with veggies.
i never realized until this very moment how much i love eating out of bowls!
i remember when i used to keep frozen veggies all the time, now i’m always in crunch time trying to either make or juice the fresh veggie we keep in the house…. oh the convenience of frozen veggies!
I love adding veggies in wherever I can– you can really boost your number pretty easily!
Your dish looks MUCH better than if it had just been chicken cooked in oil!
I’m having to not read as much as I like these days too. Funnily enough I was actually planning to mention that on my blog today too. LOL
Before I would always read at least one book a week, but now I have so many other things to do I find myself reading a book because I have it from the library and not because I love it. I’m going to focus on only reading books that I really want to. Like Operation Beautiful. I read that in like 2 or 3 days. Or when the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” becomes available for me at the library. I will read that one. Otherwise, I’m not forcing it.
I <3 bowls! Pasta is a must in a bowl!
Good tips! I need to see about freezing more veggies.
I like to use lean meats. Also trying to use whole-wheat instead of white.
I didn’t realize I had a bowl problem until I recently moved and, when unpacking, realized I had nothing to serve food on, only dishes to serve food IN.
Goodwill hooked me up with some plates, but food is more FUN in a bowl!
Great tips and I also love food in bowls. 🙂
it seems like a weird progression that when we get older we go from plates to bowls.. yet its exactly what i wanted to do when i was 5 or 6. i hate plates lol. plus bowls keep everything warmer and it feels much more comforting <3
i agree with Becki, big mugs are a must too!
xo
Awesome tips, Heather! We’re totally on the same wavelength!
I guess it’s because of the time difference, but I always see your posts on Twitter long before they come through my Google Reader. It frustrates me b/c I look forward to your posts so much that I want to see them RIGHT AWAY, but I’m not always on Twitter.
I’m obsessed with bowls and giant mugs. I’ve been known to put sliced turkey, spinach and smoked gouda into mugs for a convenient way to walk and eat without spilling :).
That picture is gorgeous:)
Your tips on healthifying cover it all. I enjoy using nice, sometimes more expensive, ingredients to ensure that the meal is packing a punch. Using good olive oil, fresh herbs, etc.
this is a great post – both of your bowls look DELICIOUS! I love the top photo – 🙂
these are all great tips – I use fresh and frozen veggies all the time, and skip things like “pan frying” if not necessary.
love the last quote – we ARE all artists ! 🙂
I knew I loved you! I’m obsessed with meals in a bowl – just about everything I eat at home, I eat from a bowl. Oatmeal, cereal, salads, beans, soups, banana soft serve, etc. It was a big deal to register for our everyday china b/c of the importance of a perfect bowl. 🙂
I like bowls also…
great tips, thanks
I love food in bowls too! It is just so comforting to sit on the couch with a bowl and spoon…
Great healthy tips!
Love that first pic!!!
I’m also obsessed with that general tsos seasoning packet- it’s soooo delicious. I totally disregard the instructions on the back too- usually add it to a buttload of veggies & seared chicken. I highly recommend a sprinkling of crushed peanuts as garnish!
I love using chicken/veggie brith when saiteeing instead of oil. Also try to keep the protein:veggie ratio at about 1:4. Volume eating!
I am also a bowl-eating fan!
And your last tip couldn’t be more true. I am a firm believer in only eating things I love, even if it means squeezing in a FEW veggies!
I love eating my meals in bowls 🙂
I agree with keeping a freezer stocked with veggies!
I also like to freeze my proteins in separate baggies.
That makes it so easy 🙂
ways to healthify a meal 🙂
1-Totally increase the spice factor
2-grill baby grill
3-sometimes adding a little healthy fat makes it better depending on what you’re making.
*bottom line*
the fewer processed ingredients, the better 🙂
give Colorado a hug for me……i miss her 🙁