Happy 2019! I’ve never been more excited for a New Year! I feel so hopeful about the future and excited to continue this blogging journey with you guys! I’m also super motivated to focus on my wellness and make it a Healthy 2019. A big part of that is healthy food and recipes. Don’t worry, I’m not changing it up too much, just focusing on more of what makes me feel good! I’m getting started with some healthy make ahead meals and healthy snack ideas.
I’m not necessarily eliminating anything from diet, I’m simply focusing on the healthier foods (which I know I love, too). I’ve always taken great pride in the fact that I enjoy cooking healthy meals. I just got a little off-track during the holidays. Totally okay and totally necessary. However, it’s time for a reset. And I’m excited to bring you on this journey with me! Cheers to a Healthy 2019!
So for you, it means I’ll be sharing more recipes like the ones below. Like this breakfast I made the other day. German toast (my new favorite) with dairy-free cream cheese and array of toppings such as capers, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, salt, and pepper. It’s so simple, yet incredibly delicious. Cooking better doesn’t mean less taste. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. This meal literally took 5 minutes.
A little prep work goes a long way in my effort to eat better. On New Year’s Day I boiled a bunch of eggs, grilled some chicken salad, cut up some veggies, spiralized zucchini, made a couple dips, and a homemade dressing. It took about an hour and I had several things prepared to easy pull together meals throughout the week. Like this lunch that included chicken salad lettuce cups, some veggies, and a beet and Greek yogurt dip.
Having grilled chicken made it so easy to whip up some chicken salad! I love having prepared chicken salad around because you can use them in lettuce cups like this, make a wrap, or dollop some on a large salad. Oh and that beet dip – so yummy! And simple!
The grilled chicken also helped me prepare a nice and quick dinner, too. I added it to a plate with zucchini noodles, topped with Rao’s Marinara sauce, greek olives, and freshly grated parmesean cheese. Some sautéed spinach with garlic was the perfect addition to this meal. It literally took just minutes to prepare.
By the way – I love Rao’s Marinara sauce! It’s great to have on hand when I don’t have time to make my own. It has less sugar than the majority of other bottled sauces, yet still packed with flavor thanks to really good ingredients. I’m totally on a Rao’s kick!
The hardest part about my commitment to better wellness in 2019 is going to be less snacking. I LOVE to snack. I will skip a meal so I can have a salty crunch snack (I know – not good). So, in an effort to curb, this I plan to do a better job of preparing healthier snacks at the beginning of the week. I love vegetables and I love dips! But when they’re not readily available, I easily reach for the pretzels and cheese. That’s where snack prep will help!
How colorful and delicious is this vegetable snack platter! It’s a feast for the eyes. And that dip is so good! It’s simply Greek yogurt, a dash of buttermilk and mayo, and some buttermilk ranch seasoning mix. It’s a healthier version of my mom’s ranch dressing (which is so good).
Speaking of snacks, these homemade baked potato chips are so. so. so. good! I did a combination of regular potato and sweet potato. Simply slice them with a mandolin on the thinnest possible setting. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. And bake at 425 for 20-30 minutes.
I amped-up this batch up a bit with Trader Joe’s truffle oil and truffle salt. I also freshly grated Parmesan cheese over them once they were cooled off. I served them with a simple dip of mayo, greek yogurt mixed with store bought pesto. I’m telling you, this is such a treat! They totally quench my salty crunchy craving when veggies just don’t cut it.
I hope this post gives you some inspiration of your own for a happy and healthy 2019! I look forward to sharing more yummy recipes and ideas with you in the months to come! Thanks for coming on this journey with me and I’m wishing you many blessings in the New Year! Cheers xoxo
Hello, my name is Autumn, a working mom who has a passion for being in the kitchen. I love how food brings us together, shapes who we are and helps cultivate our identity. I hope you will follow along with me through my seasons of discovery in the kitchen and find a little inspiration of your own. Cheers! xoxo
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