"I would cook better/healthier foods, but I don't have the time."  and  "I don't want to bother spending hours cooking a meal that will be gone in 5 minutes."

I hear that a lot in my conversations with people about food.  In fact in the past few weeks I have heard variations of the above at least a dozen times.  Do I always feel like spending hours cooking?  HECK NO! Often after working all day the last thing I want to do is spend hours in the kitchen making elaborate meals.  Healthy does not have to mean difficult and elaborate.  One of the most simple and delicious meals is a good salad.  To to make it even more delicious a quick homemade salad dressing can be whipped up in less than 10 minutes.

Tonight's epic and fancy dinner was Healthy Request Tomato Soup and half a grilled cheese (low sodium cheese) sandwich.  Quite healthy and it took me less than 15 minutes to make it all AND clean it up.

The very fancy lettuce crisps that I made over the weekend took me about 20 minutes to make and that was pausing to read, re read, and re re read the recipe while I was cooking.  (Slightly modified recipe below)  This was a healthy and oh so easy recipe that only dirtied one pan, cutting board, knife, and a bowl.


The average healthy meal may take longer than heating up some preformed chicken nuggets and mixing up a box of macaroni and cheese, that is true BUT aren't you and aren't your kid worth better food than pre-formed "chicken product" and salt laden fake cheese powder?

You have to decide that you are worth more than the processed garbage that comes so easily.  Your children most certainly are.  It rests on the shoulders of  parents to teach their kids proper nutrition and put a stop to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes.  They certainly won't learn that by watching you tear open a package or ordering from a clown's mouth.  It's become obvious that we can't depend on the public school system to teach them proper nutrition (after all, they consider pizza a vegetable).   Why not use meal times as a way to come together as a family.  Sit down and take more than 5 minutes to scarf your food down.  Taste your food, eat and appreciate the time you put into making it.  Talk to your kids and give them your undivided attention while you all enjoy your meal together.   You may think they are too young to care, but trust me, the earliest memories I have are of the entire family sitting around the dinner table.  They will remember that you cared enough to put down your work, book, video game, or TV remote to sit down with them.  They certainly deserve the time and attention it takes to properly nourish their little bodies, and so do you.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

1lb ground beef
1 Red Pepper, chopped
4 large c loves of garlic, minced
2 tsp ginger, minced
8 oz water chestnuts, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp thai chili sauce
1/4 C reduced sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
4 diced scallions, white and green parts
1 large head butter lettuce,  cleaned and separated

Dipping sauce

1/4 C Reduced sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp rice vinegar

2 tsp ginger

1 tsp sesame oil

1 garlic clove, minced

Heat garlic in olive oil until fragrant, add peppers.  Saute for 5 minutes and add beef.  Brown until no longer pink, breaking up chunks.  

Add ginger, water chestnuts, chili sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil.  Stir for 5 more minutes.

Toss in scallions and serve using the butter lettuce as bowls.