What's Cooking?

Tips From My New meal routine

From mounds of moon cakes to boxes of Valentine’s day chocolates, the fall and winter holidays are now behind us!

A return to a regular, boring routine… ahh the kind of thing I would have never imagined might sound so good! And not because I dislike holidays or treats (quite the opposite!), but something just feels so calming and comforting about a settled schedule! 

Just as holidays largely center around festive grub, food (and cooking it!) is an important element in keeping me feeling grounded in my “everyday” routine. You probably recall that 2023 -2024 I was all about those big Sunday meal prep sessions, filling my fridge with baked chicken, grains, dips, and a rainbow of roasted veggies. Living alone, I LOVED having healthy options on hand that meant even when I came home exhausted, there was always something I could get into.

Fast forward to today, having gone through a move and no longer living on my own,  preparing my meals looks slightly different.  I don’t want to give up a chunk of my Sunday time and so now, I prefer to cook simple, delicious meals when I arrive home from classes.

Cooking at the end of the day used to feel overwhelming but with some of the tricks below, I’ve found that it has become an unexpected highlight of my day and an essential part of my happy, wellness routine!

Here are some of my hacks!

• Stock for Success: I always keep a good supply of beans and legumes on hand (canned for quick use or dried for when I have a little extra time). They're a fantastic source of protein and easy to add to soups, salads, and stir-fries. Frozen spinach is another staple – it's so versatile and adds a burst of nutrients to any dish.

• One-Pot Wonders: Sheet pan dinners and one-pot meals are my go-to's for weeknights. They're easy to prepare and clean up which you gotta love! Lately, I’ve been using at least one of these  every week from GiGi Grassia's Instagram account , GigiGoesVegan![Creamy Spinach + Zingy Bean-y Bowl and Creamy Mushroom Butter Bean Bowl are two of my favorites

• Chopping Smart: I'm not the biggest fan of chopping, nor do I think I’m particularly good at it! So, when I do get chopping, I try to prep extra while I’m waiting for something else to cook. I'll chop a large batch of veggies and store them in the fridge for salads, stir-fries, or other meals throughout the week.

• Flavor Boosters: To keep things interesting, I always have a few flavor boosters on hand. Walnuts, sesame seeds, dried herbs, fresh herbs, and nutritional yeast are all some of my favorite ways to make simply prepared food more flavorful and nutritious!  

Because food is so central to our moods, energy -levels, and well-being, it makes sense to find a way of cooking that feels right for your routine- whether it’s meal prep, daily cooking or another way that works for you! 

Wishing you lots of happiness in the kitchen AND on the dance floor this week!

Keep moving!

xx,

Katie