Clean Eating

So upon stumbling onto a wonderful website a few months ago (this one to be specific) I decided I wanted to eat more clean.  I had been thinking about the amount of processed foods me and my people had been eating and wanted to ease up on that.  So...this site was just in time.

I do a lot of cooking anyway....Was usually once or twice a week and I would take my lunch 2-3 times a week on a good week.  So my challenge was to increase all of this.  I was planning to now take my lunch to work DAILY and my breakfast DAILY.  On top of that I planned to cook 3-4 times a week depending on the week.
Doing this while taking away processed food required me planning meals in advance so I could shop (and meet my budget....lawd my budget).  It also required me prepping my food the night before.

For instance.  I'm having cereal and a smoothie for breakfast tomorrow (if I'm running late that smoothie will turn into just juice....it bees like that sometimes) therefore, my milk is already poured into a small container to take to work and my cereal is in a Ziploc bag.  I also have all my sandwich components ready to just throw into my bag for lunch.  It takes a lot of forethought and deliberate action.  But its worth it.....even if its just monetarily.  Lunch on average can cost $6-$7 a day and breakfast can cost like $3.  So if we round that all to $10 a day to eat out that's $50 per week just during the work week.....$200 a month. And probably a bazillion calories and fat and cholesterol grams missed out especially if your go to is McDonald's, Wendy's, Popeye's, the deli with the LARGER THAN LIFE sandwiches and even subway if you get all the sauces and bacon and 40988 different meats (yum #bacon).

But you get what I'm saying........we all have better things to do then spend $200 a month to eat out when we all have bills.  Here are some of the pics of the delicious things I've made (some from the website above).

If you have more delicious recipes....send 'em along.

Bourbon Chicken

Hamburger Stroganoff

                                           Salmon, Spinach and Pasta w/ EVOO garlic, salt, pepper

All-American Cheeseburger and Cheese Fries

Quick Meal: Chicken Parmesan

So i've been planning to make this for a while....as a quick meal but I kept getting lazy about it. I finally decided to make it yesterday. It was quite delicious. Leftovers will be popping for lunch tomorrow.

So...Here are the ingredients:

Chicken Tenderloins (breaded already done...frozen...i used Great Value...dont sleep on that good ol' Wally World brand)
Spaghetti Sauce
Salt
Pepper
Mozzarella Cheese
Thin Spaghetti

Put the chicken strips in the oven for recommended time. While you're doing that boil the spaghetti. When the strips are done...flip them over...and pour on some sauce and sprinkle with cheese and put back in the oven.

Season the noodles with salt and pepper and a lil butter. Add a lil sauce.

Place the chicken on the spaghetti once the cheese is melted....and you have a YUMMY MEAL!!!!

Cooking Photos:





Finished Product:

Sunday Dinner (8/1/2010)

Well....sometimes I just feel like cooking a big ol' meal! Sometimes I hate cooking...but mostly I hate it when i have limited time (and money).

But anyway. I cooked Baked Pork Chops, Mac and Cheese, Greens and Cornbread (all from scratch).

Here are some prep pics.








Here's dinner all done.......







Ya girl can throw down...i'm telling you!! lol

Sometimes you gotta cook a lil Sunday (Southern) dinner to feel at home! I should be hosting another Sunday dinner soon......so get ya requests for an invite and food in!!