Three Less Conventional Resources for Healthy Recipes

Three Less Conventional Resources for Healthy Recipes

Keeping your family well-fed with delicious meals requires some serious dedication. A lot of moms turn to their cookbooks or their Pinterest boards for menu ideas. While these can be terrific resources, it is common to find yourself going back to the same types of recipes time and again. Boredom with your homemade meals can lead you to impulsively purchase fast food, wrecking your budget and your balanced diet. In this situation, you need to get creative. Instead of opting for takeout when the tedium of the same old dishes becomes overwhelming, try looking for new recipes in unusual places.

Check the Box
A lot of foods offer tasty recipes right on their packaging, but it is easy to overlook this fact when you are focused on making your planned dishes. If you are tired of your standard fare, though, food packaging is a great resource for new ideas. These recipes have to fit on small spaces, so they tend to be simple, which makes them perfect for busy weeknights.

Start by picking up a healthy ingredient that you would normally buy, like quinoa or frozen vegetables, and check to see if the packaging displays a recipe that sounds appetizing. If it does, track down the rest of the ingredients. In minutes, you will have everything you need for a complete meal. You don’t have to do this in the middle of the grocery store, though—you can also check the packaging of the foods you already have in your pantry. There are probably at least five new recipes sitting in your cupboard at this very moment. Why waste them?

Check Social Media
Everyone and their grandma is on social media these days—including the foods in your fridge. You use social media to stay in touch with the people you care about, so when you find an ingredient that speaks to you, why not connect with it further? It is definitely worth checking to see if your favorite food companies have pages you can follow. Not only can you learn more about the companies and find out about special offers, but oftentimes you can also find new recipes.

For example, Hampton Creek Just Mayo has a Facebook page where you can get acquainted with the company’s culture and mission, as well as get some great ideas for using their products. If you have not tried their foods yet, you need to do it soon. They are an especially good resource for those who are trying to eat healthfully. Their products are made with nutritious ingredients, so they make great additions to wholesome recipes. Does that sound like-worthy, or what?

Check Your Head
Okay, you might be a bit skeptical about this one. But coming up with healthy and tasty recipes all on your own is easier than it sounds, and it will fill you with pride. If you are at a total loss for how to come up with a healthy dish yourself, try using the USDA nutrition guidelines as a framework. Basically, you should fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, half with grains, and half with meat or another protein, with a small serving of dairy on the side. With these building blocks, you can make endless combinations.

For some reason, it is easiest to build a dish around the meat it uses, so when you are creating a recipe, pick the protein first. Then, pick some vegetables or fruit, some grains, and some dairy. When it comes to flavoring, try sticking to spices and other flavors that come naturally from herbs and vegetables. This will prevent you from going overboard with sodium or unhealthy oils. Most importantly, have fun! Play around to find flavors you like, and don’t be shy. Before long, you will have a few favorite recipes of your own creation in your pocket.

Kiss Chef’s Block Goodbye
Everyone has heard of writer’s block, right? Well, maybe the term “chef’s block” should be used to represent cooking burnout. Cooking should feel enjoyable, and making the majority of your food is a major way that you can keep your diet more nutritious. To avoid losing your cooking mojo, you should take the time to breathe new life into your routine every once in a while. One way to do this is to have fun finding and creating new recipes. You will appreciate the change of pace, and you and your family will feel the difference that good nutrition makes.

Note: Today’s post is sponsored but all opinions are my own.