In 2011, I had my car accident and the first reconstructive surgeries on my legs. Weight gain started slowly as my walking and range of motion decreased.  However, after having children and my hip replacement, it added up faster.  I knew I needed a major change.  

I've explored several diets... Keto, Low Carb High Fat, Whole Foods, and now we (loosely) follow the Mediterranean diet.  We try to focus on eating whole grains,  lots of fruits and vegetables, less meat and more seafood, and squeezing in nuts/legumes/beans.  I am still struggling with cutting out the sweet bites...  

Three years ago I had two picky little kids, but one day I put my foot down... vegetables were no longer going to be hidden nor optional. The process was done in baby steps, but my littles now have a proper serving of veggies with lunch and dinner without (much) fuss! We played with different foods and explored new options.  Life is short; your food should taste great AND be healthy!

Are our meals perfect?  No, they are not, but they are usually balanced.  However, I have a confession:  I used to throw away food.  There, I said it.  It was a long time ago...  I used to HATE leftovers, to the point of leaving half-eaten meals at the restaurant, gifting half-lasagnas to neighbors, or feeding the animals behind my house.  Now?  I feel on top of the world if we are able to have Cook-Once-Eat-Twice magic! Leftovers are cherished and no longer frozen until they die!  No more food waste!!! 

I really do look forward to only doing the heavy prep and cooking once and getting to enjoy the fruits of our labors twice!  So, does that mean I bake one casserole and then eat the exact meal heated up over and over? No, although that does happen occasionally... Look at my blog to see some easy ways to get more bang for your buck, as well as save your sanity!  Seriously, work smarter, not harder.

Most of these recipes are mine, some are healthier versions of a great dish from a master chef (and proper credits given!), but all are ones that have been truly made in my kitchen (and are kid tested)!  Most of these are also easy-to-make recipes.  You got this!  Check out a new recipe and try one of our favorite creations...

Dinner Dilemmas

Photo by Heather Gill on Unsplash