Written by: Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Simple by definition, is plain, basic, or uncomplicated in the form of nature, or design without much decoration or ornamentation.
Yet, why do we make things in life so complicated, especially when it comes to health and nutrition? When we begin with simple and take things back to the root of what it is, things in life would be much more enjoyable.
Keeping it simple, whole, and real is one of the keys to healthy living — from eating healthy, to cooking delicious foods, to being present when eating. The simpler we keep things, the more capable we are at achieving goals.
The mind is wired to thrive in society today; however, everything is rushed and distracting, and is easy to lose sense of self. So much noise on what should be eaten and how to nourish the body that outside sources control is how we live. One way to take back the control is through the kitchen and finding out what you bio-individually need to thrive.
Eating and cooking at home brings inner and outer health to ourselves personally and the family. A few ways to make it easier to cook and eat healthier are as follow:
1. Start small.
Do you want to try and eat more fruits and vegetables? Make them the first thing you see when you walk into the kitchen. Place a bowl of fruit on the counter, put vegetables at eye level in the fridge, so you are encouraged to eat them as it is the first thing you see.
2. Count your plants and fill your plates with color.
Cook foods you are comfortable making and flavors you love to eat. Bring fun and joy into the process of cooking, turn on your favorite tunes, get the kids involved. Cook a family passed down recipe. Choose one new fruit or vegetable a week and incorporate the flavors you love.
Travel with your taste buds through food. Want to travel to Asia? Make a stir fry, Italy make delicious spaghetti and meatballs, the warm beaches of Mexico make a taco bar. Transport and make memories with simple whole foods.
3. Basic meal prep and planning.
It is essential to keep things simple in the kitchen. Here are some ways to help make meal prep part of your lifestyle.
Double up on what you are cooking and make use of the appliances as well.
Roasting a chicken in the oven, throw in a few sheet pans of vegetables too.
Blanching or steaming vegetables, add some eggs to the water.
Make a giant batch of grains and freeze half for another meal in a few weeks.
It doesn’t have to be fancy cooking. A few staples make it easier to go for the healthier choices and set you up for success.
A little bit each day goes a long way. Celebrate the small wins and embrace the simple art of cooking and eating more whole foods. Open fewer boxes, bring more colors to the plate. Your taste buds and brain will thank you. Bring the joy back to your every day and live life to the fullest.
Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Danielle Christy is a holistic health coach, and self-taught personal chef, dedicated to helping families and people around the world stop feeling overwhelmed with healthy cooking, by showing and coaching them on how to stock their kitchens with healthy ingredients, meal plan and get back to having family meals again. Danielle holds a BA in Hospitality from Northern Arizona University and Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has helped families of all shapes and sizes, create and establish a concrete strategy to ultimate health through learning what individually works for them and using whole real food as the medicine of life.
