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Diet-friendly Freezer Cooking

Posted by Tracy on Aug 13, 2012 in Freezer Cooking | 0 comments

Freezer cooking saves time and money, but it can also save your diet. One thing I’ve experienced and hear consistently from friends is that we tend to have bad eating habits. Instead of eating organized meals and healthy snacks, we’re more likely to grab something convenient when we have the time and then binge in the evenings – definitely not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

One of the best ways I’ve found to combat poor eating habits is by having delicious meals ready to go at any time, and this makes freezer day a a must. The key to using your freezer as a diet tool is to store single-meal portions of accessible foods that can be hot and ready in minutes.

I make a lot of familiar traditional meals, but add ingredients to make them more nutritious, lower calorie, and lower fat. It’s just like hiding vegetables from your kids- it’s every bit as effective to hide them from yourself. Chili is a great example. Start with low fat ground beef (use a little olive oil if necessary) and add lots of beans, sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, onions, red and green peppers, carrots, and chopped spinach. Sounds crazy, I know. But at the end, when you’ve loaded in your herbs and spices, guess what it will taste like? Chili. And just as importantly, it will feel like chili in your mouth. Hearty, satisfying comfort food your mom (and your doctor) would totally approve of.

After a freezer day at my house, you might find slender chicken breast taquitos in whole grain wraps, bite-sized chicken stirfry with half a dozen veggies and frozen for a quick warm chicken salad or pot pie, savory black bean soup, seasoned ground turkey meat and peppers, spaghetti sauce loaded with stealth veggies, and a lean taco meat and veggie mixture. All the foods we love to eat, only with added nutrition, more fiber, less fat…and all the yummy goodness. It’s quick, easy, and it’s a lot more healthy than a desperation PB&J with a side of chips when you’re starving and need food right this minute.