Although the new year is aging, it is still young enough to take control of your food plans! Hopefully you wrote down some resolutions to point you in a positive direction. And it’s still not too late to think about one or two positive changes like reading the Giant Eagle® circular for some ideas for meals, making a shopping list and trying some new foods. It is comfort food time so bring out the slow cooker, a way to save time and effort as well as money. The month of hearts, February is on the horizon so putting some heart-healthy eating on your list is another likely choice. So here goes, five meal ideas to help you begin the year on a positive note!
- Think soup, either homemade or almost ready to eat. If you want some soup starter recipes email nutritionist@GiantEagle.com. In the meantime, remember that soup can be a meal. Chicken or vegetable beef are staples that compete with favorites like wedding soup, stuffed cabbage soup and clam chowder. For the meatless crowd, bean or lentil soup have protein with the heart-healthy benefits of legumes. Add a rustic bread (with or without garlic spread), a salad or fruit choice and you have a meal. Remember to freeze the extras for another meal savings.
- Slow cooker stew, chili or pot roast are in-foods this season. And if you don’t have a slow cooker, all of the recipes can be done on the top of the range or in an oven. Once again, you can make it healthy (adding vegetables the family won’t reject as easily), quick (once it is ready for the heat you can take a rest) and affordable (less expensive cuts of meat become tender when slow cooked). Chili can be all beans or fortified with ground or pulled chicken or beef.
- Valentine’s Day may be a time for an upscale meal. Flank or flatiron steak can be broiled or grilled for the turf with some grilled shrimp for the surf! Affordable and quick with some packaged au gratin potatoes, rolls…and a veggie.
- Breakfast for dinner may be a great way to enjoy a frittata (a baked omelet), French toast and lean ham, or wraps filled with scrambled eggs flavored with onions and green peppers (with a touch of Giant Eagle® Salsa). Mix some drained canned fruit with some fresh oranges and bananas and you have a fruit salad that doubles as a dessert.
- Rotisserie chicken saves the day for many and it has a place this month. Buy enough for a meal for your family (with sides of a steamed veggie and an apple salad). And the extras become pulled chicken barbeque for the next day. Use an off-the-shelf barbeque sauce or venture into your own with a base of ketchup with a dash of vinegar and a touch of brown sugar! That’s a way to serve the bits and pieces from a pot roast or pork chops too! Great with some mashed sweet potatoes and a vegetable.
So there you are…meal starters with some personality. Again, be sure to contact us at nutritionist@GiantEagle.com if you need more ideas or a bit of nudge to eat healthier in 2010.
Have a question for Judy about this article or need some other meal and snack solutions to meet your budget? Send her an e-mail at nutritionist@GiantEagle.com.
February 2010