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Momma Told Me: Food is fuel.
We're officially a quarter of the way through 2016 and it's no secret that the year has already thrown a variety of unexpected hurdles my way. 1 or 2 downfalls hardly amounts to a catastrophe, but it can be easy to allow yourself to get swept up in negativity once you start collecting negativity. These things have a way of snowballing and soon enough, if you allow it, begin breeding their own problems. That's precisely why I'm writing today to share the importance of a healthy body, and how it directly impacts a healthy mind. If you've ever heard 'food for the soul,' these recipes might, quite literally be food for my soul. Featuring fresh vibrant super foods and wonderfully vibrant flavor profiles, eating healthy seldom looked so good.
You see, as humans, we like to feel as though we are in control. But the honest truth is that there are simply too many variable in even the most controlled situations to ever really count on an outcome with certainty. However, one thing I can control is the fuel I choose to provide myself, which will prove integral no matter how the outcomes may sway.
At the beginning of 2016 I overhauled my diet even more drastically than in 2015. I began eating smaller, more frequent, portions throughout the day. Snacks became fresh veggies and delicious ripe fruits. Every dinner was accompanied by several heaping servings of greens. At first, I was cranky. Then my body fell in line with the rhythm. It began burning 'fuel' instead of 'fillers' and I found a new energy. And energy that has quite honestly carried me through these past few months with a calm and positivity I've never experienced before.
I'm not going to lie- It hasn't been cheap, putting my mind and my body at first priority. I've afforded a lot of time to carefully plan meals around real whole ingredients with satisfying flavors. And I've spent my fair share learning how to budget these fresh, healthy, ingredients into every snack and every meal. But there is a secret to my success, Sam's Club.
As a Sam's Club member I enjoy many benefits which help me save time and money while making smarter, healthier, decisions. Sam's Club is a one stop shop for me- I can call in a prescription and have it waiting at the pharmacy, pick up a 90 day supply of my preferred Omega-3 supplement, and shop a variety of fresh produce and meat selections, as well as stock up on frozen sides and items for busy nights when I don't quite have time. I've been a
Sam's Club member since I was old enough to hold my own membership, and I constantly find new value in it.
Last year I discovered the Sam's Club
Healthy Living Made Simple online magazine, a virtual resource for tips and tricks to a healthier lifestyle covering everything from allergy remedies for pets to delicious seasonal recipes. Since the magazine is published online I can even consult it in store and pick up ingredients or products I need without ever having to waste a scrap of paper (so it's eco-friendly AND time savvy as well!) This month
Healthy Living Made Simple has a special article on the Superfood of the month, salmon. Check out the online collection of serving tips, heart benefits, and even a recipe in this month's
Superfood Spotlight article.
Part of shopping smarter, while shopping healthier, is taking the stress out of running around town, and minimizing trips to the store, with bulk buys. As a Sam's Club member I've found I save a lot of time and money by purchasing our product staples in store. With 2 adults eating 8 servings of vegetables a day, you go through a lot of lettuce (Salad,) carrots, cucumbers, avocados, and more! I like to keep a variety of fresh and bulk frozen produce and sides on hand to make sure we're never tempted to reach for junk food when our tummy begins to grumble!
But back to Salmon- the Superfood of the month for March and April. Cooking for 2 I seldom find an ingredient as delicious as fresh salmon fit into our home cooking budget. Thanks to Sam's Club I can enjoy 'bulk savings' without investing in a palette of fresh fish. For a little over $10 I was able to pick up 3 generously sized hand cut fresh salmon fillets, which portioned into 3 meals for us. I daresay one of those meals would have been more than $10 a head at any local restaurant. And they don't have my recipe for Pistachio Crusted Salmon.
The great thing about working with fresh, healthy, ingredients is that they need very little manipulating. Salmon has such a rich flavor and texture, and bakes so effortlessly, it's easy to see why it's the
Superfood of the month. Inspired by my recent shopping trip to Sam's Club and this month's issue of
Healthy Living Made Simple online I tossed some panko bread crumbs and crushed pistachios in EVOO and slathered my fresh salmon fillets with a spicy lemon mustard baste. Just a few, simple, delicious ingredients and 20 minutes in the oven left my kitchen smelling like heaven.
Of course everyone knows that every great Superfood deserves an amazing Superfood side- so I invited January/Februarys' Superfood of the month, broccoli, to join us for dinner. A personal favorite of mine, broccoli is one of the most nutrient dense foods, but can lose much of it's nutritional value when cooked. Various cooking techniques (such as chopping the vegetable and allowing it to sit for 40 minutes prior to cooking) may retain some of the nutrients but I like to think I've found a delicious alternative. I've whipped up a delicious Superfood Salad featuring an entire team of Superfoods!
If you're like me and eating raw broccoli sounds less than appetizing, remember the potential nutritional benefits and give my Broccoli Kale Superfood Salad a try. I was the harshest of skeptics at first but the finely chopped greens, crunchy textures, and pops of sweet cranberries really shine when tossed in it's Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette. The sweet and tangy flavors make this one crave-able healthy side you'll be itching to make night after night.
Eating healthy often gets a bad rap for being dull, tedious, and expensive- but smart shopping and meal planning can really change that perspective. These recipes not only satisfy my stomach they also help keep my mind fueled for whatever lies ahead. All while providing numerous benefits only Superfoods can offer. Sam's Club members enjoy access to competitive pricing on fresh and frozen ingredients, as well as access to exclusive healthy living resources and tools designed to make healthy living simpler. Those are just some of the reasons I've been a member now for over 10 years.
While I may never quite know what tomorrow will bring- I can always find comfort in knowing what it will find on my plate. The foods we choose to fuel ourselves with are almost as important as the outlook with which we choose to view the world. And, some may argue, go hand in hand. Discover the benefits of this month's Superfood of the month, salmon, and learn more tips (and recipes) for healthy living in Sam's Club's online magazine
Healthy Living Made Simple.
Do you have a favorite Superfood and a preferred way to enjoy it?
What Daughter Says: A healthier diet has helped me find the energy and mental strength to fuel me through some big challenges.
Pistachio Crusted Salmon
