Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Easy, No-Plan Dinners

I’m a meal planner, but lately, I haven’t been planning much. Yet, we’ve been eating healthy foods. I have found that the key to healthy meals without planning is a well stocked pantry and freezer and plenty of fresh veggies.

Here is what I always keep in my pantry:
  • Grains (quinoa, brown rice, “mixed ancient grains,” oatmeal)
  • Legumes (black beans, chickpeas, lentils)
  • Pasta (brown rice)
  • Canned wild salmon and tuna
  • Plenty of spices, different vinegars, and olive oils
And here is what’s always in my freezer:
  • Wild salmon
  • Veggies
  • Fruit (including plenty of frozen bananas, cut into small pieces, to make banana soft serve for dessert)
  • Alvarado St. Bread (I buy two loaves at Costco, and I always freeze one)
And here is what’s always in my fridge:
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Condiments and sauces (organic ketchup, different mustards, soy sauce, gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)…)
  • Plenty of veggies and tofu (from our CSA box as well as from Farmers’ Market trips)
What have we been eating, you ask? I haven’t been taking a lot of pics of our food, but here are some recent meals, making use of what was in our pantry, freezer and fridge. No planning necessary! Smile

Brown rice with stir fried veggies (onions, carrots, kale, and celery) and tofu

Grilled salmon with lemon juice and dill with asparagus with lemon juice

Brown rice pasta with spinach, tomatoes, and leftover grassfed beef sausages

Questions: Are you a meal planner? I usually am, but I actually like that my non planning has been working out! What are some of your pantry/freezer/fridge staples? 

Be well,
Andrea