On Eating Simply

Meal planning can get overwhelming sometimes when you're trying to prepare a "well-rounded" meal.  But meals don't have to be complicated or elaborate.  We westerners are used to eating four to five different things at one meal.  It's not a necessity though.  For example many Tibetan monks eat very simply, eating only one type of food per meal such as only bread or only fresh fruit and fresh vegetables or only cooked fruit and cooked vegetables or just starches.

It. Is. OK.  As long as you get all of your dailies in throughout the day, you're fine.  You can make all of your meals very simply.  Sorry to get on the smoothie train again, but I like to get the majority of my fruit in in the morning so that I can starch and veg out simply the rest of the day.  I feel pretty dang great on this method.

Photo Credit

Here are some simple meal suggestions:

- Rice with some frozen mixed veggies tossed in.  Season to taste with soy sauce or lemon juice and herbs or spices.

- Quinoa with a bit of dried fruit, chopped nuts, and almond or coconut milk.

- Baked potato fries with sriracha or curry ketchup

- Beans and rice tossed with a bit of hot sauce and chili powder

- My go to summer salad - 1 cup each: diced tomato, diced bell pepper, cooked sweet corn, cooked black beans, seasoned to taste with chopped red onion or green onions, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper

- Hummus with pita and veggies

- Boiled & drained new potatoes seasoned with lemon juice, parsley, and chives

- Whole wheat pasta with your favorite tomato sauce

- Oatmeal made with rolled oats or steel cut oats with warm spices and a bit of maple syrup

- Baked sweet potatoes with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon and/or cayenne

- Wraps filled with anything!

Eating simply doesn't mean eating less, but just eating more of your simplified meal.  Instead of a side dish of baked potato with 3 or 4 other items, eat 3 or 4 baked potatoes.  Eat just until you feel satisfied.  That's it.  You're golden.  

I'm not going to tell you what to eat, but I will suggest that you stick to a whole food, starch based diet rounded out with lots of vegetables and fruit with the occasional whole food fats (nuts, avocados, olives) in moderation.  

And I'm not even suggesting that you do this for every meal.  Do what works best for you.  I'm only saying that when you're stumped on what to fix for dinner, just keep it simple.  There's no need to wrack your brain over a meal.  Ain't nobody got time for that.