There’s no doubt, I balance a full life. Sometimes there isn’t even enough time in the day to stop and take a deep breath, but one thing is for sure, to continue living a healthy life, you have to find time for healthy meals. I wanted to share one of the meals I made last week and it was really out of collecting ingredients I found in the pantry to create a delicious meal that doesn’t rank high on the calories.

Maybe I can call this Christina’s Cacciatore or something like that. There are three segments to my dish. The first is the grains. I use brown rice. Sure, it’s not exactly a tasty item but it can absolutely absorb the other flavors on your plate. The second food group you need: vegetables. I have really enjoyed making what I call an Italian vegetable mix. I slice zucchini and yellow squash in addition to bell peppers  and onions. On this plate I used a straight zucchini and squash mix. I sprinkle a little bit of sea salt and black pepper on the vegetables and I do a sauté with extra virgin olive oil.  The last part of the meal, for the lean protein, I used chicken breast. I topped the chicken with a diced tomato and bell peppers mix.

It is absolutely possible to have a nice balanced meal plate that both tastes great and is good for you. Healthy eating is often paired with adjectives like bland and boring; however, some creativity can blend nutritious ingredients that can fulfill the taste buds.

When shopping for vegetables I typically use the “rainbow” rule of sorts. I try to pick out vegetables that are different colors and it’s an easy way to pick some ingredients up quickly. What I have learned in cooking vegetables is that sea salt (not regular salt), pepper, and extra virgin olive oil can make anything taste great.