VARIETY

It's vital to well-balanced meals.

VARIETY is one of the most consistently important aspects of meal preparation. preparation.

Frankly, I don’t like very much about cooking.  I never have.  The up-side of this is it caused me to squeeze the bare minimum time and effort into wildly wonderful meals.

Truth:  I once shared my idea of a product for people, similar to dog food, with my physician.  No more cooking!  She said, “No one would buy it.”  I put that idea on the back burner.  It’s still simmering. 

Returning to our subject, my path to learning variety is behind the best meal plans began when son #1 came along. 

Quite without expecting it, my prime objective instantly became to care for this precious gift the best I could.  This amounted to feeding him and I responsibly.  He had to have me! There was also washing everything—a lot, helping him have a comfy sleeping situation, and eternal learning. 

It turned out my ‘best’ changed several times over as I devoured “How to be a successful parent books, listened to advice from others, and tried lots of things.  I learned not to veer too far from the script too.  (There are some real extreme ideas out there.)

Once son #1 lived long enough to eat “real food”, I was again entirely out of my element.  Couldn’t he just eat potato chips?  What if I add an apple?

Fast forward through learning to plan meals ahead of time, use quality foods, do the hard work, birth five more precious gifts, stay within a reasonable budget, and on, and on…and here I am—wanting to share what I’ve learned.  I mean, excluding “facts” that frequently change. 

I learned variety has benefits galore.  Not only does using variety almost plan meals for you, it keeps meals exciting, as opposed to b-o-r-i-n-g.  More importantly, it satisfies a body’s need for tons of nutrients practically automatically.  It also puts families off guard to random ‘surprise’ meals.  (Did I say that?)  I mean, it prompts one to try new and exciting food options and recipes. Plus, it broadens one’s skill of dictating how much is spent, instead of “necessity” rendering one helpless.    

I do realize this one “tip” sort of sinks my ‘people dog food’ idea. 

Here is a short-list of varieties to help accomplish goals like good health, a manageable food budget, confidence, self-esteem, saving time, and more!

·         Variety in FOOD CATEGORIES, like proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, etc. 

·         Variety in COLORS of food.  (Think fruits and veges.)

·         Variety in COOKING METHODS.

·         Variety in WHO PLANS THE MENU. (It doesn’t always have to be the same person!)

·         Variety in handling meals you/I DON’T COOK. (Yes, fast food.) (No, not a miss- print.) (Please check out next week’s article titled:  NO-GUILT FAST FOOD.)

·         Variety in the NUTRIENTS foods contain.

·         Variety in total COST of meals.

·         Variety in TYPES OF FIBERS foods contain.

·         Variety in WHO prepares the meals.  (Just kidding—we all ready know who.)