The Process to Doing Better (OUTSPOKEN_DIVA'S Favorite Recipes)

I remember the first client I received that didn't cook. It was the day I had to really take to heart on why I chose a career in the food & nutrition industry. I don't understand adults who don't cook. But my personal opinionated judgements don't belong in my professional life. And not one client pay me to wag my finger about why they are coming to me for help. So, I had meet this client at his/her level of cooking & develop a plan to help them. In helping this client, I helped myself understand some(keyword) of the people who don't cook.

Many look at cooking & think it is hard, expensive, & time consuming. I will have to agree to that feeling 40% percent of the time. Have you looked at cooking shows? How many times have we, "home cooks" turned off a cooking program feeling the same way? Combine that with the confused mindsets on dieting & eating healthy & I knew I had my work cut out for me. This client could prepare some process foods, so I started him/her there.

Processed food are not all bad, in my opinion. Adding fresh or frozen vegetables to many canned soups & rice products is an easy trick to make these items a little healthier. For a quick lunch on the go, I like adding spinach & chopped or shredded carrots to chicken & rice soup. I also like adding dried fruit & toasted nuts to some side dishes also. They add more texture & raise the protein profile to the dish. Here my favorite recipe.

Easy Wild Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 boxes Long Grain & Wild Rice mix (Rice-a-Roni, Uncle Ben, ect)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup pecans roughly chopped

Directions

1. Pour the oil into a medium size pot and heat it over medium high heat.
2. After oil is heated, add the onion & celery to the pot and cook over medium heat until onion are clear.
3. Combine rice, contents of seasoning packet, juice, & water. Stir well.
4. Bring contents to a boil, reduce (low to medium-low) and simmer covered 25 minutes or until water is absorbed
5. Once rice mixture, stir in cranberries & pecans. Serve Hot!

Eating better can be done but not quickly. The thought of turning on a dime to healthy eating is drastic & off putting, to say the least. And in a culture where a lot of processed products are cheaper than fresh products, it's not reality for a portion of the population. Every little step help gets us to our goals. Maybe that why some use the word, process.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms