B2S: Healthy Meals in Minutes with Trader Joe's
Since college, Sunday evenings are my kitchen time. I prep meals for the week to the point I’m playing Tetris in my fridge with Tupperware. It’s a wonderful ritual: I ease into the work week and unwind after the weekend. Typically with my Frank Sinatra Pandora station in the background and a glass of wine in hand. It’s downright therapeutic.
This Sunday, my ritual was ripped away from me and I was plunged into the depths of despair. I might be a bit dramatic but it’s Monday and I am completely exhausted already. So please bear with me.
My apartment building turned off the gas and I couldn’t spend my evening chopping, sautéing and roasting. How rude.
I had images of me living on cereal and wine for a couple of days. Which, you know, wouldn’t be so bad except for the part where I resolved this week to eat clean. Meals out = tummy sticking out. I took this as a sign from the universe that my fluff was going to stick around for another couple of days.
But then I realized: I could still use the microwave. Grabbing what I had stored in my freezer, I created a meal in minutes with these Trader Joe’s favorites:
Now, you’re probably thinking: “Lauren, seriously. It took you that long to think about the microwave?!?!”
I know, I know. I’m a little embarrassed but I can explain. In my old apartment, I didn’t have a microwave so in the year and a half I lived there, I was used to not having one. I actually didn’t miss my microwave that much, only when I wanted something to heat up quickly. I adapted. In January, I moved to an apartment that does have a microwave. But I was so used to not having one, I haven’t even plugged it in!
That and I worry my old building will lose power the moment I plug it in.
Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice has been a freezer staple of mine since sophomore year of college. 1 frozen bag of brown rice gives you enough for 3 single servings and it only takes 3 minutes! In No-Microwave-Days, these rice would also heat up nicely in a skillet.
Trader Joe’s Indian Masala Vegetable Burger is almost always on my list. They are pre-cooked so all you have to do is heat it up! I love the spices and the vegetables in the burger, it fills me up without weighing me down (energy-wise, not bathroom-scale wise).
Trader Joe’s Broccoli Florets can be steamed in the microwave in about 3 minutes. Just place the broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl with about 1/4 cup of water.
I prepared each item in the microwave and brought out my trusty Tupperware. I lined the bottom of the container with the brown rice, followed by the burger on one side and the broccoli on the other.
I added Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning because that stuff is downright addicting. It goes great on steak, popcorn, in soups and now in microwave-made lunches. Just give a healthy number of turns on the built-in grinder and voila! A healthy, clean meal in minutes.
But in the spirit of full disclosure, I will probably give a barbaric yawp when I get the email that my apartment’s gas has been turned back on.
Do you use your microwave often to cook? What do you make?Jo
Written by Lauren of DC Girl In Pearls
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