I'm fairly certain I was severely malnourished the first 2 years I lived alone.
Whether I should proud of the $60 I spent on groceries a month, I'm not sure. It might've done great things for my bank account, but my gut...different story.
Thankfully humans evolve and I have since found a beautiful balance of living frugally while also eating in a way that supports my active lifestyle.
Nothing in this list is gourmet.
(That post requires my betrothal to a handsome French chef)
But here's what it is: Cheap. Fast. Nutritious.
Kind of like me 🤔
1. Oatmeal 🍵
I said it.
Teach yourself to love plain yoghurt (because it's an acquired taste), and you'll be well on your way to a happy life. But seriously, let's break down this power-packed food.
Fibre is a great way to kick your digestive system off each morning. It's filling and you can be endlessly creative with making it taste good!
Did I mention it takes about 2 minutes to make? Eat your Oatmeal kids.
2. Peanut Butter. Rice Crackers. Bananas. 🍌
I ate this everyday for 365 days.
It's my favourite post-workout snack. The crunch, salt and sweetness create a symphony in the mouth and is the perfect way to get a dose of potassium, protein and ... I'm not sure what good a Rice Cracker is doing you 💁🏽♀️
If you want to be extra fancy, drizzle some delicious raw honey on top!
3. Stir Fry
I can't cook.
But I can stir fry - it's THAT easy.
My favourite ingredients to blend include: Zucchini. Mushrooms. Kale. Yellow Peppers. Red Onion. Broccoli. I'm not a huge meat eater but chicken goes nicely with the mix too.
Our world is a little obsessed with grains, and while they serve a purpose they're definitely not needed with every meal. I would swap out a pasta / rice base with either lentils, yams or just have as is!
4. Smoothie Bowls 🍧
I will never turn down a protein shake...but I also never feel full after slurping down one. Part of the reason, is when we chew our food, we actually release hormones like PYY and CKK that are responsible for the full-signal.
Hence why Smoothie Bowls are K I N G.
My base is like any regular smoothie - I add less water to keep it nice and thick - like a yoghurt.
My favourite toppings on these bad boys are chia seeds, chopped almonds, blueberries, rice crispy's (yes, they're amazing) and bananas.
I don't do sugar, so adding coco to your base and sprinkling coconut on the top can turn these into sugar-free goddesses.
5. Salad Wraps 🥬
Another way to dodge grain-overdose!
These are going to sound gross but trust me here. These are an amazing source of protein because the fillings you can create are endless!
I usually make a filling that resembles the texture of chilli - lentils / chickpeas, tomatoes, onions and taco seasoning is a m a z i n g. I then literally peel a leaf of Romaine Lettuce, flop the filling inside and airplane that beauty into my mouth.
At the end of the day, you don't have to spend your paycheque at Whole Foods and lose 80 minutes in the kitchen to get your body packed with some solid nutrients! If there's any advice worth taking, it's to listen to your body and perform a little 'inventory of self,' every now and then to see how your diet is evolving!
Leave a comment