While confined to the house during topical chemotherapy treatments, I’ve had to shop local and it’s made a huge difference in what I’m consuming and my grocery bill; I saved close to half of what I usually spend.
A few things in this meal were purchased at Costco: the McCormick Sal Rosa del Himalaya con Hierbas, the Bel Gioioso Mozzarella and the Price’s cottage cheese; all three I consider essentials to me eating healthier.
My new favorite meal at home is a chicken breast, baked potato and fresh fruit salad. I’ve never had so much pleasure eating a meal than I did this one; appreciating the fact that a healthy meal is not only simple but also tastes this good.
The real key to this meal is buying chicken at the Gerez family’s Rancho Viejo store on Insurgentes #168. It doesn’t have a number posted outside but it’s right next to #170. I’ve eaten this chicken occasionally but after consuming it for well over a month, I’ve noticed how much fresher it is; you can really taste the difference. Maribel cuts it fresh every day and it’s juicer, more tender and has a less fibrous taste. The free range chickens roam the farm that Don Luis Gerez founded years ago after he came to SMA from Spain, which his daughter, Angeles, now runs. His son, Luis is using new methods for feeding and reduced water use by applying techniques he learned at the University of Guadalajara.
I also buy some items at my local fruit and vegetable store on Insurgentes #103, near Quebrada, owned by the Galicia Licea family. I asked the Senora to pick out an avocado and mango to use in a salad that day and over time, discovered that the fruits she picks are always perfect.
To prepare the meal:
Fresh fruit salad: cut green Grapes, Mangos, Avocado and multi-colored Cherry Tomatoes. Separate Nectarines and sprinkle Blueberries on top. I created this quite by accident because they were the only fruits I had in my refrigerator and now everyone asks for this salad. The combination is remarkable. Sometimes, I’ll add small cut cauliflower and broccoli or I throw in one Bel Gioioso; a 70 calorie, fresh mozzarella snack.
Potato: Wash, poke holes, and soak a russet potato in salt water for a few hours. Dry the potatoes and brush with Olive Oil. Bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees in the air fryer. I serve the baked potato with a huge scoop of Price’s Cottage Cheese. I never liked cottage cheese – I couldn’t stand the texture - until Renee Markulin introduced me to the Price’s brand at Costco. It’s really creamy so now I’ve replaced a mound of sour cream and butter with Price’s cottage cheese.
Chicken: Season a chicken breast with Olive oil and McCormick Sal Rosa del Himalaya con Hierbas containing Mediterranean herbs including garlic, basil, oregano, red bell pepper. Cook the chicken in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes on each side. Cooking for a total of 20 minutes at 400 degrees and it always comes out perfect.
I’ve been eating healthy for a month now and cannot believe the difference in how I feel; it’s like night and day. My PX: 8+ hours of sleep, weights three times a week, exercise six days a week and flushing it all out with 72 ounces of water, although that’s been the easy part with this extreme heat, which is expected to continue for at least another two weeks.
This healthy eating for a month has convinced me that I want more - I want to feel this good all the time - so I’m on a mission to look for healthy foods in both restaurants and at home for the next month. In addition, I’ll be saving my cheat days for the food festival in June.
Happy healthy, simple eating!
