Emma Uhrick is a Vital Proteins employee and the writer/recipe developer behind the food blog, Kale to Action (@kale_to_action on Instagram). Here, she gives us a peek at her groceries for the week.
Planning out my weekly groceries is actually one of my favorite things to do. I love thinking and creating different meals to eat each week. I go to three stores every Sunday to make sure I get everything I need to make filling healthy meals for the week.
There are a few things I look for when I’m at the grocery store: minimal ingredients, high-quality meats and ease when it comes to putting together a meal. It is really important to me that my meat is organic, grass-fed or free-range (depending on the meat). To me, buying high-quality meat makes all the difference in a meal!
The other big thing to look out for are the ingredients on packaged food. The less ingredients, the better. I always make sure the products I buy are free of fillers, added sugars and added sweeteners. My weekly grocery haul is made up of real whole foods. If I do buy something packaged, like cauliflower gnocchi or the chocolate bar (both pictured), it has to contain few ingredients. And those ingredients must be real, not artificial.
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Recipes for the Week
My favorite thing to make on the weekdays are roasted veggies and some form of meat. This week, I made grass-fed beef meatballs and roasted cauliflower. Simple and healthy! I also made carrot and parsnip fries as a healthy alternative to french fries! To me, eating healthy does not have to be complicated. In fact, I think the simpler the meal, the better it is for you.
When I’m in a pinch, my favorite thing to make is the cauliflower gnocchi. It has all REAL ingredients and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. For a quick snack, I always reach for some almond butter or a Chomps bar! Again, products with very minimal and high-quality ingredients. For dessert, I usually grab a piece of my favorite 100% cacao chocolate and a date!
Eating healthy does not mean having expensive food. I have found that shopping for veggies in the frozen section can save you time and money! Another great thing is by skipping out on packaged snacks, cereals, chips or desserts, you actually save money. Making meals yourself can be fun and gives you the necessary nutrients to feel your best!
I encourage anyone looking to make a change to their weekly grocery routine to pay attention to the ingredients in packaged food, load up on fruits and veggies, and buy high-quality meats. Your health will thank me later!
