Satisfying Eats

Grain-Free, Sugar-Free & Hunger-Free

Melissa’s Tips for Success

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Melissa’s Tips for Success

As you can tell from reading my blog and trying my recipes, I have pretty much got grain-free eating down pat. Over the past 2 years, I have created over 400 recipes. 150 recipe are on the blog and an additional 150 recipes are in my first cookbook. There will be another 100 NEW recipes in my upcoming book due out next month! (Order Comforting Eats HERE.)

I admit, the first month was a challenge. I missed certain foods. I wanted a sandwich.  I wanted variety.  Now that I have recreated so many recipes, I don’t really miss anything.  I have tried to think of one food that I used to eat that I have not yet recreated. (Except maybe tortillas but I didn’t really eat them much.) Cheesecake, got it. Ice cream, got it. Lasagna, GOT IT! Biscuits, GOT IT!  Fresh veggies and steak, got it and got it!  Now tell me how I am deprived?!?!?  I often get asked for tips and advise. Here are some pointers that have helped me succeed over the past 2 years.

  1. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!  Those who fail to plan, plan to fail, period! The right foods will not just appear in your fridge or in your mouth, but the WRONG foods always seem to, especially if they are in your fridge!
  2. Get the junk food out of the house, PERIOD!
  3. Keep healthy meals in the freezer. I make double batches of  Gumbo, Lasagna, Taco Soup, Tomato Basil Soup, etc. and freeze them for a rainy day, or when I don’t want to cook. Yes, that happens sometimes, even to Wonder Woman! ;-) Check out this link for 40 Slow Cooker and Freezer meals. 
  4. I always have Homemade Mayo,  Taco Seasoning, Chili Seasoning (recipe in the cookbook), and Ranch Dressing on hand. You can do a lot with these yummy condiments.
  5. I have a stocked freezer. We have a processed grass-fed cow in our freezer. All I have to do is thaw ground beef in the morning and I can thow together a hamburger (with or without a bun) or Taco Salad in a skinny minute!
  6. I keep whole chickens in the freezer. They are ready to throw in the slow cooker (I LOVE this slow cooker) for delicious Homemade Chicken Stock and soups. I like using the meat from the chicken for yummy chicken salad. (Check out the cookbook for over 10 Slow Cooker recipes.)
  7. I prefer fresh veggies, but I keep frozen veggies in the freezer like broccoli, mixed veggies, green beans and even brussels sprouts.  Steamed veggies with butter makes for an easy side dish that even my 2-year-old loves!
  8. I keep a cabbage in the fridge at ALL TIMES! It takes 5-10 minutes to make Braised Cabbage!
  9. If I am in a pinch, I will make one of my shakes using Great Lakes gelatin for a meal or snack. I also keep frozen strawberries in the freezer. I try to stock up during berry season. I always have virgin coconut oil too. I do prefer to chew my meals, but when I just don’t have time to cook, these shakes taste WONDERFUL and are packed with plenty of nutrition. I also feel good about feeding these shakes to my son.
  10. I also keep grain-free buns and biscuits in the fridge or freezer. These are great when I need a quick meal.
  11. I keep grain-free granola and cereal in the pantry. This helps for when I get the munchies, or if I am headed out the door, and I need to pack a snack. My son loves the granola too!
  12. When I make grain-free waffles, I make extras and freeze them. All I have to do is just pop them into our wide mouth toaster to reheat!  Delicious!
  13. Boiled eggs are always in the fridge.  They are instant protein, and when they come from pastured chickens, they are SO healthy!
  14. When I am real busy (or lazy), I get my hubby to throw a steak or burger on the grill along with some veggies like squash, zucchini and asparagus for a quick (and no dirty dishes) meal!  My favorite meal. I don’t have to cook or clean!
  15. I also keep grain-free treats on hand like this Banana Nut Bread!
  16. I keep coconut cream concentrate close by so I can whip together a 60-Second Chocolate Shot when I need a Chocolate fix!
  17. To make your life easier, recreate your family’s favorite foods!  Get them hooked! This will make eating without grains MUCH easier if everyone is on board and enjoying the food!
  18. I always have the ingredients for my Shakes on hand. Instant meal for me or for my 2.5 year old in about 1 minute!
  19. When planning meals, let your spouse or children help you with meal selection. This will keep them interested in your new lifestyle choice. If you have my cookbooks, let them go through and choose what they would like to eat for dinner for the week!

My last bit of advise. If you are going to treat yourself, choose a grain-free recipe. How you will feel the next day, mentally and/or physically, just isn’t worth it to me. I don’t splurge on a Krispy Cream Donuts or a box of Girl Scout Cookies.  I just don’t. I reach for the grain-free version.  If wheat and sugar stimulates the appetite, why would I torture myself by eating these foods??? The longer I eat grain-free, the easier it gets to make the right food choices. Now I don’t even think twice about what I should eat or what I should avoid.

I encourage you to continue to educate yourself.  If you are still having issues committing to giving up certain foods to improve your health, reassess what your goals are.  Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Remember, your health is WAY more important than any food! If you fall down, get back up.  I hope these tips help you along the way!