WIAW: A Day of Healthy, Effortless Meals

One thing that I’m sure we can all agree on right now is that times are strange. I want to thank you again for all of your support throughout the last few weeks, and especially for being receptive to what I have so say about anything and everything.

It hasn’t been an easy week for us, as one of our dear fur babies, Aspen, is having a rough time. We’ll know more later this afternoon, but, unfortunately, things aren’t looking good right now. We are doing our best to keep her cozy and snuggled on, and are encouraging her to eat … but that’s been unsuccessful for several days. Please send prayers to her and us, as we have hard decisions to make in the days ahead.

I planned to share a What I Ate Wednesday type of post today, and I’m hurrying to hit publish as Skyler naps after lunch. I barely blog in real time anymore, but sometimes it’s nice to do! (How are y’all doing out there?)

I was able to make a trip to Trader Joe’s on Monday, so I wanted to take advantage of a full refrigerator and quickly showcase a day of healthy, yet effortless meals that you can throw together in a pinch. Here we go!

A Day of Healthy, Effortless Meals

Yesterday started early with a goal to wake up before everyone else. I get my best work hours in before the sunrise, and while it’s not always easy to do, I appreciate the quiet and focused time when I set my alarm for 5:30 am and follow through.

I wake up hungry and ready for a light breakfast, so I turned to a favorite when I just want to wash my face, get ready for the day, and get on the computer.

That held me for several hours until we got home from the vets around 10 am. I put together a snack plate for myself and copied a smaller version for Skyler.

We spent the remainder of the day tending to Aspen, and we pulled out our sofa bed in the living room to be able to gather and lounge as a family until bedtime. About thirty minutes or so after my snack, I decided that a run in the fresh air would do me good, so I laced up my running shoes and made a loop around the park.

It was hot out, but I was thankful for the time to take a solo break and start a new podcast while getting in my exercise.

I took a shower after my run and got lunch together in no time, thanks to a salad kit that I made into a monster salad for two. Skyler had a turkey corndog, a third of a sweet potato, and some strawberries.

I did some laundry, played with Skyler, and spent the rest of the day loving on our girl. There was a snack involved, too.

Dinner came together easily, thanks to the pre-made dinner and pre-cut vegetable section at Trader Joe’s. If you’ve never taken a look in those parts of the refrigerator sections, I highly recommend that you do so.

(I’ve also been loving this seasoning … and I had a glass of dry Riesling while I cooked because #12weeksofquarantine.)

We enjoyed our Chicken Piccata (seasoned, breaded, boneless chicken breasts with lemon caper sauce), along with a side of sautéed asparagus, mushrooms, and onions with organic white quinoa.

Skyler loved the chicken and mushrooms, but he needed some convincing with the asparagus and quinoa. But he did a great job, nonetheless.

After dinner, we briefly went up to the rooftop for the 7 pm Appreciation Hour honoring hospital workers and came down for Skyler’s bath soon after that.

We also may have had some milk and homemade snickerdoodle cookies that Scott whipped up from the night before. (I had almond milk and Skyler is now onto drinking 2%.)

More snuggles with the fur babies continued through bedtime, and we’re just doing our best until we know more soon. Thank you for all of the messages and prayers! We can certainly use them.

I hope seeing meals like this inspires you to try something new on your next grocery haul, and please feel free to share some of your go-to throw-together meal staples in the comments below.

And with that, I better go. See ya back here on Friday!