#MattsStory: What's In Your Cart?

For the month of May, we asked Matt to tell us about how his eating habits have improved, what's in his healthy grocery cart, and what he has learned along the way. Here's what he had to say:


Let’s talk about one of my favorite subjects: food. Like most people, I really enjoy good food. Through my time at WILCOX, I have learned to love grocery shopping, meal prepping, and I have even learned to love healthier foods. I no longer order out as often as I did and I am eating and cooking more whole foods now than I ever have before. I have to say, compared to when I first started, my eating habits are a lot better and I am more aware of what I am putting into my body. 

Healthy Groceries

Since my eating habits have changed, I have had to make some adjustments in the way I cook. When I first started, there were dishes everywhere after I was done cooking (I don’t know about you, but I hate doing dishes!) and I had a TON of leftovers. Living alone makes it really easy to cook way more than I should eat in one sitting and some stuff just does not do well reheated the next day. So I knew I had to make a big change in my meal prep and learn how to cook the appropriate amount of food for one person. That was a challenge for me, at first, because I had been cooking and living a certain way for so long and because I hate doing dishes, so I was ordering takeout more than I should. To combat both issues, I have started utilizing the one-pot system for most of my cooking, making food that I can repurpose, and firing up my grill in the summer AND winter! 

By cooking food that I can get multiple uses out of, I don’t get too bored and I spend less time in the kitchen cooking and doing dishes. I don’t like to eat the same exact meal multiple times in a row, though, so I use it in different ways. For example, I cook chicken on the grill and eat it as grilled chicken, then make it into a stir-fry the next day, and then chicken salad the day after. Similarly, I will cook hamburg on the grill for a burger and then make tacos with the leftovers. I love using the grill, not only because it means less dishes, but also less fat on my food because some can drain off.

Grilled Chicken and Vegetables

Another really great addition to my diet is vegetables, which I use in many different ways. On the grill, I like to have asparagus, squash, corn, or mushroom caps. In sandwiches, tacos, burgers, one-pot stews, and stir-fries, I’ll use carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, and onions. I have a salad at least twice a week, and I love to use raw vegetables as snacks. When I first started buying vegetables, I bought more than I could use and some would go bad in my fridge. Now, I take advantage of using frozen vegetables, too, and try to buy only what I know I’ll use to minimize waste.

Salad

Not only do I eat more vegetables now, but I also eat more fruits. My favorites are cherries, oranges, apples, and bananas (I eat one banana every day). Sometimes, I even cut up a pineapple to add flavor to my recipes. I also use spices to add lots of flavor- mostly Old Bay, sriracha, garlic, and ginger root. To add a nice touch on top of vegetables or salmon, I’ll even add a small drizzle of maple syrup.

​Overall, I'm eating a lot better than I used to and really enjoying it!


Do you want to start changing your nutrition habits and changing your life like Matt has? Click here to schedule a phone call and get started today! 
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