Life in a 16 ounce Solo Cup

I've been doing some research lately on the fast food industry in America.  I have been especially interested in their marketing practices, food supply chain, and food preparations.  Frequently when I am discussing food lifestyle with a client I will hear such things as "We were in a rush so we stopped for McDonalds".  I admit, I used to do the same thing.  I don't think I know anyone who hasn't.  Then I started thinking, other than the fact that it is right there in front of you and your kitchen isn't, why is it so easy to stop for McDonalds?  Or any fast food chain for that matter.  The answer is because fast food companies make it easy...too easy for you to just say no.  At that moment you are thinking about your hunger, or your kids hunger, but not your health.  If we can just flip this around to have the thinking process be first about what is good for our bodies to eat and second how to consume that food when we are in a rush and hungry, then we will be on the right track to a positive food lifestyle.  Fast food companies have been so successful in their marketing practices by studying our lifestyles.  They know that we are in the car and in a rush.  They create their food to be consumed in a car...with one hand....and fit perfectly in a cup holder.  Go into any car and count the cupholders.  My Suburban has 8.  So, who says only fast food can go in a cupholder?  I buy nuts in the shape of a cup that fit nicely in there.  I would never eat canned soup but I have seen these plastic soup cans in the shape of a cup as well. 

These past few weeks have been particulary busy in my house.  I have been creative in the kitchen and have figured out how to conquer hunger in the car without making a bad food choice.  I call it "Life in a 16 ounce Solo cup" because right now most of my life is spent driving my kids around in the car.  These cups are for more than your summer cocktails.  They can hold an entire meal with a little thought.  Every week I grill up a big batch of marinated boneless chicken breasts.  They stay in the fridge and are re-invented on almost a daily basis to everything from chicken sandwiches for the kids, to a hearty helping of protein on a salad.  I also have an assortment of fresh veggies always on hand, sometimes grilled, sometimes raw like snap peas and green or yellow beans.  I combine these and throw in a little chopped fresh herbs that I have on hand...basil, parsley...and drizzle with salad dressing ( a viniagrette, of course, that I make myself and have on hand...which is better for you and less expensive than store bought).  I also add any nuts I have...my favorite is cashews.  Finally, fill up a 16 ounce solo cup with this delicous mixture and off you go.  Make sure you have a stash of plastic forks in the glove compartment.  And when the weather turns colder and you don't feel like grilling, all of this can be roasted in the oven. 

Yummy, satisfying, and good for you.  Here's the thing.....eat like this and you FEEL GOOD!  The key here is having this stuff all on hand.  I get it.  You're not running around trying to grill up chicken breasts before you go out.  Neither am I.  Always having this kind of food on hand means never rushing around trying to create it.  It also means that I eat like this on a regular basis.  There are so many variations possible with having these "pieces of the meal puzzle" on hand.  All of these things are great in a salad, in a wrap, on a skewer, warmed with melted cheese on a hollowed out sub roll for the kids, or a topping for homemade pizza; the possibilities are many.  

When you start filling your food lifestyle with this type of food it displaces the bad choices.  Eat more like this and soon you will find that you lost your taste for the "fast food".  Trust me you will.  I did.  The thought of going through a McDonalds drive thru and buying their food for my kids gives me a feeling of disgust, a failure of some sort, that I would be knowingly giving my kids something that is bad for them and I can do better than that.  I just can't bring myself to do it.  Especially when I have the means to make a better choice.  Scooping fresh food from my kitchen into a solo cup is much quicker than sitting in the drive thru line...and having to go back because they gave the wrong items anyway! 

I'm happy to share my recipes with you for vinaigrettes, marinades, and my favorite combinations any time!