I first heard the term “self-care” when I changed from a career in the corporate world to a career of ministry. I was asked what I do to take care of myself, and I was hard-pressed to find a good answer. I’d spent the last decade taking care of everyone else around me. I’ve endured meals of hot dogs and chicken nuggets and enough mac & cheese to sink the Titanic. I’ve stayed awake all night, sacrificed sleep and time – and I’d happily go to the ends of the earth for my kids. But what do I do for me?
As parents, we give and give and give – and we forget to keep a little for ourselves. I know supermoms that go to the gym, do yoga and kickboxing, and other vigorous activities – none of these feel right for me.
The way that I’ve found to love myself is through food. My kids are picky and I tend to make bland, tasteless meals to appease them. I have started making a separate meal for myself. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Stop right there. That’s too much work! And you’re right, it is a lot of work. But here’s what I keep telling myself: I deserve to eat something delicious that I love. I deserve to feed my body food that is nourishing and tasteful. I deserve to spend 45 minutes preparing a meal that is going to feed my body.
Here are some of my go-to meals that are healthy, easy (because I am NOT an expert at cooking), and delicious.
- Cucumber Quinoa Salad – This is the first thing I made with quinoa and I felt like such a typical Pinterest mom. I even found the recipe on Pinterest. I proceeded to take pictures of my creation and post them all over social media because this is the best thing I’ve ever made. This has also become my go-to potluck meal. If I have to make food for a potluck (and I don’t just run to Hy-Vee and purchase something that they’ve already made), it’s going to be this.
- Thai Quinoa Salad – my kids wouldn’t come near this one. They refused to even smell it. But I’m telling you, I could not BELIEVE that something so delicious came out of my kitchen. This is a vegan recipe, too. I’m not a vegan, but I’m not crazy about preparing meat – which is part of why this looked so appealing! It is also SUPER filling.
- Lime Chicken fajitas – This is a creation of my own, and it happened by accident. I had a bottle of Kraft Zesty Lime Vinaigrette dressing and I wasn’t a fan of how it tasted on a salad. I didn’t want the bottle to go to waste, so I figured I’d try cooking some chicken in it. It turned out to be a home run – and this is a meal that ALL THREE of my kids will gladly eat. You can make it in the crockpot or in the oven, whatever works best for you. If you don’t want to serve it in tortillas, serve it on a bed of rice.
- 1 pkg chicken breast, boneless
- 1/2 cup Kraft Zesty Lime Vinaigrette
- 1 red onion
- 1 green pepper
- 1 orange pepper
That’s it – that’s all you need. Bake in the oven at 350 for 45 min – 1 hr, or put in in the crockpot on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours. I’m telling you, this recipe will change your life.
As you’re preparing these meals – chopping vegetables, measuring things, taking breaks from cooking to take care of little ones – remind yourself that you’re making these meals because you love YOU, too. You’re not only taking care of your kids, you’re taking care of yourself. A healthy mom (not just physically – but mentally and spiritually!) makes a world of difference for the entire family. Eating well is a great way to take care of you. Your house will still be a mess. You will still be wondering who stuck gum under your kitchen table. You’ll probably step on a lego and find mysterious stains on your laundry. But you’ll be FED. Be well, mamas.
