In this Episode:

Do you go to the market and come home with nothing for dinner?  Do you love to cook but just don't have time to spend in the kitchen?  Do you want to feed your family well but don't know where to begin?

On today's podcast we cover all of these questions and more with nutrition chef Julia Grimaldi, Founder of Julia's Wellness Kitchen. An entrepreneur, personal chef, and wellness coach, Julia calls herself a curious culinarian who has had a love affair with food, cooking, and clean eating for over 20 years.  Julia's passion is to help people approach nutritious eating and cooking with comfort and ease, develop better eating and health habits, and have fun doing it!  We really get into the importance of eating together as a family as often as is possible.  The idea is that a home cooked meal is always more nutritious.

For show notes visit:  https://thegoodlifecoach.com/016

Key Takeaways:

The most important thing is to have families sharing meals and eating in communion, which is why Julia works with families to prepare meals with the goal that she will bring them back to the family table.

We prefer the word nutritious over "healthy"- foods that are minimally processed and whole foods.

When thinking about planning a meal - start with the  components of a meal.  A protein source (animal to plant proteins); vegetables; carbohydrates - from a grain perspective (wheat, rice, corn) and non-gluten grains (oats and quinoa).

If food allergies or sensitivities are an issue, start meal planning around what you can have.  If your proteins are limited to plant proteins you just need more of them.  It becomes frustrating when we think of what we can’t have.

Have a well stocked pantry: Always have on hand good quality beef, chicken, vegetable broth, canned beans, frozen shrimp, frozen vegetables, bulgar, quinoa, couscous.

Plan a shopping menu but protein/dairy; produce; and grocery (general).  Try to go to the same supermarket so you save yourself time.  The whole foods are on the perimeter.  The interior is where the less healthy foods are.  Batch cook your meals on a Sunday.  Set aside 2-3 hours to make it all for the week.

Julia's 3 best tips to create nourishing meals at home:

1. Work on mindset - set something realistic and small.
2. Keep it simple - it doesn’t need to be an elaborate meal - keep planning and ingredients simple.
3. approach it with ease and joy and fun - if it isn’t outsource or use short-cuts like meal planning kits.
4. Get help if you need it

Resources Mentioned (Books + App) 1) Catherine Walther's Soups & Sides & Raising the Salad Bar   2) Everyday Food Cookbooks: Great Food Fast, Fresh Flavor Fast & Every Day Food Light

3) Eatingwell.com - subscribe to Daily Nosh

4) Out of Milk App for shopping lists

 Julia on IG

Michele on IG

This episode was sponsored by Design a Life You Love, A Woman's Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life.  My book includes 52 inspirations, one for every week of the year, each with practical tips to guide you to self-love and success on your own terms. It’s a short book that you can read in about an hour, but includes life lessons that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for listening to the show!

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