Anyone else out there a picky eater?
I’ve been a picky eater my whole life. I don’t like spicy foods, I’m not really into trying new foods & I certainly am limited on what “healthy” foods I eat. From high school on, I’ve had pretty shitty digestive issues. Horrible stomach pains to the point where I feel like I’m going to pass out to be locked in a bathroom for hours just suffering. Even though I LOVE to eat, I’m really hesisant to try new things because I never know how my stomach will react.
When Maikana Foods reached out to partner with me on their Resolution Reset program, I was excited yet nervous. Would I be able to eat anything? Would I like any of these healthy dishes? So far, my experience with “healthy, wholesome foods” has been slim pickings. Some of their menu items were unfamiliar to me & just seemed like strange pairings. But in the spirit of the new year & trying new things, I decided to give it a go.
Needless to say, if you’ve been following along- you know that I LOVED everything I ate during the reset program.
All of the meals were aimed at providing you with nutritious, healthy food to detox your body from indulgence over the holidays. All meals were put together by Jamieson Van Loan (owner of Maikana Foods) and Katie Diehl (nutritionist & fitness coach). The program included breakfast, lunch & dinner every day for five days (plus snacks, fresh herbal teas & a fire cider tonic daily). Along with the food deliveries, you received an email with a daily mantra, daily workout & Facebook support group. This was truly an extensive program that taught me not to be scared to try new things. And taught me that healthy food doesn’t have to taste “green” or “earthy.”
Some of the meals I loved included were:
- Vegetable & Chickpea curry wraps in collard greens with hummus
- Broccoli & Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
- Chicken Satay & Vegetables with Peanut ginger dipping sauce
- Roasted asparagus, zucchini & broccoli with two poached eggs
- Walnut lentil pate with carrots
- Creamy beto-carotene detox soup with side salad
- Sweet potato, butternut squash & three bean turkey chili over brown rice
- Power Bowl Salad with roasted root vegetables, beets, quinoa & pomegranate seeds
I can honestly tell you, if I was in a restaurant and saw any one of these choices on the menu- I would never have ordered it. I would go with the “safe” choice & not try anything new. After basically forcing myself to break out of my comfort zone, I feel like I’ve completely embraced a whole new way of looking at food. I was really enjoying foods that were not only healthy, but good for my gut & digestion. Everything tasted delicious & I ate every last morsel. And I BARELY had any dairy that week (just the eggs that were in a few dishes). That is huge considering I put cheese on EVERYTHING.
I felt full after every meal (also shocked about how big some of the portions were) & satisfied. Sugar cravings were gone, I slept better & my fatigue went away a bit. Eating more wholesome, nutritious foods make all the difference. Have I gone back to some of my old ways? Yes, I will forever be a snacker in between meals but I’m more conscious of it now. Do I need dessert after every meal? No. I’m learning to limit my chocolate chip cookie intake! And with the right spices, sauces & seasonings- you can make the most boring salad taste DELICIOUS.
If you are local, I would totally suggest the Maikana Foods weekly meal delivery service.
You can order just one day’s worth of foods, or up to a whole month of meals. There are so many affordable options to take advantage of. Also, there is a separate menu just for kids. One week of all meals for Monday-Friday is $160. That’s an average of $10.60 per meal- which is not bad at all. I am definitely going to try out the daily meal deliveries on the days I either don’t feel like cooking or know that I am in for a super busy week. Deliveries are made to towns in Fairfield County, CT only.
I am truly grateful for Jamieson & Katie for opening my eyes to looking at food in a whole new way. These ladies have inspired me to experiment in the kitchen more with healthy ingredients to make incredibly tasty dishes. Stay tuned for more recipes & healthy snack ideas! Check out my most recent recipe- Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce.
Also- Maikana Foods and Diehl Nutrition are both female owned local businesses! Wherever you are located- please make an effort to support local this year AND more importantly support female owned & operated businesses. It makes such a difference in your community when you shop local & keep these small businesses going. In my opinion, women are the center of every family and community. We should lift each other up whenever possible!
