It's summer

For teachers, summer is a time for relaxation and change.  My husband and tens of thousands of teachers around the US have almost 3 months off to take on hobbies, spend time with family, relax and repair from 9 months of overfilled classrooms and the politics of teaching, or take on side jobs to supplement their income.  For spouses of teachers, like me, it means that I get a bit of a more "real life."  Instead of working in 3-hour increments throughout the day and night when my toddler allows, I get to work "normal" work hours during the day while Joe is caring for James.  I get to be done at 5pm (at least that's the intention) and spend the weekends with my family instead of catching up on a backlog of work.  I get to cook real meals and throw parties because Joe isn't working three jobs and I'm not trying to work 60 hours a week while still giving undivided time to my toddler (James looking at jellies below). 

Now, don't get me wrong- I completely appreciate where I am in my life.  I love what I do, and I love that my husband is successful in what he loves so that he's offered so many teaching opportunities and his art is appreciated.  What I don't appreciate is that there are only 24 hours in a day and no matter how much I want to, I can bend space/time.  But this is where the summer comes in.  Joe is home and isn't working at all this summer, so I'm finding that I actually have time to think.  I mean really think.  Consider the things that I've been putting aside for the past three years since I had a baby, moved to a labor intensive house and property, watch my business grow in an uncertain economy and decided I could have the good life and still do everything myself (ha).

So what am I thinking about?  Me.  I'm thinking about all the things I haven't been able to do that I used to do and enjoy.  Taking walks.  Going to movies.  Kayaking.  Spending time with friends.  Getting a pedicure.  Cooking good meals.  Getting a magazine subscription.  Exercising.  Taking care of ME.  It's just slightly ironic that we bought a house on a bit of water where I could actually use my kayaks easily, yet I haven't used them even once since we moved here. 

So I've been doing just that.  Trying to live a balanced life this summer.  I'm trying to put myself at the top of the list and a big part of that is taking time to become healthier.  I've realized that my life is too hectic to leave the preparation of meals to chance and that I need to amass a list of healthy meals and and ingredient list that will help me to shop easier and have everything I need to cook easily.  I want to be able to just grab five index cards before leaving the house for a grocery trip, and come back with everything I need to cook a healthy dinner after work.

As much as I'd love to eat cake like this (James' b-day cake, an awesome pumpkin spice cake) everyday, that's just not good for anyone.  So this is where you come in.  Are there certain healthy recipes that are your go-to meals?  Or books or magazines that you've used so much that they are dogeared and splattered with sauce?  I've found Weight Watchers' Make it in Minutes to be a great book- simple, easy recipes that use whole ingredients and not the jello/cottage cheese/cool whip I thought WW to be.  I also love Eating Well magazine and website where I've found the best waffle recipe.  And another one that freezes really well.  And these muffins, which I know I've posted here at least three times before- I love them that much.

I'd love your suggestions.  Recipes, tips to make healthy eating easier, encouragement.  I'll take what I can get.

Comments

[Abby]

When my kids were little, I relied heavily on "Whole Foods for the Whole Family" - the pages are stuck together from spills!

[Cyndy C.]

I would recommend buying a modern pressure cooker especially the Kuhn Rikon brand. It is not like the scary one my grandmother had. In it you can make many heathy eating recipes in less time. In place of ground beef in many recipes (pressure cooking and others)you can use ground turkey (93-94%). Don't use the completely fat free turkey, it is painfully dry. I would also recommend Pressure Cooking Everyday and The Best Light Recipe from Cook's Illustrated.

[Allison]

This is exactly the type of help I need- have just put both on my library list.
Keep it coming, please!

[Cyndy C.]

If a cake can be healthy...this one is ...delicious, nice to look at and uses olive oil .
Scroll down to TigerCake.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/11/earlyshow/living/recipes/main588139.shtml

[Debbie B]

I have a slow cooker and I love to use that during the summer. You can make all kinds of meals in it and it doesn't heat up the kitchen.

[Betty]

Jacques Pepin has a great cookbook for that: Simple and Healthy Cooking. Ours is all tattered and water-splashed with use, so that tells you we actually use it with relish.

[Alison]

If you like vegetarian dishes I really like the Vegetarian Pleasures cook books by Jeanne Lemilin especially the Simple, Quick and Main-course variations. Joy of cooking is also one of my main go to cook books for basic and fancier food. Enjoy your summer

[Lea-Ann]

I was where you are at 13 years ago... And the challenge for balance continues but in a different way. With high blood pressure a problem this year, healthy eating is a must and this cookbook has been invaluable:
Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cooking [Book] [paperback]
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?cid=16441349331571322516&source=shopper

[JulieZ]

I, too, like Eating Well magazine. We eat a lot of salads. Easy, cool and you can put anything on them. The biggest thing I've found recently are power bars. I am especially fond of Luna Bars and Cliff MoJo bars. I eat half of one before I go to the gym and the other half after my work out. They are sweet and filling and I find I don't crave sweets all day.