Time: Batch cooking using the crockpot and more

I have friends who are lacking inspiration, initiative and knowledge for making food at home which is nutritious and instead eat most food by delivery or going out. I realized that through this experience, I have some insight on how to make delicious meals! What a better place to begin, than large batch slow cooking.

Definitely one way to maximize your time while on Whole30 is to use a slow-cooker. Usually you can find delicious recipes which take about 20-30 minutes in prep and then you leave your meal cooking for 2-10 hours depending. What a great way to prepare healthy food while asleep, heading out with friends, or going to work - and everything will be ready when you return!

Kalua Pig - shredded with roasted root vegetables

Another great way to maximize your time is to find larger recipes which take under an hour to make, and then having leftovers for the week or to freeze for later!

It's also helpful to separate the dish into meal sized containers so that you can just grab and go. Even if I'm eating it at home, I'll reheat a meal from the container and not need to worry about portion size. This way you know how many meals you have covered and when you'll need to cook again!

Here are some ideas for your next meal: favourites, ones I have bookmarked for later, and recipes from trusted cooks!

Slow Cooker Recipes:

Beef Bourgignon - The Healthy Foodie: http://thehealthyfoodie.com/slow-cooker-squeaky-clean-beef-bourgignon/

Bone Broth - Oh Lardy: http://ohlardy.com/chicken-bone-broth
[This is a great bullion replacement for soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and even to drink]

Crock Pot Whole Chicken - Cook Eat Paleo: http://cookeatpaleo.com/crock-pot-whole-chicken/

Kalua Pig - Nom Nom Paleo: http://nomnompaleo.com/post/10031990774/slow-cooker-kalua-pig
[careful because my slow cooker is a lot stronger and I only needed 7-9 hours to cook the same roast!]

Lamb Stew with Butternut Apples and Ginger - Healing Family East: http://healingfamilyeats.com/lamb-stew-with-butternut-apples-and-ginger-aip/
[I used beef and it was delicious; it can be cooked in the oven, or you could use the crock pot!]

Slow Cooker Apple Rosemary Pork roast - Pure and Simple Nourishment: http://pureandsimplenourishment.blogspot.ca/2014/12/slow-cooker-apple-rosemary-pork-roast.html
[Granny Smith, honeycrisp, or crispin apples if you don't have access to Lady Pink apples!]



Batch Cooking:

Cleansing Detox Soup - The Glowing Fridge: http://www.theglowingfridge.com/cleansing-detox-soup/

Chicken Mulligatawny

Chicken Mulligatawny - Naked Cuisine: http://www.nakedcuisine.com/chicken-mulligatawny/

Roasted Chicken - Primal Palate: http://www.primalpalate.com/paleo-recipe/roast-chicken-with-rosemary-and-thyme/

Shepherd's Pie - Noshtastic: http://www.noshtastic.com/easy-shepherds-pie/

Sweedish Stew (Kalops) - The Domestic Man: http://thedomesticman.com/2013/04/16/swedish-stew-kalops/#more-4545


Trusted Blogs:

Simply Nourished Recipes: http://simplynourishedrecipes.com/category/whole-30-friendly/page/2/

Resource Management: Produce and staples

Despite having done a few Whole30s and having lived on my own for over a dozen years, I am still making rookie mistakes in the kitchen. I regularly allow produce to wilt and go bad, which is a waste of resources. I sat down and came up with a few ideas be a better steward of my resources.

• Only buy what you are going to be using right away in reasonable amounts. If you like variety, find recipes with ingredients you've never tried to introduce new foods.

• Make a grocery list, like the one created from your recipes on plantoeat.org, and only buy what is in your recipes. Don't go shopping when you're tired, hungry, or emotional. If you are using foods which have a short shelf life, plan to go shopping just before making those dishes. 

• Putting a reminder on my phone to remind me to prepare foods which are expiring soon, if I don't have time to go shopping just before.

Conserving my cilantro by creating a mini greenhouse

• When possible I will substitute with ingredients I already have which have the same properties. For example salads and soups can often work with different vegetables. It is important to learn what substitutes well. The internet will has been a good source of information, and experience is the best teacher. 

• Each week I will try to pick recipes with similar ingredients to help me get through the entire vegetable, and to allow for bulk buying. For example I don't often need a whole cabbage for one recipe, or all 5lbs of carrots. 

• During the fall, when many vegetables are sold in bulk for a fraction of the price, I have bought them in bulk and focused on recipes which include that ingredient until the bag is empty. It is important to consider the shelf-life to make sure that you can eat it quickly enough. "Shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried..."

• Plan just enough recipes for the week to avoid waste. I hate leftovers and love variety, so I'm learning to freeze half of a large recipe and to vary my cuisines.

• If I still have random vegetables left at the end of a week, I'll make a salad, soup or stir fry to finish them. I also use up extra produce by eating raw foods alongside my planned recipes.

Random ommlet at the end of a week

After doing multiple Whole30s, I have realized that some things are necessary for making most recipes. Then there are some which are just for preference, and others still which only add variety. Below is a list of things which probably going to be found in over half of your recipes which will help you get started. I will list them in categories and include some thoughts where applicable. Be careful to read ingredients on all labels. If in doubt, double check the list! This is very rudimentary, but for a complete list, use the Whole30 Shopping List (PDF).

Good Cooking Oils:
- EVOO Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil (lower temp cooking and dressings)
- coconut oil (high temp cooking)

Healthy seasoning:
- Apple Cider Vinegar

Spices:
- Kosher/Himalayan/Coarse salt
- turmeric
- cumin
- cinnamon

 

Flour of choice due to versatility

- chili or cayenne pepper
- black pepper
- the more the merrier!

Dry Foods:
- almonds and sesame seeds
- Dried Coconut, coconut mana/butter
- Coconut flour

Sauces:
- Whole30 mayonaise (homemade)
- canned or fresh Coconut Milk (watch ingredients!)
- nut butter (pick one favourite)

Preserves:
Olives

Time - Building a week's meal plan

I have found that building a week's Meal Plan can be a big challenge. I often over planned, over bought, and wasted foods. I've also made batches that were bigger than I could eat in a few days, and lost interest. And sometimes recipes flop, and I have to plan another meal.

Some people might just have a knack for planning meals for a week, but I have had to learn along the way. To help someone who is just starting, I wanted to provide a week's Meal Plan which you could follow, or adjust, or just use as a guide.

An example for one week (21 meals):

- Savory Pumpkin Pie (a sort of quiche) - makes 6
- Garlic Lime Chicken Wings (thighs) - makes 3
- Thai chopped Salad with Lime Ginger Dressing - makes 6
- White Fish with Black Sesame Seeds - makes 3
- Roasted cabbage/eggplant make for 6 meals
- Beef Stroganoff -  makes 4-6 meals
- Fresh vegetables to eat raw, fruit, olives, and probiotics
- and leftovers from last weekend, or meals out with friends.

A likely schedule:
On Saturday, I made the marinade for the chicken (about 10 minutes) and put it together with the meat in the fridge over night. Then I cut up:

• Pumpkin Pie onions, garlic and whatever else for a 'quiche'

I sauteed the onions and vegetables for the Pumpkin Pie (about 15 minutes). Then I mixed the rest of the recipe (about 10 minutes) and cooked the Savory Pumpkin Pie (unattended for about 45 minutes). Then I chopped:

• Raw vegetables for sides - carrot sticks, cucumber coins, pepper slivers, tomatoes, avocados, etc
• Thai salad vegetables, and tossed in a bowl
• Mushrooms and carrots for Beef Stroganoff (put aside for later)

I split the Thai salad between 6 containers and opened a can of tuna to split between 3 of the salads. Then I made the dressing (about 10 minutes) with my immersion blender (or a whisk) and put the dressing one the one salad to eat immediately, and left the rest in a container in the fridge.

Once the pie is cooled, I slit it into 6 containers. I would cut up a cucumber, or celery to eat with the pie in the following days.

Then prepare the White Fish according the the recipe (about 20 minutes), and steam some spinach (or any greens) with garlic (about 15 minutes). And enjoy this for dinner.
Once the Beef was finished cooking, I divided it into containers for meals later in the week.

On Sunday I would enjoy the Pumpkin Pie for Meal 1. The Thai Salad with tuna for Meal 2. For Meal 3, I sliced an eggplant or cabbage (enough for about 2 slices for 4 meals), and brushed it with extra virgin olive oil and topped it with my favourite spices (garlic, onion, cumin, and nutritional yeast). I roasted the vegetable on a cookie sheet (for about 30 minutes) and the marinated Chicken (about an hour) in a roasting pan together at 350F.

By day 4 (or one day before meals were low), I would put all of the ingredients in the Crockpot for the Beef Stroganoff and start just before bed, or before leaving for work in the morning. Be careful to time it so that you are home and awake when the time is up. I would add vegetables depending on availability.

I would then enjoy these meals for the week with an occasional meal out, or special event. I often make a stir-fry with any remaining vegetables, eat fruit on he side, and slice raw vegetables to add flavours to my repetitive meals.



I did eat most of these things in the past week and I think that they have good flavours and help me to preserve my precious time whilst prioritizing my health. I hope that this helps give you ideas for your own Whole30 journey!!

Introduction to Montreal Whole30

Hello there, it's Rebecca here.

I am starting this blog to try to help people become acquainted with Whole30.org and to give some insights from Montreal, Canada. The Whole30 Network is already so big and gives such helpful hints and encouragement. However I find that the noise from Montreal is dim and I'd like to hear more hints as I attempt my 4th Whole30 (actually my second Whole45 of the four rounds).

About me: I am a single woman on a tight budget, trying to find new recipes and flavours, and to save my health from the downward slope it has been on for years. I work part-time at a coffee shop and part-time with childcare. My schedule is a bit unpredictable making meals harder to plan for.

Actually, I typically pack three meals into an industrial-sized lunch pail and head out for the day. I also host friends at my house almost weekly, and I need good crowd pleasing meals to deliver. I love creating things and sometimes a recipe fails! I am trying out the plantoeat.com meal planner to help me budget my groceries and meal prep time.

Nutritionally, I am interested in limiting my nightshade intake more than ever before (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers - including chilies - eggplant and more) but not strictly. I am also trying to limit my intake of eggs (it's so easy to whip up an omelet or boil some eggs), nuts, and caffeine (did I mention that I work at a cafe?).

I have been using a LufaFarms.com basket to gain access to local and organic products, and will focus on getting my proteins from there.  I live close to a farmer's market, but I love the convenience of a one-stop shop with comparable pricing. As much as possible, I will be buying organic produce whenever it's considered a dirty dozen.

Join me as I travel through my non-scale victories (#nsv) and discover a healthy lifestyle which is made to last!

Rebecca