Lemongrass: Better Than Both Lemon And Grass

Posted by Kate W on Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

I do a lot of cooking for my family. I prepare dinner for my husband and myself every night, then pack his lunch for the next morning. Sometimes I keep it simple by just throwing together a sandwich, but often I will cook up a big batch of something on Sunday evening and portion it out for him throughout the week. Recently I’ve made him vegetarian chili, Warrior Salad, and chicken and peppers in a spicy peanut sauce. I even make him a parfait each evening that he can grab in the morning for a quick, healthy breakfast. I portion uncooked rolled oats beneath a thick layer of vanilla Greek yogurt and top it with fresh berries and a drizzle of clover honey. By morning, the oats have softened up under the yogurt so all he has to do is give it a quick stir to have a creamy, chewy, sweet and healthy morning snack.

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My daughter also benefits from my cooking skills. We have gradually been introducing her to the world of solid foods, and she has been eating pretty well if I do say so myself. I bought an all-in-one steamer and food processor, and I make all her food from scratch. We took her to the local farmer’s market this weekend, and I picked up fresh organic sweet potatoes and parsnips. Last night, I diced, steamed, and pureed them so I could feed them to her at lunchtime today. Ironically, while she was eating this delicious healthy homemade meal I had to resort to feeding myself a frozen meal. I do a great job cooking for everyone else, but I forget about feeding myself!

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As far as frozen meals go though, it was delicious and surprisingly healthy. I had an all-natural Kashi entrée of lemongrass coconut chicken. Lemongrass is a particular favorite of mine. This fibrous plant is primarily used in East Asian cooking, but it can brighten up any dish. It has a fresh herbal tartness that is difficult to describe and impossible to beat. And not only is it a lively component to any dish, it has many health benefits. It has been used to treat a variety of conditions, from cough and cold to diabetes to anxiety to digestive issues, and many more.

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It’s hard taking care of everyone in your family and still remembering to make yourself a priority. Until I get better at balancing it all I’m glad for tasty frozen meals that actually have health benefits, unlike the plastic-wrapped Salisbury steak TV dinners of my youth.

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