The Denim Diaries by Kami Gray

I spent an hour yesterday at Costco hoping to find that the number of organic, healthy foods they’re selling would have increased dramatically in the year or so since I’ve been there. It hadn’t. I found a few things, but not much I can’t already buy for pretty cheap at Trader Joes and at least I don’t have to purchase six packages of whole wheat organic spaghetti to get a good deal when I shop there…great for large families though. Here are my top (all certified organic) picks from my Costco trip…

Dave’s Killer Bread (Power Seed)…$3.50/loaf. The best part is Dave’s is sold by the loaf and not in multi-packages. I pay almost six bucks a loaf at Whole Foods, New Seasons, and most other places.

San Francisco Bay Coffee…$13.99 for 3 pounds. Organic coffee typically costs me $13.99 for 1 pound. This is a steal.

Free-range, boneless, skinless chicken breasts….$5.89/pound. Last time I shopped at Trader Joes, New Seasons, or Whole Foods (which was about six weeks ago by the way, which is why I’m so excited to talk grocery shopping…I’m starving!)…I paid $7.00/pound.

Wild Copper River Salmon…$29.99 for 3 pounds. Okay, it’s frozen, but it would take me a loooooong time to eat three pounds of fresh salmon.

King’s Estate Pinot Gris…$11.99…I have no idea if this is a good deal, but it’s organic and super tasty and I’m a women over forty…we like wine…J

I’ve been doing this empty nest business for almost four months and I’ve learned some things about myself. First of all, I was keeping the house neat and tidy for the kids. On my own, I’m a lot messier! I only pick up (or make my bed) if I’m absolutely positive someone is coming over and If I know them well, forget about it. Secondly, I really do hate to cook! I thought I hated to cook for my picky, ungrateful kids, but I find the whole process incredibly boring! Plus, by the time I’m hungry, I don’t have a lot of time. I’ve trained myself to only eat when I’m hungry so when that time has clearly arrived, I need something ASAP.

I’ve started to buy and make things that meet my criteria for healthy eating, but are also quick to make and relatively tasty. I have fairly low standards for taste…that’s one of my secret weapons for staying at my ideal, healthy weight. Here are a few 3 (main) ingredient bowls I made last week for lunch or dinner:

The Tuna Bowl – 4 ounces ahi tuna seared in olive oil, sea salt and freshly-ground pepper sliced over sautéed kale and one-half cup quinoa.

The Salmon Bowl – 4 ounces salmon seared in olive oil, sea salt and freshly-ground pepper cut into bite-size chunks over three-fourths cup whole wheat penne pasta with sautéed carrots.

The Veggie Bowl – one-half cup black beans, one-half cup whole wheat couscous, and sautéed spinach seasoned with sea salt, freshly-ground pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese.

Don’t get too hung up on how much of the kale, carrots, and spinach to use…use as much as you want. I use a lot! I also don’t obsess over how much olive oil to use. It’s a heart healthy oil that my body needs. So use what you need…probably around one tablespoon to sauté both the fish and the veggie. You can doctor these up by adding fresh herbs and an assortment of vegetables. Got any more ideas for empty nest bowls?