Foods That Fuel This Toddler Mom
This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and the Maple Leaf Foods #FoodsThatFuel sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank-you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.
I like to believe that I’m a health conscious person. I understand what’s good for me vs. what’s not and I do my best to live my life as healthy as possible (and lead my son into the same lifestyle by example).
Being that I’m a mom of a two-year-old boy, I need to keep my body fuelled and ready to go. I can’t tell you how many times a day I run after him, whether it’s playing “chase” or scrubbing marker off my kitchen cabinets. I never realized just how exhausting little ones could be until my son became mobile.
I keep my body fuelled by eating five to six meals a day with a balance of carbs, healthy fats and a lot of protein.
I don’t have a lot of time to cook extravagant healthy meals, so ensuring that I can grab a snack or lunch that is quick and easy is also really important to me. Here are some tips on how I am able to save time AND chose healthy options daily:
- When you come home from the grocery store; wash, cut and portion out your vegetables for the week (whether it’s for meals or snacks).
- Cook up a large pot of healthy side dishes ahead of time (quinoa, rice, millet) and portion it out into containers so you can add it to your breakfast, lunches and snacks.
- Purchase pre-washed salads and spinach.
- Buy pre-cooked chicken Protini’s for your salads and protein boost snacks for the afternoon slump.
- Buy Maple Leaf Prime and Schneider’s Country Naturals Frozen Chicken Burgers, Strips and Deli Meats. That way your proteins are already cooked for you.
I recently started a new health and fitness program, and with that program I have upped my protein intake. Not only does protein help me rebuild and replenish my muscles, but it also helps me stay satisfied throughout the day. I read food labels before I ever buy anything new and it’s really disappointing to me how many chemicals there are in simple food. It’s actually really gross. I have been buying Country Naturals products for over a year now, and I will never go back. There is no MSG, no additives, no artificial colours or ingredients, and no preservatives. When I read the label, I see things like lemon juice, vinegar, and sea salt. I like that not just as a consumer, but as a mom as well.
I want my son to eat real food.
Maple Leaf has a new product out there called Protini’s. This is my new favourite grocery list item! You can have them as a snack, or use them to complete a meal. With flavours like Mild Salsa Chicken, Oven Roasted Chicken & Cranberry and Oven Roasted Chicken & Apple – gone are the days of boring and dry chicken salads.
Here’s a recipe I had from pan to plate in less than five minutes:
Sweet Thai Chili Chicken Quinoa Stir Fry
- 1 tsp olive or coconut oil
- 1 cup of cut up vegetables (I used carrots, onions, asparagus and red bell peppers)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 package of Maple Leaf Protini’s Sweet Thai Chili Chicken
- 1/3 cup pre-cooked quinoa
Heat oil over medium high heat and add vegetables and garlic. Cook until tender (about 3-4 minutes). Add chicken and quinoa, mix until heated through and transfer to a plate.
This recipe was featured on #TastyTuesdays
Not only do I have a fast and nutritious lunch, but I also have a peace of mind. Knowing that my chicken has come from Canada and has no additives is really important to me.
Visit your local Loblaws store to make adding protein to your family’s diet super easy! Maple Leaf products like Country Naturals Turkey Burgers, Chicken Pepperettes, and Protinis are all smart ways to help fuel your busy days.
Enter now for your chance to Win Groceries For A Year courtesy of Maple Leaf Foods! It’s a prize valued at $5,000!
Then visit YMC’s ‘Learn How To Power Through Your Day‘ page for tips to help you sneak exercise into your day, how you can feed your family on-the-go, and for recipes that will help you power through your day. (Hint: You’ll need to visit this page to enter the contest.)
Randa, I am right with you on cutting out those chemicals! I have been raising my 5 year old this way also. Love the recipe and the more protein tip is a must to stay going all day! Thanks, this is a great post 🙂
Thanks Dawn. It’s nasty what some chemicals will put in their meat! I just picked up some frozen chicken (not thinking it would be bad) at a grocery store and I returned it yesterday. So many fillers and chemicals to “plump them up”.
This sounds delish! What aisle does one find proteinis at the grocery store? I am beginning to wonder if the store I shop at doesn’t carry the product, but perhaps I am looking in the wrong area.
Hey Nicole, you can find it in the deli area near the hot dogs and bacon 🙂
I have been hearing a lot about Maple Leafs new Protenis I may need to fuel myself with some. BTW your recipe looks and sounds delish!
That stirfry looks amazing! I love the addition of Quinoa. I need to add it to my diet more! My biggest problem to eating healthy is i don’t prep it one day like you! I really need to get on that!
YES, yes, yes!! Love this article and supper has now been decided! Thanks Randa!
Looks good 🙂
We haven’t had quinoa for a while either (except in salad form)… thanks for the reminder.
You’re welcome 🙂 I like it in random meals like this 🙂 It helps spruce things up.
I have tried the Protinis and they are delicious and super convenient!
Great time saving tips, Randa! You have a lovely blog!
Thank you Sandra 🙂 Glad you made it over.
Thanks for the tips. I’m always looking for ways to make getting healthier EASY!
I really should prep my veg and quinoa in advance… Would mean a lot less d hoc meals and munching!
I didn’t do any prep this week and I’m making poor choices. It shows me that it’s something I must always do.
what a great idea to pre-cut the veggies in advance. I might want to incorporate this in our weekend routine. This will alleviate the pressure during the week.
It helps a lot. If I didn’t do this, I would gain a lot of weight. When I want something, I want it at that moment.
I’ve been seeing the commercials for Protini’s and definitely want to try them too! That’s great you can turn them into a meal too, very clever!
I’m going to have to go look for Protini’s on my next grocery visit. That thai recipe is pinned and tweeted, it looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by Laurie 🙂 I love Protini’s.
Your tips are excellent, and the recipe looks so tasty – I’ll be pinning next! We’re trying to plan ahead as well by cooking to have leftovers. We’re working from Jamie Oliver’s recent cookbook, Saving with Jamie, and his whole premise is to intentionally cook for leftovers, but the cool thing that we’re loving is he gives you more recipes to use them up! So we’ve been learning and having fun, and eating a lot healthier along the way!
I’ve been feeling the same way about food lately. This product looks really good and so does your recipe! 🙂
I am featuring your recipe on the Tasty Tuesdays hop tomorrow! Please stop by and link up again and grab a featured button!
Julia @ Mini Van Dreams
Thank you Julia! I’m adding your button now.
I’m looking forward to trying out the Sweet Thai Chilli protinis. Thanks for the recipe inspiration.
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The Quinoa stir-fry looks great!! Always looking for quick, fresh ideas to add to the dinner rotation!
Yum Stir fry is one of my favourite ways to get lots of yummy veggies in 1 dish
oh my! Quinoa and chicken? In a stir fry? You’re speaking my language. This looks so delicious and I love that it’s healthy too. Will be perfect for my 1.5 year old and almost 5 year old. Thanks for sharing.
I love these ideas. I usually cut up my carrots and celery and bag them in ziploc baggies for kids to grab quickly, I piece out fruit and make fruit cocktail right away. I bag and cut fruit and freeze it for making smoothies in the morning (my son loves this). Quick and easy is on target I think for most families especially when trying to eat healthier.
Protein is SO important! I really like the Protinis!
I love ur time saving tips! I do the same thing, there is always rice, quinoa or naan made in the fridge, that way we just have to make a veggie dish and a protein.
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Thanks for the tips and the recipe,your salad looks delicious