I’m making Chicken Parmesan and chocolate covered strawberries tonight. Life is delicious! Did you know you can use strawberries to brighten your teeth?

A hearty dinner, high in protein and deliciousness.

Photo by Colors of My Dreams

Like the rest of America, I started the New Year with a resolution of eating better and being active. It wasn’t until the end of January that I became serious about the former.

After earning my Bachelor’s degree, I expected to take full advantage of my newly acquired free time by picking up old hobbies and learning how to cook. Instead I ate out. A lot. After months of pizza, Chinese take-out, and fast food burgers, I received a rude awakening: my bank statement. I added up all the times I had opted to order take out, grab fast food or eat at a chain restaurant in a single month and came up with an astonishingly embarrassing total of $162.00

I spent $162.00 on food I didn’t even enjoy. I decided I would change that before I became the literal embodiment of the Supersize menu. But first, how does one choose a banana over a Mrs. Fields cookie? How can one possibly choose between Panera’s panini and a home-made sandwich? It’s as easy as changing your perspective. Trust me. I am not, by any means, a food critic or an experienced cook which should provide some encouragement to even the most inept at the stove. Here are some simple steps I took to start enjoying home-prepared food and ultimately eating better.

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