Even though we’re still grilling up a storm in my household, I am starting to crave some of those familiar fall flavors that often come with some heavy ingredients. I’m always looking to maximize the amount of food I get to eat in a day, which means, for the most part, sticking to pretty clean options. Flexible eating allows a person to indulge here and there in foods that are not necessarily “healthy” without the guilt of their entire diet being thrown off. As long as you stay within your allotted macros, then all is good. BUT, the kicker with these types of foods is that a small portion can potentially use up so many macros. So the question then becomes, are all of those macros and calories worth four bites of food? To me, it usually isn’t. And that’s why I’m always looking to create satisfying substitutions for some of my favorite non-macro friendly foods!
The other night at my husband’s and my anniversary dinner, there was a braised brisket and risotto dish that sounded so good. I wasn’t necessarily staying strict to my macro numbers that night because it was a special occasion and I am in a place with my fitness and health that I don’t feel guilty falling off my routine here and there anymore because I know I can easily get back on track with my flexible eating program without any real setbacks. Regardless, as much as I LOVE risotto (I’m Italian, those cravings don’t ever go away), I’m not used to eating such rich foods and figured I might feel overly full and not have room for the dessert I really wanted 🙂 So I opted for a perfectly cooked bone-in half chicken with broccolini and crispy polenta. It was the perfect balance of indulgence for me. The chicken was to die for. The broccolini sautéed so nicely. And, there was just enough crispy polenta to let me feel like I indulged in something “unhealthy” without going overboard. Continue reading →