When I first started my weight loss journey, I had no idea how to cook. I knew how to royally mess up recipes, how to make messes in the kitchen, and how to boil my mom’s blood every time I left something out on the counter. I grew up making things out of the box. I ate foods like boxed macaroni, boxed potatoes, boxed waffles, boxed donuts, boxed tuna helper, boxed rice, and boxed pizza. And when there was nothing boxed in the house to make, I ate things out of the bag like potato chips, fast food, cookies, cheese, candy, French fries, pizza rolls, and do I even need to continue? You get it the point. Super healthy stuff! Now, I don’t eat those too often. Maybe a couple times a month; it’s hard to say no to a pizza roll dangling in your face. I like to eat the center first, just like an Oreo. Anyways…back to the point of this post.
In order to lose the weight, I needed to learn how to cook real food. I didn’t start cooking difficult recipes at first. I started making little things like turkey wraps, omelets, and baked chicken. I burnt tons of eggs, dried out chicken breast after chicken breast, and steamed my vegetables until they looked like soggy noodles. Overtime, I got the hang of it. It’s important not to give up.
One of the first meals I ever learned to cook was baked chicken and roasted vegetables. It’s extremely hard to mess up, and you don’t need many ingredients. If you are knew to cooking, I’d recommend starting here.
All you need is skinless, boneless chicken breast, bell pepper, squash, and sweet potatoes. You can use any vegetables in this; however, I don’t recommend using cucumbers. You will also need two tbsp of olive oil and garlic and herb seasoning.
Toss the vegetables in the olive oil and sprinkle seasoning on top. Do the same to the chicken. Lay the chicken and vegetables on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees. Check the chicken’s center at 15 minutes. If it’s done, take it out and continue to cook the vegetables. Overcooked chicken is dry and gross. I’ve eaten my fair share of it!
Baked chicken and baked salmon are my favorite proteins. You can dress them up the same way before baking. Some of my favorite ways to flavor the two are:
-Low sodium Teriyaki sauce, garlic & herb, and black pepper.
-Fresh squeezed lime juice, low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar & sesame seeds
-Fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, and olive oil.
-Fresh squeezed orange juice, grated ginger, and low sodium soy sauce.
-Olive oil, garlic & herb seasoning, and black pepper.
-Brown sugar, Pineapple slices & juice, and low sodium soy sauce.
-Organic honey, garlic & herb seasoning, and black pepper.
-Low sodium taco seasoning, black beans, and olive oil.
-Honey Dijon mustard, olive oil, and garlic & herb seasoning.
-Low sodium buffalo sauce, blue cheese, and black pepper.
-And my favorite….Barbecue sauce!
You can find more of my recipes for chicken or salmon here!
What was the first meal you learned how to make? Or the very first meal you royally destroyed?
Desiree says
My first meals when I started with my healthy lifestyle were i think:
Scrambled egg with a lot of veggies and egg tortillia with veggies.
And eggplant pizza instead of my take away pizza (what I still miss sometimes)
Taralynn McNitt says
Scrambled eggs are still my go to! They’re so easy and delicious. I love zucchini pizzas, I wish I could like eggplant, but the texture gets me!
Christie says
Where do you get your seasonings and what kind are they? Thank you for sharing! My friend just introduced me to your site blog and it’s amazing! Thank you!!
Noortje says
my first meal was pilav rice (the red rice from the greek), with zucchini and chicken. very easy and very healthy to make. I make it al the time, most of the time i make a big pan of the pilav rice so i can eat the next 3 days from it.
Taralynn McNitt says
Oh that sounds delicious!
Melissa says
Hi Taralynn! How do you know when the veggies are done? I’m still getting the hang of this /:
Katya says
Hi! You’re doing a great job, this was how I started out too – veggies and meat 😛
However, I’d like to inform you that this dish is not entirely Paleo since you heat the olive oil.
You should read up on what fats you should not heat and which ones you can heat – because by heating olive oil, which is a very healthy oil cold and raw – you create trans fats, it’s a waste and a shame :/
I use organic non-hydrogenated coconut oil.
best, Katya – Sweden