How Not to Eat Like A Guy

I recently decided to take the plunge and move in with my boyfriend…of 5 months. Yes, I realize this is crazy and I’m okay with that. But one of the first components of cohabitation that I discovered very quickly is the uncanny ability to pick up your guy’s bad eating habits. Awesome. This is no good for my 5’2” frame as compared to his 6’1” active male frame. I am very lucky he is, for the most part, health conscious and open to change (good luck with a stubborn, beer and lard-loving guy). Still, rehydrogenated oils, processed foods, and pizza were faux pas in his lifestyle. That’s where I intervened, fast.

As a newly retired gymnast from the University of Michigan, healthy eating is of utmost importance. You feel better when you put green leafy things in your body on a reoccurring daily basis. So that meant altering my boyfriend’s eating without throwing gogi berries and spirulina at him, not right away at least. You have to change things gradually (or maybe without him knowing) so he doesn’t rebel against the food transformation. Thus, I had to learn how to cook the foods that would make him happy, as well as keep me skinny jean ready.

I asked him, “Honey, I would love for us to eat healthfully. What should I make us for dinner that follows that guideline?”
Boy: “Lasagna”
Me: “Awesome.” (under my breath) “What you know won’t hurt you.”
Boy: “What?”
Me: “Nothing dear.”

Next step, Healthy Lasagna.

Ingredients:
I large eggplant
I package ground turkey or chicken, the lean variety
I large can peeled tomatoes
Extra virgin olive oil
I container fat free ricotta cheese
I small container fat free cottage cheese
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Salt, pepper
I onion
Garlic
Crushed red pepper
Package mushrooms, I think the thicker varieties taste better
1 yellow bell
I bag spinach, diced

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Thinly slice eggplant into1 inch slices
Brush with EVOO and add sea salt and pepper
Bake for 30 minutes flipping over at 15minutes

Mix ricotta and cottage cheese in a bowl

Lightly oil pan with EVOO
Cook onion and mushrooms
Add meat and cook
Add spinach
Add diced yellow pepper
Add tomatoes
Add more sea salt, pepper, garlic, crushed pepper
Let simmer for 30 minutes

Spray lasagna pan with EVOO spray
Layer eggplant slices
1/3 Meat
1/2 Cheese mix
Eggplant
1/3 Meat
1/2 Cheese mix
Eggplant
Meat
Parmesan

Bake at 375 for 45 minutes, let sit for 5.

Happy living,

Tachi

Image: Scientific American