Griffin - Skinny suppers : 125 lightened up, healthier meals for your family

TO MY GRANNY,
for cooking delicious suppers that brought our family together and for your prayers that will never keep us apart.

CONTENTS

S o youve decided to embark on a new journey. But wait, youve done this before. Youve purchased the cookbooks, made the grocery lists, rallied the family, prayed for the wisdom, and then, somehow, less than one week after standing on the kitchen counter pronouncing with fervor your game plan to change the world (or at least your kitchen), you find your supper table is covered in take-out pizza boxes and empty bags of potato chips. Again. What happened? It was supposed to work this time. Why does this have to be so hard? When the inspiration hits, youre sure you can make it happen, but somewhere between the purchase of the cookbook and the first trip to the grocery store, there is a disconnect.

Skinny Suppers was created with you in mindthe busy person who juggles so much. This book will guide you through meal planning and prep, grocery shopping, time-management and money-saving methods, and, of course, easy-to-follow recipes. The goal is for you to learn how to pull your family back to the supper table for healthy, balanced meals and more quality time. You can do this! How do I know? Because just a few years ago, I was in the same situation.

In 2011, I found myself going through an unexpected divorce with a newborn and carrying nearly seventy extra pounds! Overwhelmed and quite honestly terrified, I tapped into the two most important characteristics I possess: my faith and my competitive spirit. I leaned on a scripture that has been my favorite for years: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:56. Truly trusting in that verse and all that it said, I did what I do besttook a big leap of faith! I moved back into my parents home with my little guy, Easton Jack, and began blogging from their basement.

Reaching out to other women in similar circumstances, I set out on a mission to lose the baby weight and inspire others along the way. In 2011, I took the biggest chance of my life: I cashed out my 401K (totaling $20,000), hired my first employee, and built my first website. Skinny Mom was born! An all-out effort to redefine skinny and offer an online destination where moms get the skinny on healthy living. I was committed to empowering other mothers by helping them realize they can lose weight and lead healthy lives regardless of their circumstances!

I sent my first weekly newsletter to twenty-five people (well, about a hundred if you count the friends and family I took the liberty of includingthanks, guys!) and less than four years later the Skinny Mom weekly newsletter reaches over half a million people. And more than six million people visit our website each month. Whats the number one reason this many readers head to Skinnymom.com? Skinny recipes.

In 2013, in response to e-mails and questions, Skinny Mom introduced The Supper Club, a free monthly meal-planning newsletter to help busy moms prepare a tasty and waist-friendly meal for their families every night of the week. Its overwhelming success has proved that moms want to cook for their families, but convenience and organization are key.

So, if life has sidetracked (or even derailed) your health and wellness goals, youve come to the right cookbook. This book is filled with recipes for suppers you can make in a pinch, using mostly items you have on hand, and you can feel confident that theyre all light and balanced. Ive searched out my favorite recipes and tweaked, cut, studied, cooked, and tasted them for you. These recipes are simple, satiating, lighter, and lower in fat and calories, and most important, delicious! And guess what? Its going to work this time!

make time for
SUPPERTIME

I have a burning desire in my heart to teach you how to prepare light, healthy, and tasty suppers that are quick and easy to make. I love to cookI always have. But Im also extremely busy and relish simplicity. Even though I love to try new recipes, Im not a fan of expensive ingredients that I cant pronounce or cant afford. As my son continues to grow, the importance of quality time together has become very real to me. Skinny Suppers was inspired by my desire to help families find the time to prepare lighter and healthier meals that they can sit down and enjoy together several nights a week.

Lets face it: everyone is busy. Mom is busy, Dad is busy, and the kids have some crazy schedules to keep, too. Yet we still have to eat. This book is a practical tool that will empower you and help you realize that family mealtime is a wonderful way to reconnect and share stories, all while loving your family and improving their overall health and wellness through nourishing dishes. And yes, prepping, cooking, and enjoying these meals can all fit into your hectic schedule.

FOR THE HOME COOK WITH NO TIME TO SPARE

You might be thinking, So when in the world do you think I have time to plan meals, much less sit down for them? Im glad you asked. If you purchased this cookbook, Im confident we share the same goals: to eat healthier, lose a little (or a lot) of weight, have the energy we need to successfully navigate through a busy life, and simply feel good (no, make that great) in our skin! The good news is that enjoying suppertime with your family is part of what will help you reach those goals.

I want to ensure that the meals you serve are easy to make, light, and balanced. I want to guide you and empower you in the kitchen in a way that will enhance your familys life, not drain your energy or your time. You, the busy home cook with no time to spare, will find refreshing recipes and tips, inspiration and ideas, encouragement and excitement throughout this book. This is the first step to getting your family back around the table for supper!

WHY SUPPERTIME IS SO IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES

If you could do one thing that would improve the well-being of your family, would you do it? Of course!

Research shows that families who eat together benefit in more ways than one. Sitting down to share meals boosts communication and strengthens relationships, while the kids statistically perform better in school and tend to make better choices, even under pressure, about alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. This kind of tradition flows into their teen years and adulthood with an emphasis on good nutrition.

Now many of us are already sitting down for supper together. One study found that more than 78 percent of us claim that we eat together as a family on most nights. Its what we do while were eating that has changed drastically in the last twenty years. When I was younger and it was time for supper, you better believe I was sitting at my place at the kitchen table. Coming home for supper was just like coming home when the streetlights came on. There were no TV and no phones at the table. People actually respected suppertime so much they wouldnt call around 6 p.m.not even a salesperson.