Quick + Easy {Simple Daily Nutrition} Meals on an extended stay trip

Our beautiful AirBnB home for a few weeks — before we filled it with our fresh fruits, flowers, kitchen gadgets & groceries!

Now we can all agree that the lure of vacation is not to cook and clean the entire time. Hey, support those local small businesses and enjoy local cuisine! I love getting inspiration from regional foods. But, sometimes I get tired of eating out (‘tis true).

But…when you are on a long trip (like we currently are) that IS NOT a vacation… eating out isn’t the best choice when it comes to getting a family out of the house multiple times per day, trying to remain budget friendly and not completely lose sight of our healthy way of life.

Out on an easy hike, enjoying the sunshine and nature!

So, this week I share what we’ve stocked up on for our 2+ week stay for a medical procedure in our family. I’ve been blown away by the support and kind words from friends, family, former patients and colleagues. Sadly we are far from home, are in a city with some pretty strict shutdown measures in place for the pandemic. Even the zoos and botanical gardens are closed! Thankfully, state parks are open and empty during the week! So we’ve enjoyed a few easy walks/hikes with our outdoor-loving little boys.

Things we brought with us:

Glass baking dishes, preferred ceramic pots & pans (there are some here, but the super stick, hard to clean pans)
Keurig with pods & Frother (usually I use a French press, but I needed easier cleaning and with 3 coffee drinking adults, it’s easier to do single serve)
Brita Water Filter (sure there are fancier, but this is simple and gets the job done)
Vitamix
Electric Kettle (for hot herbal teas and soups)
Basic spices (cinnamon, cumin, chili lime, everything bagel, sea salt & pepper)
GF flour (I doubt I will bake, but maybe!)
Kitchen towels & sponge
Dishwasher pods & unscented laundry detergent pods
Seventh Generation Botanical Spray and extra paper towels
Vase for flowers (good for healing and positive attitudes)
Favorite pillows & blankets

Things I wish our AirBnB had:

A full size kitchen trash can, not a waste bin
Baking sheets for veggies, frozen GF pizza
Strainer for rinsing veggies
Mixing bowls (prep, pre-made salads)
Measuring cups (seriously)
Scissors (so handy!)

Grocery List (Costco):

Breakfast: Orgain Vegan smoothie powder, unsweetened almond milk, frozen mixed berries, spinach, eggs (missing our chickens!)
Quick lunch: GF bread, turkey deli meat, sweet potato chips, Pho (noodle soup) bowls
Veggies: pre-cut butternut squash, small red potatoes, fresh green beans, mushrooms, vine tomatoes, pre-made superfood salad bag
Snacks & Fruits: Almond butter, apples, bananas, grapes, root chips, cheese sticks, boiled eggs, nuts (cashews)
Pre-made meats for dinner: Chicken sausages, rotisserie chicken, frozen fish, tuna cans, GF pizza
Beverages: LaCroix sparkling water, Suja Immune Shots, Cafe Cubano coffee beans

Grocery List (Kroger/Trader Joe’s):

Condiments: ketchup, mayo, salsa, dressing
Pickles, relish, hot peppers
Almond milk creamer or half & half
Olive oil, butter, cheese
Bars: protein Macrobars, Lunabars, KIND bars (waiting room foods)
Herbal teas & honey
Limes (for preserving cut apples and fresh garnish!)

A shot of the good stuff! Quite peppery (it activates the turmeric), but super anti-oxidant with super foods! Plus our fresh flowers to brighten up the kitchen.

That about wraps it up for now! We are only on Day 4, but doing very well with variety and things we’ve stocked up on. I’m sure there will be a few take-out meals in the next few weeks, but our goal is to stay mostly whole food and anti-inflammatory natural foods to improve healing and keep all of us healthy during this difficult time!

Next Blog: 12 Meals to Make with Rotisserie Chicken!