Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
With a large family and a business to run, I’m a big fan of easy meal ideas. Lettuce wraps are a simple lunch idea for those of us staying away from bread and grain. This Asian chicken lettuce wrap recipe is full of flavor and only takes a few minutes to throw together. How to Make Healthy …
Since my husband is Italian, we enjoy our share of Italian food (healthy alfredo, yum!). Chicken Francese is another Italian dish I’ve come to love (and it sounds much fancier than “breaded chicken”!). This Italian-American dish is thought to have originated from Italian immigrants. It was likely a variation of veal Francese since veal was …
My family loves Indian food so I’m always looking for healthy Indian recipes to try at home. This mulligatawny soup recipe has become one of our favorites. It’s so simple to make, but packs a lot of flavor. What Is Indian Mulligatawny Soup? Mulligatawny soup is an Indian soup that became popular in England during British …
I’m a huge fan of soup. It’s easy to throw together, easy to freeze for later, and a healthy meal choice. My family also loves southwestern and Mexican flavors, so I created this chicken tortilla soup to meld the two. Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup I’m all about taking old favorite recipes and making them healthier. …
With a large family, I’m a huge fan of quick meals. Any recipe I can get on the table in less than 30 minutes is a win. If it uses only one pan, that’s even better! This Pad Krapow Gai (Thai basil chicken) recipe is both. What Is Pad Krapow Gai? In Thai, pad means “stir-fried,” …
My family really enjoys the flavors of Indian food. We made coconut curry chicken in the Instant Pot several times over the winter, but this summer we tried some grilled Indian dishes. This hariyali chicken tikka recipe is one we loved and made again and again. What Is Hariyali Chicken Tikka? As far as I …
I like to feed my family as few processed foods as possible, so concession-stand nachos topped with canned cheese product is not something I care to serve. But I’m a firm believer that almost any crowd favorite can be a really fun and healthy meal when made with real food ingredients. So… let the nacho …
My family loves Indian food (coconut curry chicken… mmm)! So I’m always looking for new, healthy recipes. Luckily, Indian food is generally healthy. I can also easily tweak it to include the ingredients I prefer to use. This Indian tandoori chicken recipe is a great example. It is a grain-free recipe that uses spices for …
One of the things on my summer bucket list each year is to grill outside. It’s fun, delicious, and gives me a break from the hot kitchen! This grilled citrus chicken recipe is a great addition to the grilling repertoire. It’s easy to make and packed with flavor that the whole family loves. Why Sweet and Savory? …
New fast and filling meal ideas are always welcome in my kitchen! These beef and rice bowls are a healthy and delicious take on tacos and I can make them start to finish in 30 minutes. Instant Pot Mexican Beef and Rice Bowls I love that I can use my Instant Pot to quickly cook this whole …
Variety is the spice of life they say, and I’m the first to admit salads can get boring! When I start to feel this way I know it’s time to make this chicken fiesta salad. Crunchy colorful peppers, creamy guacamole, and zesty homemade salsa (if it’s the season!) make this one of my favorite meals. …
Nothing beats a meal made from scratch with wholesome ingredients… but it’s hard to pull off every night. So when I find a recipe that is fast and delicious and healthy, I’m thrilled! This lemon herb chicken recipe is quick to make and packs a punch of flavor from the lemon and seasonings. Pair it …
Coconut chicken curry is simply chicken in a delicious sauce of tomatoes, garlic, curry powder, and coconut milk. It’s a healthy, one-pot meal that tastes great and everyone in the family enjoys. I used my Instant Pot (which I love!) and had dinner on the table in less than an hour. How to Make Coconut Chicken Curry …
Eating out can be fun (or necessary) sometimes and Chipotle is one of the few places we will occasionally eat out. We love Mexican food (I even make my own taco seasoning) and it is relatively easy to find healthy food options there. Unfortunately, with a large family it is also pricey to go out …
I’m a big fan of fast and easy meal ideas, especially ones made from all natural ingredients. My husband is a fan of pastas and Italian food, and this recipe is a winner with both of us! The main part of this recipe can be prepared in a slow cooker early in the day and …
I’m no expert in Vietnamese food, but I am a big fan. In fact, trying dishes from other cultures is something we love to do to get more variety in our diets. When we discovered pho, we knew we had a new family favorite on our hands. Despite its short name, pho is big on flavor …
Chicken and rice casserole is as American as hot dogs and burgers. We all grew up eating it but know better now! While a hearty piping-hot casserole may be delicious comfort food (or not, depending on your mother’s recipe), they are notorious for being high-calorie and made with condensed soup from a can. This healthier …
The cost of taking a family of eight out to eat means I’ve pretty much made my peace with cooking at home, other than the occasional date night out. I’ve made it my mission to recreate my former favorite takeout dishes in a healthier, real food style. This healthy Thai chicken curry recipe is the …
I’m a sucker for curried Indian dishes and butter chicken has long been on my list to recreate at home in the Instant Pot. This dish is much more budget-friendly made at home and is a great change of pace from chili, soups, and more common winter staples. Traditional recipes like this one use heavy …
I love Thanksgiving and how it gives us a day together as a family to pause and reflect on all the things we’re thankful for each year. In fact, it’s not long into the Fall before I start thinking about Thanksgiving and start working on my meal plan for the big day. I don’t start …
I’m not typically a fan of special “kid-foods” that cater to picky eaters or that are mostly processed and devoid of vitamins. At the same time, kid-size food can be fun every once in a while, especially if the kids help prepare it. Chicken Parmesan is a classic recipe and an adult favorite. This recipe …
I’d been craving (leptin problem maybe?) some jerk chicken lately, probably because the flavors remind me of the beach, which is what I am really craving… Anyway, since there are no places around here that can make good jerk chicken, I played around with recipes until I found this Caribbean jerk chicken recipe, which is …
This pâté recipe is one of my favorites. I must admit that learning how to prepare and consume organ meats has been a journey for me! It took me a while to learn to like most organ meats, but this pâté recipe has a mild and savory flavor and I liked it right away. Organ meats are an excellent …
I’d never cooked much before finishing college and getting married. I got a Crock-Pot as a wedding gift and was told that slow cookers were the easiest (and mostly foolproof) way to make a great meal, so I started experimenting. I joke that this was one of my real food recipes before I went real …
