COVID-19 hasn’t been an easy road for any of us. But I’ve been working to reexamine my relationship with food so that I can be healthier. I also don’t believe in deprivation. A health relationship with food should for some fun and some enjoyment, right?

Couple these axioms with trying to feed a family of five so that everyone is happy and nourished, and…well.

How do we take the food we like and make it healthier?

Swedish-ish Meatballs

(serves 4-5)

1 lb, ground chicken (or turkey, or lean ground beef, or plant-based meat substitute)

1/4 cup, panko (you can sub in a GF equivalent)

1 egg (or flaxseed equivalent)

1 small onion

1 stalk, celery

3 cloves, garlic

1/4 cup, parsley

1 tsp, allspice

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

 

Chop the garlic, parsley, celery and onion finely, and add to a mixing bowl with the meat, spices, egg, and panko. Mix well with your hands (and then wash the hell out of them).

 

In a saute pan, add:

2 cups, reduced sodium beef broth (you can absolutely sub in vegetable broth)

3-4 ounces, whipped cream cheese (parve/vegan Tofutti cream cheese would work nicely here)

 

Whisk or blend, and bring to a boil. Roll meatballs and carefully drop into the liquid to simmer. When complete, cover and let simmer on medium heat until cooked through – around 15 minutes. Serve over pasta, mashed potatoes, or cauliflower rice. My kids add this over chickpea pasta, and I add it over cauliflower rice with some steamed broccoli on the side.

 

Eating well can and should be a joy. Here’s to being kind to ourselves and one another as we face 2021.