“The ability to cook allows me to put healthy and nourishing meals on the table and teach my kids the importance of eating delicious food that is also good for you.”

Christina is one of our pescetarian members, and today she shares how simplifying dinner but still cooking healthy, balanced meals has made her life easier in her kitchen. Read her Hero in the Kitchen story below:

Name: Christina Goodwin
Age: 34
City, State: Woodacre, California
Outside of the kitchen I: raise a family (6, 4, and almost 2-year old), spend as much time outside as possible, work from home for an organization providing end of life support to terminally-ill individuals, and (when I have time) I also knit and sew.
I cook for: me and my family.
The ability to cook allows me to: put healthy and nourishing meals on the table and teach my kids the importance of eating delicious food that is also good for you.
Favorite Cook Smarts meal: The Sesame-Teriyaki Salmon and Sesame-Soy Cucumber with Rice is a winner in our household. My kids love it and there are never any leftovers.

When did you become pescetarian and what advice would you give to anyone considering a diet switch?
In high school I became a vegetarian and pretty much stayed that way until I met my (pescetarian) husband. For me, meeting with a nutritionist was very helpful to ensure I’m making the healthiest decisions for myself and my family. We now raise our children pescetarian too. We love fish and it is a great source of protein.

What’s been your biggest kitchen challenge?
I love to cook but always picked extremely labor-intensive recipes, which is not very smart with three kids running around. So I would make a big elaborate dish and no one would like it.

How has your cooking routine changed recently?
Cooks Smarts makes grocery shopping and meal planning so much easier. I no longer have to pull out a stack of cookbooks to figure out what’s for dinner that week. I also feel like we are eating a wider-range of foods. If I put good food on the table and give my kids the opportunity to eat it, then that is the best I can do to raise healthy eaters. Also, my husband is a former chef, and he now looks forward to coming home to my dinners!

“If I put good food on the table and give my kids the opportunity to eat it, then that is the best I can do to raise healthy eaters.”

What recent kitchen accomplishment are you most proud of?
Jess’ cooking videos have really helped me become more efficient in the kitchen and my knife-skills have vastly improved. I am now fast enough to properly cut an onion without crying!

Thanks Christina for sharing your eating and cooking philosophy. Your kids are lucky to have such a thoughtful mom who’s making sure they appreciate a wide variety of foods. And thank you for inspiring me to make a big ol’ pot of slow-cooker beans (Christina does this every week so they always a vegetarian protein source on hand).

To join Christina and cook meals like her favorite teriyaki salmon, sign up for our meal plan service. You can get started for free!

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