What does âfeel-good foodâ mean? It depends on whom you ask. Thatâs why each month our Feel-Good Food Planâwith delicious recipes and a few wild cardsâis hosted by someone new. This month chef Millie Peartree whoâs sharing how pre-workout meal prepping actually feeds her whole family.
Working out and fueling yourself go hand in hand. My meals before gym sessions help me push through lifting sets to achieve new personal bests. Chats with my gym buddies often revolve around what we eat to cater to both our tastes and our goals. Working up a sweat also clears my mind like nothing else. Itâs when Iâve come up with some of my best recipe ideas, and afterward I eagerly head home to write down what Iâve plotted out in my mind.
I cook a lot of meals at home. I know just how delicious a shared meal can be; nourishing others through food is my love language. Iâm conscious of the pleasure of eating for joy, as well as ingredients that power my body. I eat the red velvet cupcake and dig into nutrient-packed dinners, all in moderation. To find that balance, for myself and my family, I meal-prep about once a week. This routine allows me to consciously choose what weâre consuming and rely on what Iâve made ahead rather than calling for take out.
Cooking is a way I create balance for myself, every day if I choose. Iâm a nurturer and overthinker, but time spent in the kitchen is all mine. When Iâm in my head about things I have no control over, cooking is there to ground me. It gives me the space to take a breath and say the Serenity Prayer to myself, âEverything will work itself out, and I ask God to grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.â
Iâm so happy to share this meal with all of you, and hopefully pass along some warmth and care along with it. Ground turkey is one of my favorite ingredients to work with right now. It can be the base of Bolognese sauce, meatloaf, tacos, and my new favorite, Gochujang Turkey Sweet Potatoes. Itâs so easy to make every component of the meal ahead of time (it all easily packs up into storage containers and doesnât suffer from a few days in the fridge). Plus, everyone gets to customize a plate at the table with their own toppings. Itâs a win all around.
More Feel-Good Finds for the Month
Music to set the mood
There is nothing like a good playlist going in the kitchen. Whether I’m just waking up and preparing my morning brew (Kiss Café and Blk & Bold make my current favorites) or methodically setting up my mise en place ahead of baking, music gets me in the right headspace. My playlists have a mix of my favorite artists from multiple genres: jazz standards from Anita Baker and John Coltrane, hip hop and rap from Pop Smoke and Jadakiss, a sprinkle of gospel from Smokie Norful and Donnie McClurkin, and more.
Heirloom pots and pans
It warms my heart that I still have my maternal grandmotherâs cast-iron skillets. I inherited them from my mom when she passed away and thereâs nothing else like cooking in those pans. It takes me back to my childhood when I made my first scrambled egg dish in her kitchen using her same skillet. Now I use them to bake cornbread, eggs, so many dishes. Using them is so nostalgic for me. It reminds me how grateful I am that I get to do work I love.
Lancaster No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet
My universal utensil
I mean, who doesnât like a wooden spoon? Itâs as good for savory cooking as it is for baking. Itâs just a universal cooking utensil that I always reach for over and over. While it holds my number one spot, second and third places go to my rasp grater and fish spatula.
Next Time
Septemberâs Feel-Good Food Plan will be hosted by cookbook author Casey Elsass, who is sharing the dish that keeps him connected to community during the holiday season. Weâll see you next month!
