I have to admit something… I want to be that Pinterest mom. You know the one who throws an epic birthday party, makes the most elegant looking cakes and creates mouth-watering and good-looking, ultra creative food. The chef, DIYer, super productive mom, wife, housekeeper and still run a full-time business crushing life-like a dream.
Oh and while we’re at it, develop a tree that grows money….
But reality hits and I add another item to my Pinterest fail list and just realize, I’m not that mom, wife, or person. I’m me and that me doesn’t have to require fancy parties, crazy elegant foods and the perfectly kept house. Because that me, or the one I attempt to be, is one stressed out mama who seeks perfection and looks more than living in the present.
So I dumped that person and I’m stepping into me.
And me looks a whole lot like shredded chicken six ways. Because when this mama cooks, she does it once and squeezes as much life out of that dish as I can. Anyone with me?
Thought so.
Welcome to practical Alexa. Alexa who still thrives on health and nourishing my body and my families, but not at the expense of perfectionism or cramping my time schedule. That means food prep at its basics and learning how to utilize partially cooked meals (aka. rotisserie chicken, shredded meats, boxed tomato soup, you know real life stuff) and creating healthy dishes in a variety of ways to creating lasting satiety.
Make plain food come alive without twenty different ingredients and hours of your time.
So here we are with one chicken, slow cooked and shredded.
Easy, right?
Yes, it is easy, In fact, you just drop an entire chicken into the slow cooker (or chicken pieces, turkey tenders, whatever suits you), add some broth, salt plus pepper and turn it on low and slow. By the time six to eight hours rolls around you should have chicken falling off the bone, making your job of shredding easy.
The next step is figuring out what to do with all that chicken.
Here are six practical and delicious ways you could split it up for a pre-packed lunch or just make a big batch for dinner. I’m not going to lie though, dishing up six lunches into these cute containers {<–they’re stackable, dishwasher safe, microwave safe and inexpensive} so you can just grab and go is not only easier than take-out but it is saving your budget as well. Well worth the cost of glass dish-ware because you can save the cost in just a few less meals out.
But lets begin with shredded chicken six ways:
Idea #1:
Asian inspired shredded chicken. The equation;
Quinoa + Red Cabbage + Cooked Broccoli + Microgreens + Shredded Chicken
Top with Teriyaki sauce + Peanuts (or slivered almonds)
Idea #2:
Fiesta style shredded chicken. The equation;
Black Beans + Whole Corn Kernels + Red Cabbage + Cilantro + Quinoa + Chicken
Mixed and topped with Copy-Cat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
Idea #3:
The roasted vegetables save the day again with picking up the slack in this meal. The equation;
Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes + Savory Green Beans + Shredded Chicken
Topped with Parsley + Homemade Caesar Dressing
Idea #4:
A quick spin on BBQ chicken. The equation;
Chopped Spinach + Roasted Sweet Potatoes + Shredded Chicken + Avocado
Topped with BBQ Sauce + Caesar Dressing
Idea #5:
Here’s a bagged item turned more filling with some easy additions. The equation:
Sunflower Crunch Chopped Salad Mix {homemade or Dole} + Dried Cranberries + Apples + Shredded Chicken
Topped with Creamy Dressing + Pistachios
Idea #6:
Finally my favorite and most often go-to meal, the stuffed sweet potato. The equation;
Baked Sweet Potato + Chopped Spinach + Shredded Chicken
Topped with Caesar Dressing + Dried Cranberries + Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Now obviously none of these meals are crazy extravagant or necessarily ultra creative. But I can assure you, they are all delicious, easy and on-the-fly. That my friend, is real life. Because we can look at pretty Pinterest pictures all day long, but all we really need to start this healthy life or foster one is realistic and attainable ways to do this.
So here’s to crushing the meal prep this weekend.
Remember just one chicken, shredded with six different possibilities. Not to mention again, it’s a total perk and very realistic to pack them all up into these individual containers for grab-and-go meals. You’ve made it, why not take the extra step?’
What do you think? Do you want more posts like this? One food, item or idea shown in multiple ways? Leave a comment below and let me know what you’d like to see next.
Because to me this is my real life and why not share it?!
If you need more help with planning meals, life, and really just getting a jump start on true and lasting health. THIS is the tool you NEED! It seriously has changed how I do life, meals and live more freely. 
