28 Aug Inside the Fridge Welcomes Healthy Leftover Queen Mindy Nichols

Mindy Nichols, has enjoyed a career that spans the registered dietitian, health and wellness coach, nutrition instructor, and diabetes educator, gardener & cook.  Mindy believes that food is an important tool to health and  in 2007, joined the e-health movement, which developed KickStarter60.com, a tool to help people to make better and more permanent changes towards a healthy diet plan with consistent support. Mindy is the founder of Healthy You, an independent Nationally Recognized Diabetes Education Program certified through AADE.  Connect with Mindy through Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and KickStarter60.com.

Where do you shop for food?

I plan a weekly fruit & vegetable trip to a local stand.  I also use 2 local grocery stores.  One I use for organic dairy & yogurt, another for bulk staples.  Once every 2 weeks I go to a very special Mediterranean import store in Seattle, called PFI, for bulk grains, beans, flours & very fresh herbs.  If a  Trader Joes was closer, I would go more than once every 3 months.  

Do you love food shopping or dread it?

I really consider it an adventure.  In every country and city I go to at least 3 grocery stores.  It is my  favorite way to research local food & culture.

How many do you shop for?

Just one.  Ages?  Not sayin’!

What is your weekly food budget?

For myself, $60.00 because I really like good coffee!

How many times a week do you eat out?

 2/21, and usually it is happy hour, food on the road, or dinner with friends. (based on 21 meals/week)

How do you plan your weekly meals?

Create a spreadsheet or fly by the seat of your pants? I go with the freshest & easiest.  I enjoy simple meals created from my well-stocked refrigerator, freezer & pantry.

What is the oldest item in the fridge right now?

Sriracha sauce, a little goes a long way & I use so many other herbs & spices.

Do you believe in leftovers?

Absolutely, it is the best way to stay healthy, wealthy & out of the kitchen!

What brands do you swear by? Why?

Cascade yogurt because I like to support local products.  

What cooking utensil/piece of equipment/appliance do you live for?

Cast-iron.  I have 4 cast-iron pans that are very old and oiled.  I recently bought one that I am learning how to bake Tartine bread.  I really like the food processor, blender, Kitchen-Aid,  Champion juicer and Braun coffee-grinder.  In fact, I have 2 Braun grinders:  one for coffee and another for everything else.  I will take granola and grind fine to add to cookies & add to bread.

When you hear the word “homemade” what is the first thing that comes to mind? 

Vegetable burgers.  I make a batch every 2 weeks to keep in freezer for fast food.

What food/s are important when recalling food memories?

Macaroni & Cheese.  I will never make it like my mom!  I use real everything!  I will only make it when I have lots of people to share with, the temptation is too strong to eat at every meal.

How have your cooking/shopping habits changed over the last 10 years? 

I have fine tuned healthy fast food to a tee!  I have tamed my “I have to try that technique”, which usually is too time consuming.

What are your go-to food/nutrition/culinary/cooking website/s, book or cookbook? 

Cooks Magazine,  of course.  My deep secret is that I still love Martha Stewart & try to channel her.  I adore my Mark Bittman books. They are the best resource.

What was the last meal you cooked from scratch? 

Saturday night at 5,400 feet in a Cascade Mountain campground I made an après-climbing dinner which was Lentil soup, caste-iron bread, and grilled fresh Yakima peaches.  Tonight at home, I made roasted carrots & massaged kale with Kokanee Salmon cooked on the grill.

What was the last meal you cooked from convenience products? 

Costco’s Quinoa & Brown Rice Gratin.  Added onions, broccoli to make it greener.

If one person could cook for you tonight, who would it be?

Alice Waters

What words of wisdom or advice do you have for other folks who are doing their best every day to fill the fridge?

Buy flavor.  Keep grab foods to a minimum, as it is too easy to walk by and grab a hunk of cheese as a habit.

What are you working on these days that you’d like to tell us about?

I am excited to share KickStarter60.com.  Everyone can learn about heart healthy eating for weight loss right in their own home from a nutrition scientist.  Based on the DASH diet, this 60 day subscription provides 8 weeks of menus at a weight loss calorie level, with grocery lists and recipes.  The best part is the daily short emails that help subscribers understand nutrition, health and their current eating habits.  It is such an exciting way for people to learn real nutrition.  

Anything else?

I am on an organic gardening and pickling phase!

Thanks Mindy! 

If you would like to be featured on Inside the Fridge, please email RobinsBite Intern Jaime Ruisi– Jaime@robinplotkin.com