ITF: Where do you shop for food?

AL: Market Street, Target and Kroger typically.  I love weekend trips to the Dallas Farmers Market when able.

ITF: Do you love food shopping or dread it?

AL: I love to shop when I am without the kids!  Yes, part of that is having time to myself. 😉  But also, I really like to be in the grocery store and see what’s out there to buy.

ITF: What is the single most important thing on your mind when you are shopping for food?

AL: Nutrient-rich selections.

ITF: How often do you shop?

AL: Usually once per week, but sometimes a quick trip mid-week is in order.

ITF: How many do you shop for? Ages?

AL: Four.  My husband, myself and my two children.  Hannah is 8 years old and Evan is 5 years old.

ITF: What is your weekly food budget?

AL: Honestly, I don’t put a budget on groceries.  I do price compare brands I like at different stores, but I do not compromise my selections because of price.  It’s true what they say, and most every time true with food – you get what you pay for.

ITF: How many times a week do you eat out? (based on 21 meals/week)

AL: A typical week is one or two times per week – one dinner meal and a lunch.  But life happens, and there are some weeks we eat out more.  But we always eat as a family.

ITF: How do you plan your weekly meals? Create a spreadsheet of fly by the seat of your pants?

AL: Often times I use my own Eat with Angela dinner recipe database that I rolled out last year.  It provides 7 healthy recipes along with a shopping list.  If I don’t use that then I created a planner that allows me to fill in the blanks for dinner meals, lunch foods and even plan in those meals you know you’ll be eating outside the home.

ITF: What is the most coveted food in the fridge right now for each member of the household? Why?

AL: My kids love mixed berries with whipped cream, and the strawberries we have in the fridge are very ripe.  So, I guess I would say that and the French vanilla ice cream that’s still in the freezer from the Thanksgiving luncheon I hosted.

ITF: Do you believe in leftovers?

AL: Absolutely!!  We love to do leftovers or create what I call “chameleo-meals” with leftover meats or side dishes. We also eat leftovers a lot for lunch the next day, which is super convenient.

ITF: What convenience product can you not live without?

AL: I love prewashed fruits and veggies.  I buy the mixed veggies in a bag and dump them on a plate for a quick veggie tray.  I have it in my fridge right now!

ITF: What brands do you swear by? Why?

AL: I love brands that are committed to providing wholesome products.  You know, those products where you look on the ingredients list and recognize everything listed.  A couple examples currently in my fridge are Sabra, Wholly Guacamole and Chobani.

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

AL: I love my potato ricer!  It makes making homemade mashed potatoes super easy.

ITF: What food/s are important when recalling food memories?

AL: I was raised in a very Italian household where my mom cooked all the time, and we ate a good variety of foods. Feeding a family with 6 children, my working mother committed to wholesome eating and was successful by proper planning.  She actually posted a menu every week on the fridge so we knew what we were having.  Many wonderful memories were created around our family dinner table.  And lots of laughter!

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

AL: Each year, I get more comfortable to try making new things.  (I am typically not a baker, and I made a wonderful apple tarte recently!)  Before we had kids, I gravitated toward recipes that had longer ingredient lists.  Now I gravitate toward shorter ingredient lists!  But on weekends and holidays, I like to really experiment with food.  My kids love to help, so I really make a point of enjoying the process with them on the weekends.

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

AL: There is no one location I go to for good recipes.  Often times I will see a recipe on the web and it will inspire me to make something similar.  But rarely do I follow a recipe exactly!  I’ll look at a recipe and I’ll think, “Hmm…you know what would really make this taste better?”  And then I’ll add it, or I’ll even remove something I don’t like.  I love to play with flavors.

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from scratch?

AL: Marinated pork loin, homemade mashed potatoes, salad and steamed veggies.

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from convenience products?

AL: We had canned soup and bagged salad last night for dinner.  I got home later than expected.

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

AL: My husband!  A meal cooked by those you love is so special.  He makes wonderful chicken enchiladas!

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

AL: I love the psychology of eating, especially when it comes to raising children that love good food.  So I fill my fridge in a way that displays the “always” foods.  The crispers aren’t doing you any favors if you forget those produce items are in there!  Instead, put the fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy on a shelf where they are in plain sight.  Put the meats, eggs and other items in the crispers.  That’s what I do!  And my kids grab those always foods for snacks.  They’re fast and ready to eat.

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

AL: Like I had mentioned earlier, I have a wonderfully practical dinner recipe subscription that families can purchase, that does all the planning for you every week.  It’s called “Eat with Angela.”  You get 7 dietitian-created recipes that can be customized to fit your family’s needs.  All are super healthy, 30 minutes or less to prepare and it comes with a shopping list.  Click here for more info.

2. We also just put together some great packages that people can give to other people for the holidays as gifts.  Give the gift of health this holiday season!  Check out my website for details.

ITF: Anything else?

AL: I just want to encourage families not to over complicate healthy eating.  I was raised by a working mother and I am a working mother myself.  With proper and practical planning, you can feeds your family very well.  Model the food behaviors you want your children to follow.  Fill your home with wholesome foods and your children will eat them.

Thank you Angela!

If you’re interested in participating in Inside the Fridge, please email intern Leah at Leah@robinplotkin.com.