I was really torn this month on what to share in this blog. Of course I will always promote FIT4MOM classes and upcoming sessions – they have done so much for me and the whole beautiful community we have here at FIT4MOM DuPage. Instead I want to remind everyone to do something you love. We see it all the time - you can’t pour from an empty cup. But in the larger picture, doing something you love can benefit those around you too.
Something I’ve grown to love doing is cooking. If you knew me in my 20s, this was not something I enjoyed doing and definitely wasn’t something I was good at. As I found myself, my love for balanced life and enjoyable meals that are mostly guilt free, I really turn to the kitchen for so much. Comfort food exists for a reason! But as we are in the midst of sniffle season, cold and flu creeping up on us, and we want healthier dinners our children will also eat, I wanted to share a go-to in my home: spaghetti! But hear me out - make your own veggie based sauce.
- Sauce:
- 2 zucchini - chopped
- 1 yellow squash - chopped
- 4-5 tomatoes - quartered
- 1 onion - coarsely chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 1 ½ cup vegetable stock
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire
- Salt, pepper, italian seasoning
Heat oil over medium heat (use a deep pan or dutch oven). Add onions and garlic and cook for a few minutes until fragrant. Add in zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and seasonings of choice. I use salt, pepper and italian seasoning, but you can do this whichever way you want.
Once the vegetables are beginning to soften, add the vegetable stock. You can use chicken stock or your broth of choice. Vegetables should be about half covered with liquid. Cover and let this simmer for about 10 - 15 minutes until everything is soft.
Once it is cooked use an immersion blender (you can transfer to a regular blender if you don’t have one) and puree the veggies together. Once mostly smooth add in the Worcestershire and any additional seasonings to taste and blend again. Put this on a low simmer for 5-10 minutes.
I often add cooked ground turkey and broccoli florets into the sauces as well for some extra protein and veggies.
Your sauce is done! Vegetable-packed and ready to go over some noodles (I use Barilla protein+, but have also used chicken pea noodles as well) and top with whatever you like!
Last night we had this sauce with protein noodles, ground turkey, broccoli, and topped with chopped green onions, parsley and a sprinkle of parmesan.
I hope you can find this easy enough to make. My whole family enjoys this, the kids ask for seconds and have it packed in their school lunches the next day, and it's a warm comforting food in these colder months. Most importantly, I hope you can take time in this chaotic season to do something you love. Take the moment for you mama. Share what you love with others if it makes you happy.
Congratulations on making it through another year! I wish you all the happiest of holidays and a healthy and prosperous new year. I’ll see you in 2026!