Slim Stir Fry

This time next week I will be on a beach in Aruba!  Now, now, don't be jealous....

This means I have only two considerations when planning my meals for the next week.  First, my meals need to be inexpensive because I'm saving all my money to spend at the spa.  Secondly, they have to be light and healthy because my winter body needs to be in a bikini in less than one week. That is why I am making a slim stir fry.  This dish has lots of healthy veggies, organic tofu and low-sodium soy sauce so I don't bloat like a tick.  Low-sodium soy sauce is great because you can add extra flavor without it being too salty.  If you don't have low-sodium soy sauce simply dilute regular soy sauce with water.  This is also an ideal dish for anyone celebrating Lent and looking for a tasty meatless option on Fridays.  I make a large portion and eat it for multiple meals over the week.

Slim Stir Fry

1 small onion, diced
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 pound sugar snap peas
3-5 carrots, thinly sliced (you can do this by hand, use a mandolin or buy shredded carrots)
1 pack organic extra firm tofu
1 pack white button mushrooms
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
extra virgin olive oil
salt

Drizzle extra virgin olive oil in to a wok and heat over medium.  Dice the onion and saute until translucent.  Add the minced garlic, sugar snap peas and carrots and saute gently for about 5 minutes.  In a separate pan, spray cooking spray and heat to high.  Rinse and dry the tofu and cut into cubes about 1/2-1 inch large.  Place in the pan, turning every 2-3 minutes until the tofu is golden brown and slightly crispy on all sides.  Add the mushrooms and the soy sauce to the veggie mixture and saute. Finally, add the tofu and allow the flavors to blend for 3-5 minutes.  Serve over steamed brown rice and enjoy :)

What makes this bite better?
Carrots and onions are some of the most inexpensive vegetables you can buy. They make great bases for dishes, especially when you are on a budget.  Also, organic tofu is one of the least expensive sources of organic protein.  Whenever you are on a budget but want to reap maximum health benefits, remember two guidelines.  First, prioritize the 3 components for a balanced meal- healthy protein, veggies and whole grains. Second- have a variety of colors!  So what if you can't afford 15 varieties of mushrooms.  Try to get as much variety as you can while staying in your budget and keeping your meals balanced.