Many people have a desire to eat healthily but end up choosing something quick and convenient when pressed for time. This common problem is what inspired Brandy Skelton to open her business, Busy Bee Real Meals. “As a mom of small children, I learned how challenging it can be to feed a family week in and week out,” concedes Brandy.
In operation since 2016, Busy Bee Real Meals is a refreshing alternative to fast food, providing balanced, healthy meals for busy people. There is never a minimum order required. Simply view the menu posted on their Facebook page on Monday, fill out the Google form and your meal will be ready for pick up or delivery the following Thursday. Meals are prepared to last for about a week.
Brandy’s tips for healthy food choices:
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Find a few simple fruits and veggies you like and can eat every day and add one fruit and one veggie to breakfast and lunch.
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Identify the one problem area in your day, and if nothing else, meal prep for that. If you tend to grab something high in sugar when you get your coffee, be prepared with a fruit and yogurt parfait, a protein bar, or a simple egg bake.
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Eat your leftovers! It may not be exciting, but eating your leftovers will not only help control portion size but also keep you from ordering fast food.
Try your hand in the kitchen with these simple, yet satisfying healthy recipes from Brandy.
'Big Mac' Cauliflower Rice Bowl
Yields 4 servings
Chef’s Notes: By swapping out cauliflower rice for a bun, the meal is still filling but so much healthier than its fast food namesake. By making it from scratch, there is also less sodium, processed ingredients, preservatives and chemicals.
Ingredients
6 cups cauliflower rice, frozen
1 tablespoon olive oil
Burger Mix
1 lb. lean ground beef
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ketchup
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon coconut aminos
‘Big Mac’ Sauce
1 cup high-quality mayonnaise
¼ cup chopped dill pickle or pickle relish
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup yellow mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
Garnish
¼ cup tomato, diced
1 tablespoon onion, diced
¼ cup shredded cheddar
¼ cup dill pickle slices
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with foil. Spread the cauliflower rice on the foil, drizzle with olive oil and shake the pan gently to distribute. Roast cauliflower rice for 15-20 minutes until golden.
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While the cauliflower rice is roasting, prepare your burger mix. Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef. Remove from heat and drain off any fat. Add dry seasonings and wet ingredients listed under ‘Burger Mix’; stir to combine and set aside.
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In a small bowl, mix all ingredients for the ‘Big Mac’ Sauce and whisk to combine.
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Divide the cauliflower rice into 4 bowls or meal prep containers with 3/4-1 cup per person. Top each serving of cauliflower rice with 1/2 cup of ground beef. Add garnish and drizzle with ‘Big Mac’ Sauce.
Cranberry Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
Yields 6 servings
Chef’s Notes: Our biggest change to classic chicken salad is substituting part of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt. It provides creaminess without the added fat and calories and adds protein. To further lower calories, top sliced cucumber or lettuce with the chicken salad instead of bread.
Ingredients
1 lb. chicken breast, diced (rotisserie chicken works great)
1 cup celery, diced
¼ cup red onion, diced
1 large apple, diced (Honeycrisp and fuji are our favorites to use)
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
½ cup high-quality mayonnaise
1-2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine all ingredients until mixed and coated with Greek yogurt and mayonnaise.
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Portion out into individual containers or cover the bowl and refrigerate the entire batch. Best if used within 5-7 days.
Look for Busy Bee Real Meals’ new storefront coming to downtown Springboro in early 2023 and for more information, visit BusyBeeRealMeals.com.
