Kitchen Hero Lucie would cook every single night, and eventually, she began falling into the dreaded dinner rut. Making and eating the same meals got boring and uninspiring. But as Lucie says, food is something that should add joy, rather than stress. And as someone who loved to cook and share homemade meals with her loved ones, this Kitchen Hero found a way to add more variety and deliciousness to her dinner routine, so she could live a more stress-free life in the kitchen. Read Lucie’s Hero in the Kitchen story below to see how she does it!
Name: Lucie Bouchard Antoniazzi
Age: 52
City, State: Laval, Quebec, Canada
I cook for: my family so that we can have enjoyable family time around the dinner table.
Outside of the kitchen I: am an engineer for a software development company where I create the technical content required in the training programs to teach how to use the software.
My favorite cuisine is: I like a lot of different cuisines, but I guess if I had to pick just one, it would be Mediterranean (Italian / Greek).
I cook because: well, we have to eat, but also because I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, and especially sharing home cooked meals with family and friends.
Favorite Cook Smarts meal so far: There are actually two that really stand out for me – 1) Black Bean & Spinach Skillet Enchiladas and 2) Teriyaki Meatballs.
HOW DID YOU LEARN TO COOK?
I mainly learned by watching my mom. I used to hang around the kitchen when she cooked and baked. She was not very keen on letting us help much in the kitchen, but we learned by watching and trying on our own when we grew older.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST COOKING CHALLENGE?
I have always loved to cook, but after years of cooking every single night, I would get periods where I had no inspiration and felt like we were always eating the same boring meals.That was a challenge because boring meals are never very inviting.
I also have a lot of food allergies, so substituting alternative ingredients to get the flavours just right was a challenge too, for a while.
How has your cooking routine changed since starting Cook Smarts’ meal plans?
As far as the cooking routine, I definitely try to prep more things in advance, especially if the meal consists of chopping several veggies. I have also started using the grocery list and sticking to it, so we have been saving money and wasting less food.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST KITCHEN MOMENT.
I would have to say that my proudest kitchen moment was successfully making a gluten-free cake that no one could tell was gluten-free.
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR HEALTH AND SUCCESS IN THE KITCHEN?
Tips for health: get a good variety of fresh veggies and fruit in your diet. Eat lean meats and fish and avoid deep frying; opt for grilling, baking or pan searing.
Success in the kitchen: Make foods from the categories that you love most and that are not so complicated that you become overwhelmed. Food is there to add enjoyment to life, not stress.
What great tips, Lucie! It truly is important to always eat what you love and keep things simple. That might seem obvious, but folks do forget every now and then. Thank you for the reminder to enjoy food and cooking more, and also for sharing your story with us and our community. We’re happy to hear that you are overcoming your cooking challenges and making mealtimes a success for you and your family!
To join Lucie and cook meals like her favorite Black Bean & Spinach Skillet Enchiladas and Teriyaki Meatballs, check out our meal plan service. You can get started for free!
