It’s Monday, May 11th and after 51 days off I am finally getting to go back to work. IF I can zip my pants, that is. Home quarantine has been filled with an endless supply of banana bread, cake, cookies, chips… the list goes on and on. I have been living in perpetual Friday night mode. Wine on a Tuesday? Bring it on! I don’t have to get up in the morning. I even bought the 2 pound bag of chocolate chips, for “baking projects.” Then there’s all the delectable foods like tacos, cheesy pasta, home made french bread and Parmesan focaccia bread. Have I mentioned I ate my body weight in cheese yet?

Enough is enough! Today I enter into quarantine-binge-eating-rehab. Today is a new beginning. A day of getting back into a routine that does not include ice cream and Netflix. Summer is only a month away and I am way behind in my healthy body journey. It starts now. I got this!

To begin my binge-eating-rehab program I’m going to cook a batch of one of my go-to meals. It is easy, filling and oh so yummy!

This is a great recipe to make on a weeknight when you want to get in some exercise. It’s really helpful if you have a teenager but not necessary 🙂 More to follow on that. You also want to make enough to take to work the next day.

8-10 red potatoes quartered skin on

1 large sweet onion cut in big pieces

2 zucchini halved and cut in large pieces (3/4 inch)

1/2 bag baby carrots or 3 regular carrots cut in chunks

3 cloves garlic smashed and coarsely chopped

1 can diced tomatoes any style

2 ounces feta cheese crumbled (or more to taste)

olive oil

salt and pepper

chili flake (optional-I like it hot!)

Preheat oven to 400. Combine the first five ingredients in a large bowl. Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper and chili flake. Toss well. Add the tomatoes. Pour in an oven safe glass dish and put in oven. Set timer for an hour. You can now go for a walk or run! (just don’t be late getting back) If you have a kid old enough at home, set timer for 30 min. and instruct child to stir veggies when timer goes off then reset for another half hour and turn oven off when that timer goes off. My 12 year old does this for me. When you get home add the feta cheese, stir and enjoy! I usually serve with a salad.