Meet Laura

On May 16, 2015 by Kim

We were so inspired by Laura, an OAMM member who shared with us that she uses freezer cooking so that she can have healthy meals despite severe physical limitations due to illness. We’d love for you to meet her and hear her story!

How long have you been once a month cooking?

I started in November of 2014.

What circumstance pushed you to give once a month cooking a try?

Five years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a spinal cord disorder, and a bladder disease. I eventually had to leave my job teaching 2nd grade due to the many treatments, surgeries, and constant chronic pain. Now I’m mostly bedridden. Before the pain, I prepared all of my own meals and ate healthy, organic low-carb vegetarian meals. After the pain and the subsequent surgeries, I could no longer stand in the kitchen long enough to prepare one meal, let alone three per day. I gained 50 pounds and ate whatever I didn’t have to prepare – mostly heavily processed foods without very much nutritional value. I tried various things over the years, but again and again I ran into the problem of not being able to prepare food for myself on a daily basis. I thought about doing some sort of food delivery service, but as a 15-year vegetarian, there just weren’t any great options for me. I saw multiple nutritionists but never really found a good answer. Finally a friend suggested Once a Month Meals. I spent a considerable amount of time looking around the site, reading the suggested materials, and checking out recipes. The long cook day intimidated me, but when my mother told me she would make the 2 hour trip to where I live to help me on cook days, I knew I could do it, and I’m so glad I did!

How has choosing to OAMC benefited you and your family?

For the first time in five years I felt like I was eating well, and that is such an amazing feeling! It has cut our grocery bill by more than half, and I’ve lost almost 15 pounds. Plus, I’ve found the recipes often last me 5-6 weeks.

What is your favorite OAMM recipe?

I love the Vegetarian Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells by Regan. I’ve already made them twice!

Give us a brief introduction to your kitchen.

I would say I have a medium-sized kitchen with the standard appliances and a fair amount of counter space. I’ve also cooked at my mother’s house, and she has a very large kitchen with a lovely open range cook top and a spacious island.

What is the number one tip that you would give a first timer?

Read as much as you can! The website has so many great tips, tricks, and time-savers. I also read through all of the older menus and created a list on my computer of recipes I’d like to try. When I actually make a recipe I go back and add notes or additional instructions. I also recommend the Pro Membership because I love the menu swapper!

Tell us about a time when you experienced and OAMC or a cooking fail.

I’ve adapted several recipes from the non-vegetarian menus by using Quorn, Lightlife, or Gardein (vegan meat-free alternatives). Sometimes they turn out great and sometimes the substitution doesn’t quite work. I try not to get discouraged. Whether you’re substituting or not, sometimes recipes just don’t work out or they don’t taste the way you thought they would.

Do you involve other people when you OAMC?

Yes, my awesome mother! Either she’ll come to me or I’ll go to her, but either way we do it together. It makes it so much easier with another person.

How is OAMC hard? How does it make your life easy?

For me personally, the long cook day is physically very challenging. I’m always in more pain by the end, and I typically have to sleep for about 3 days following, but it is so worth it. Honestly, it doesn’t just make my life easier, it makes my life better. I struggled for five years to find a way to balance nutrition with my physical limitations, and I’ve finally found it. When I have bad days, I can quickly throw something in the oven and in just a few minutes I have a delicious, healthy home-cooked meal!