My husband recently went on a two-week long business trip and while there are many downsides to such a situation (we just moved into our new house weeks ago … and I’m 6 months pregnant!), there are also a few upsides. For example, when planning dinners, I realized that I included healthy ingredients on the menu that I normally would not serve due to my husband’s taste preferences. My husband hates tomatoes and slimy foods, so on the menu was a tomato and okra succotash. And it was delicious!
That said, I never have a problem serving my husband nutrient-rich dairy foods. He loves creamy soups, cheesy enchiladas and tangy Greek yogurt-based dips. So, I got to thinking—what if I combined the dairy foods that he loves with other healthy foods that aren’t his favorite? And thus, The Husband Experiment began!
I decided to tackle barley. He claims to hate it because of the texture and a horrific beef & barley soup experience when he was younger. But as a registered dietitian, I love everything about barley. It is a whole grain, contains a slew of vitamins and minerals, and is a great source of soluble fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol levels and fight heart disease.
My game plan was to make barley in a form that I know he loves—mac & cheese. I did this by taking my favorite homemade macaroni & cheese recipe made with low-fat milk and reduced-fat cheese and then substituted the macaroni with barley.
The result? A success! My husband said that he would absolutely eat the dish again and actually liked the barley in it. My experiments proves that pairing nutritious and delicious dairy foods with other healthy foods can help to boost the nutrition of the meal… and help wives include healthy foods in their husband’s diets!
Lanier Dabruzzi, MS, RD, LD
