Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Tacos

There is a line from an episode of Friends that has stuck with me for years. Someone was asking Phoebe to do something, and though that is as specific as I can get with this memory of mine, the part that stuck was her response. She said, "Oh I wish I could. But, I don't want to." It's a line that, as you can probably see, could come in handy.

I think of that line sometimes as an introvert because I wish I could attend your very cool party, but, I don't want to. I think of that line sometimes as an obliger because I often feel compelled to say yes when people are asking me to do, well, just about anything to help them out and I imagine, especially when I already feel overwhelmed with my responsibilities, how incredibly freeing it would be to unleash my inner Phoebe and say without a hint of guile, Oh I wish I could. But, I don't want to.

Sometimes I even like to use Phoebe's line on my self. Like when I know I should exercise and some better version of myself is really talking up a jog or a power hour of yoga. And I think about it, I really do. But, it turns out that as much as I wish I could . . . I don't want to.

At least that is normally how a let's exercise talk with myself goes. I recently had a bit of a breakthrough and I've put my Phoebe line on hold. 

At the risk of jinxing myself, I am happy to announce that for almost a month, I have engaged in a legitimate exercise-like activity at least four days a week. How's that lazy bones! There are a few things that have helped me get started exercising again and helped me stick with the exercise:

• I read Gretchen Rubin's new book about habits, Better Than Before, and while I was already a huge Gretchen fan, now I am a super fan. It's a really fantastic book. And I'd like to write a proper review of it at another time, but I will say that the strategies in the book (especially her strategy of loopholes . . . which is what my little Phoebe line is as it turns out) have been of great use to me and I feel empowered having read it.
• I got the UP Move by Jawbone. The part of me that is totally obsessed with lists and charts and the documenting of minutia absolutely adores this little gadget. It definitely is keeping me moving. Tracking my sleep has been fun too!
• I had a bit of revelation and discovered that I don't hate all forms of exercise. In fact, if I head out for a brisk walk and don't call it exercise, I almost enjoy myself - even when I sometimes find myself jogging just a little bit.
• And last, but certainly not least, I am more than tired of wearing the same thing every day. I can't fit back into my pre-pregnancy clothes and I don't want to give in and buy more (nor is that really financially reasonable at this point). The black dress that has become my post pregnancy wardrobe workhorse is looking haggard, which is almost reason enough to make some changes.

So, to use a little more Gretchen language, I'm giving myself a gold star. I'm also giving myself more of these Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Tacos. They are simple, fresh, and delcious, clean eating at its best. The thai flavors cook into the meat and create a perfect, spicy sauce for the tacos. Pair it with fresh veggies for some crunch and you've got yourself a really tasty meal. You can even skip the corn tortillas and serve it lettuce wrap style for an even lower carb dish if you'd like. It's the perfect kind of dinner for an exercise day - healthy, filling, and kind of a gold star of its own.

Yield: 4 to 6

Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Tacos

Print

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 7 hours

Total Time 7 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 (5 oz) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup broth
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice, divided
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon tamari
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon red curry paste
• 3 tablespoons honey, divided
• 1 ½ tablespoons coconut flour
• ½ cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced
• ⅓ cup chopped red onion
• ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 2 cups shredded red cabbage
• corn tortillas, warmed, or lettuce wraps

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in a slow cooker. In a blender, combine broth, garlic, 1 tablespoon lime juice, peanut butter, tamari, ginger, curry paste, and half of the honey. Blend until smooth then pour over the top of the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and very tender.
2. Remove cooked chicken breasts and place on a cutting board. Cool slightly. While the chicken is cooling, remove ½ cup of the sauce in the slow cooker and transfer to a small bowl. Whisk in the coconut flour then return mixture to the slow cooker. Increase heat to high and stir until well combined then cover.
3. Shred the cooked chicken with 2 forks then return it to the slow cooker. Stir to thoroughly coat with the sauce mixture. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the mint, cucumber, tomatoes, and onion. Stir in the vinegar and remaining honey.
5. To assemble, spoon cabbage, then chicken onto tortillas (or into lettuce wraps). Top with the tomato mixture and serve.

Notes

Adapted from Clean Eating