Busy schedules tend to get the better of us. I know for a fact that the busier I am, the less likely I am to make healthy choices versus easy grab and go choices. That is why I have adopted the habit of meal planning and food prep into my weekly routine. I truly believe that if eating healthy is my goal, then I must set aside time each week to ensure that eating healthy happens. In my household there are just two of us. I work a typical 8-5 schedule, but my Fiancé works the night shift. This makes meal planning essential to our everyday life because we do not have time to cook a full meal between the time that I get home from work, and the time he leaves for work.
Many people that I talk to deal with this same struggle, whether it is having an opposite schedule as your spouse, or even the daily tasks that must be accomplished such as taking the kids to their practices/games/activities, we all must make the effort if we want to accomplish our goals.
Here is my plan of action for meal planning:
- On Sundays (the day I grocery shop), I sit down and pull out cook books, check my Pinterest page, and read through blogs to find ideas of recipes that I might like to try. From there I compile a list of what I would like for dinner each day. I typically try to make one new thing a week and stick to old favorites the rest of the days.
- Next, I write down breakfast options and lunch options that I would like to have on hand.
- I then go to my kitchen with my recipes in hand, and check through my refrigerator and cupboards to find out what I will need that week. I compile a list for grocery shopping and try to stick to it as much as possible.
- When I get home from grocery shopping is when the real fun begins. I prep food for the week! I may be the only weird one who enjoys chopping vegetables and fruit, but I LOVE it! It’s therapeutic, and I know by accomplishing that task, I have helped myself inch one step closer to my goals! I also make sure to leave meat in the fridge that I will be using within the next day or two, and I freeze anything that I don’t need immediately.
That’s it!! Easy, quick and simple! Start small, with recipes you are familiar with. Get into a routine of meal planning and food prep. Once it has become more of a habit, start to branch out and try things you have never made before!
Here is my dinner menu for this week!
Sunday - Black Bean Quinoa Burgers and Salad - Recipe Here
Monday - Taco Salad
Tuesday - Homemade Chicken nuggets with steamed Zucchini and Onions and Homemade Mashed potatoes
Wednesday - Greek Style Gyro Burgers and Salad - Recipe Here
Thursday - Crock Pot Steak Carnitas ßQuick and easy since we will be on the run tonight! Recipe Here
Friday- Homemade Pesto Pizza Recipe Here