Meal Prep for the Win!
Are you Meal Prepping weekly? Here are some tips to get you started.
Plan a Menu
Sit down on the weekend and plan the menu for the week. Think about what foods you and your family like to eat. Talk to your family and ask them what they think would be good this week. It can be a fun thing to do as a family and bounce ideas back and forth. This way everyone has a say in it and can’t complain.
Go Shopping
After you have your menu go grocery shopping. Buy the necessary ingredients to make all your meals and snacks for the week. This can be a very educational time if you decide to bring your children along. If they grow up watching you shop in the produce, meat and dairy aisles avoiding the processed junk in the middle of the store they will learn that’s how you’re supposed to do it.
I worked at a grocery store for 2 years in college. It was very interesting watching what people would buy and where they would spend the bulk of the time in the store. I can tell you without a doubt the people who shopped in the fresh food sections were in much better health than the people who shopped in the processed and premade food sections. Unfortunately, most of the time their children were already overweight and will have to figure out why for themselves later in life. Not a good start.
Bulk Cook and Chop
After you have your menu and ingredients it’s time to precook protein and chop fruits and vegetables. Bulk cook your protein and portion it out for the week. Take the time to chop your fruits and vegetables. Measure the portions and add them to the containers.
Now you have your lunches and dinners done for the most part. If you want to cook a starch and add them go ahead. Most starches cook fast and are easy to heat up. Potatoes take a bit longer to cook so you might want to cook them on the weekend along with your protein.
Cooking Methods
I prefer to grill my protein on Sunday for the week. The grill has a lot of room and is easy to regulate temperature and get a nice sear. The fat can drip off the meat to the bottom and there is no oil being absorbed during the cooking process unless you add them.
A great tool for a busy work week is an instant pot or a crock pot. Add your ingredients in the morning before work. Set the temperature and time. When you come home from work the food will be done. There are a lot of healthy recipes out there, give them a try. You easily just saved yourself an hour by not having to cook after work. NO STRESS!
Baking in the oven is ok. It doesn’t add as much flavor as a grill but does a good job. Try to avoid cooking methods that involve adding a lot of oil. Cooking on the stove is fine just watch the oil. Frying foods in oil may be delicious but isn’t great from a nutritional standpoint, best to avoid if possible.
Time
We are all busy. Between work, kids, school, and activities we simply don’t have the time to cook healthy and delicious meals daily. Meal Prepping is the answer to this problem. If you plan ahead, you will succeed. By meal prepping ahead of time you will free up hours during the week to relax at the end of the day. You will have more time to enjoy with your family and friends. The main thing is less STRESS! No more worrying about what to make, it’s already done!
Commit to meal prepping for a month and see how it goes. Let me know the results. It’s been a tremendous help for my family and many of the clients I work with. Reducing stress during the work week is invaluable. Coming home to healthy, delicious food that is already cooked is a wonderful feeling. The whole family will benefit. I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes for you.
You can do this! Yes, it’s going to take some work. But everything in life takes work. Landing a successful job, being healthy, having a happy marriage, raising children, all take work. Just apply that same mindset to taking care of yourself. You are worth it! Everyone deserves to be comfortable in their own skin and to be proud of themselves on the inside and the outside.
If you need help setting up a program to become healthier, please contact me. I would love to help guide you on this journey. I really enjoy helping people feel better and become healthy. It makes a huge difference in your life if you have energy and feel good. I offer a variety of services that will help you achieve your goals.
In Good Health,
James
You can do this! We’re stronger together!