I have always known somewhere inside that I would save a lot of time by prepping food for the week ahead of time but I just couldn't make myself do it. I usually have something better/more relaxing to do when I get home from grocery shopping. Last week however I overcame my desire to do nothing and managed to prepare some things. There are so many benefits to taking a little bit of time on a Sunday afternoon (or whenever you do your grocery shopping) and making a plan for the coming days. Here are a few reasons I will continue to take the time to prepare:
- I eat healthier/more veggies - do you ever feel like you are in a rut- constantly eating food that isn't good for you because you don't have the energy / time to make something else? Chopping fresh fruit and veggies as soon as you get home from shopping provides a quick and easy snack for times when you are hungry but don't want to cook
- Save time on weekday nights - I don't know about you but the last thing I want to do on a weekday night after we get Lewis down for bed and finish eating dinner is think about making lunches for the next day. Making a giant bowl of salad / grilling protein at the beginning of the week solves this problem
- Learn a lesson in organization - being organized is a discipline that you really have to work at. For me it is mostly a mental battle. I can talk myself out of doing something that will lead to a more organized life in no time at all, simply because doing nothing is, in the moment, easier. Sacrificing some of my time to provide healthy and abundant breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks for the family is well worth the effort and teaches me the valuable lesson about how personal organization can lead to serving others.
Here are a few ideas of how you can prepare food at the beginning of the week so that you can save time and eat healthy during the hustle and bustle of everyday life:
- Make a big salad - romaine, baby spinach, kale, and swiss chard for every day lunches - I wash and dry all of the greens I want to use and store them in a very large bowl in the fridge. The hubbs is able to throw several handfuls into his own tupperware in the morning before work. Using pre washed salad mix makes this process even easier
- Chop and mix salad toppings - I like to dice a bell pepper, some cucumbers, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, etc and store them all in a small bowl on top of the lettuce in the fridge
- Grill/prep your protein - grill chicken breasts, make some burgers, or throw together some meatballs for easy salad toppers throughout the week.
- Roast your heart out - roasting veggies is super simple and a delicious way to prepare a side for lunch or dinner. Simply choose your veggies (carrots, broccoli, parsnip, acorn/butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini) chop, drizzle with olive oil and salt & pepper and stick in the oven at 375 until they reach their desired done-ness.
- Bake some sweets - not real sweets but sweet potatoes. They are good for you, delicious, and filling. Bake several to have on hand for lunches, dinners, or a quick snack. Tip: they taste delicious with almond butter!
- Eggs - I think I eat eggs every day. If you are a busy person and don't have time to cook eggs on the stove top in the morning I recommend boiling some or making some egg muffins for a quick grab n go breakfast.
- Have snacks handy - I'm a total snack fanatic. If I don't have healthy snacks on hand / in my belly I will resort to eating ungodly amounts of peanut butter and/or raisins. Some awesome snack ideas that you should make right away: home made Lara bars, raw "cookie dough" bites, baked breakfast cookies, fresh fruit, fresh pre-cut veggies
Please please please try this for just one week. I promise you will love having healthy snacks around the house to enjoy and time to relax and be with your family during the week!
-xoxo Leah
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