Is weight loss one of your goals? You need to be eating healthy to get the biggest benefits. Eating healthy isn’t dieting. In fact, many people claim they eat far more than they used to eat and lose weight. Eating healthy includes concepts of a balanced diet of whole foods, limiting added sugar, white flour products and processed foods. It doesn’t have to be difficult and meal planning can make it even easier.
How does meal planning work?
When you do meal planning, you create a healthy menu for the week and list all the ingredients you need on one night. You do the shopping for those items on another evening or day, but only after you’ve already eaten, to make sure snacks don’t somehow make their way into your cart. Over the weekend or any time you have a full day to devote without outside tugs like work, you cook all the meals for the week at once and package to use throughout the coming week.
Meal planning and prep sounds like too much work.
It does sound like a lot of work, but by doing it all at once, you’ll actually get more done in less time. You can chop all the vegetables and fruit for the week at once that are used for both meals and snacks, using meat for several recipes and cooking several dishes at once. During the week, all you have to do is heat and serve.
You can save money and time when you meal plan.
Taking advantage of season fruits and vegetables is one way to save money. Making double the recipe and freezing meals for other weeks is another method of saving time and money. If you have extra meat or cooked vegetables, it’s not a problem. You can freeze those ingredients for other meals down the road. Nothing goes to waste when you meal plan because you measure each meal. Even the bones can be roasted and used for delicious, healthy broth. Best of all, you’ll have an answer when faced with that dreaded question, “What’s for supper?”
- When you’re meal planning, don’t forget to include healthy snacks. Fresh cubed fruit or sliced raw veggies and dip make a healthy option for those mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.
- The kids can help you prepare the meals. There are tasks that can be done by all ages, like packing individual bags of dried fruit and nuts. Helping teaches children about healthy eating. By being part of the process, it also encourages healthy eating.
- By having the food ready to heat and serve, it takes minutes to prepare supper. In fact, it makes dinner prep during the week quicker than waiting in line at a fast food drive-through, plus it will taste better.
- If you have special dietary needs or want a diet to match your goal we take much of the work out of meal planning by creating the plan for you. Always check with your health care professional before starting any dietary change or exercise program.
For more information, contact us today at A Strong Life