Meal Prep Made Easy

How many times have you gotten to the end of your day, worn out, your brain too tired to make yet another decision – what to have for dinner? Well, a few hours of planning and prepping on the weekend can help prevent unhealthy decisions at the end of a long workday! I’m Wendy Corr, and in today’s Wellness Tip, I’ll help guide you through a simple method of meal prep. And it’s super easy. Really.

One of the simplest ways to hop on the healthy living train is to make good, wholesome meals for yourself and your family. But if the thought of cooking at home seems daunting, let me line out a few short steps that will have you providing healthier meals for your family in no time!

First, make a list of your favorite healthy foods. Choose simple recipes that can be made quickly or in bulk, and decide what you’ll eat for every snack and meal. Choose snacks that don’t require a lot of time to put together, like fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and pre-cut veggies with hummus. When you make your list, give yourself just two or three different lunch and dinner options, and then use leftovers for the rest of the meals.

Then, go shopping – but stick to your list of healthy foods! If you let junk food sneak into your cart, you’ll just have to employ willpower every moment that so-called “treat” is in your house. This will also save you money, because you’ll avoid those impulse buys that jack up your grocery bill.

To make sure you always have healthy food in your refrigerator, cook food in batches that can be refrigerated or stored in the freezer for easy heat and eat meals. Roasting vegetables, sweet potatoes, and even chicken breasts all at once will save you time. Imagine…all of your side dishes for the week…ready in about 30 minutes!

Keep a list of breakfast and lunch options on a white board on your fridge – and make sure you have all the ingredients for those meals on hand at all times. That will help morning decision making for everyone in the household!

And finally, keep a calendar on your refrigerator that lines out what the menu is for the week. That will help avoid that age-old question – what’s for dinner?

Thanks for tuning in to Wellness with Wendy! For more health and wellness news and advice, follow my blog on mybighornbasin.com. See you again next time for Wellness with Wendy!