How To Eat Healthy Without Spending Too Much Time in The Kitchen

Are you eating real, whole food as much as you’d like?

I have found that the best possible way to live a healthy lifestyle and have healthy and delicious meals all week long is by meal prepping once for the whole week.

It saves me time, money, and stress, all the while allowing me to stay on track with eating healthy.

STEP 1: PLAN & SHOP 

I begin meal planning by making a list of recipes and meals for the upcoming week. I create a list based on what I will have for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners. I use a weekly shopping list as my guide and then I’m off to the store.

STEP 2: PREPARE THE FOOD

When I get home from the store I keep out the items I plan to use for my meal prep. I pull up my meal plans and get to washing and cooking.  Throughout the week, I typically have a protein shake or green smoothie like this one for breakfast, but I find that many of my breakfast recipes are great for mid-morning snacks, and/or if I am in need of a breakfast on-the-go.

I generally prepare big batches of veggies.  I start with washing the greens, then set aside to dry and move onto slicing, dicing, and dividing veggies into containers for use in cooking and salads. 

When a recipe calls for sautéed chicken or lean protein, I cook it in big batches in my biggest pan or crock pot and Instant Pot.  That way, I am only prepping the chicken and/or lean meat once for all the recipes.  I store the extra chicken in the freezer for use later.

STEP 3: PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE RECIPES

To keep it simple, I make a large salad in advance and then add the extras when I’m ready to eat it.  If I’m taking it to go, I divide it into containers or use as leftovers.

For dinners, I typically make two favorite main dishes, which allows me to prepare and freeze in advance making it easy for during the week.

STEP 4: PUT IT ALL AWAY! 

After all, the food is prepped and the recipes are made, I put everything in containers and place it in the fridge. That way, I have delicious, fresh, whole foods for all meals during the week in minutes.

If you are still scratching your head, don’t let it discourage you. It can take time to learn and get into the swing of things. A great place to get a jumpstart is with my meal plans, which provide weekly shopping lists and quick & easy recipes, along with simple steps to prep and store for the week.