Tips & tricks for meal planning
Taking the overwhelm out of how to eat well..
Planning your week doesn't need to feel or be a mammoth task. Really break it down as simple as it can be into practical steps that take the guesswork out of your week because let's face it.. life can be BUSY so let's take care of one VERY key aspect.
Make the time each Sunday/Monday to sit down and plan out your weekly meals! Make your food + meals to fit your lifestyle, rather than the other way around. Check out your upcoming work/life/commitment schedule for the week ahead and make life as easy as you can for yourself. What night’s do you need to crack out the slow cooker so you can prep ahead and walk in to a warm cooked meal after a long day at work? And what night’s do you want to plan some yummy home-style takeaways etc?..
Tips to avoid overwhelm:
Choose 1-3 wholesome, protein-rich breakfast options to enjoy for the week ahead. Prep any foods where you need/wish to i.e. make a batch of home-made granola (literally takes all of 10 mins), soak some overnight oats, prep your smoothie supplies. (If you are a snacker)
Plan 2-3 healthy snacks to rotate for the week ahead including 1 x batch of healthy treats to have in the fridge/freezer portioned out to remove temptation of overindulging. I.e. H/made banana bread, protein balls etc.
Plan lunches and dinners, cook once and eat twice as much as you can. Make your main meals go further (both nutrition-wise and cost-wise) by grating extra vege through, adding frozen veggies and beans/lentils through your dishes where you can. This will help to cover lunches, however you may still need to plan 1-2 easy throw together lunch options.
Plan and SCHEDULE in your exercise. Make this achievable, sustainable but if you need to, also make it challenging! Aim for 30+ minutes at least 4 days a week (Especially if you are not in a physical job).
Plan out your grocery list to suit, looking at which produce is in season right now and where you need to opt for frozen veggies etc. to save on $$$. Stick to the list and NEVER shop on a hungry tummy!
Repeat this week in, week out and only focus on each day + week at a time. Make the time to reflect on your person wins and challenging moments each week + re-set, re-focus and get ready to seriously nail your goals! You are literally only one meal away from being another step closer to your goals and dream health picture.
