Last week we listed the things the American Mental Health Association said leads to a healthier, happier life. We covered #1 on the list---getting enough sleep. This week, let's talk about #2 on the list: eating well.
As I was reading articles on eating well (healthier), I came upon a great blog. The blogger says it all....everything you need to know about eating well, beginning with planning, prepping, storing, and cooking! Like any other aspect of your life, things go much more smoothly and have better outcomes if you start by getting organized. If you get organized before starting to cook, you will find that you not only have better meal plans, you have more time to eat and to spend with family, you save money, and you eat healthier.
Organize Yourself Skinny is chock full of ideas, hints, and information. I suggest you grab a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet tea and spend some time checking it out. Tammy, the blogger, shows us how to get organized for cooking, prepping for cooking, as well as storing and cooking!
Tammy tells us that the first thing to do is to clean out the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Get rid of the out of date stuff and trigger foods. This step is two-fold: (1) it gets the undesirables out of the way to make way for the healthier foods, (2) it gets your kitchen more organized. I can't start a craft project until my craft room and table are cleaned off and all my supplies are in their place. It gives me a fresh start on any new project and makes me more excited for the challenge of a new project! Same thing with your kitchen. Tammy shares a list of things to get rid of.
Now that your kitchen, pantry, fridge, and freezer are all tidy and organized---it's time to collect and organize your prep and storage containers. Tammy gives us a list of storage options that work for her.
Once your containers are organized, it is time for meal planning. Meal planning can be overwhelming for even the most Betty Crocker-ized kitchen diva. It can be time consuming, confusing, and scary. But it doesn't have to be a nightmare or a dreaded chore. Because her list is so complete, I am just going to copy it from Tammy's blog and paste it right here, so you don't get turned off right away at the words "Meal planning".
Here are some basic meal planning tips.
- Since the goal is to eat healthier and lose weight you want to plan recipes that reflect that. You can download (FOR FREE) my favorite healthy meal prep starter recipes here.
- To keep it simple don’t plan a new recipe for every meal. Try to eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch everyday. For example, I drink a smoothie every morning and eat a mason jar salad ever afternoon. So, I only need to make one recipe for both meals during the week. For dinners I try to double dip recipes, use my slow cooker on busy days, and prepare as much ahead of time for dinners during the week.
- Save your meal plans (and grocery lists). Trust me, you’ll thank me. Type it into a google doc and save it in google drive. Over time you’ll have a collection to pull from and this will make the entire process so much easier.
- Check your schedule before planning any meals for the week. For meal planning (and prep) to work it’s essential that the meals you make reflect your schedule.
- Put together your grocery list the same day you prepare your meal plan. Again, this makes it easier and streamlines things. Don’t forget to save it! Another tip is to write out your grocery list in order of how your grocery store is laid out. This will help you move through the grocery store a lot faster.
It's best not to have a Trifecta. Don't plan, shop, and prep on the same day! That would be like dentist, gynecologist, and ironing on the same day. Just don't. Organize Yourself Skinny shares options or alternatives for each of the Big 3 (Planning, Shopping, Prepping). You need to read them!
Prep Day has arrived and OYS gives you great tips on how to organize your day. Really good tips....almost hand holding you through the process! I have, at different times in my life, done week in a day and even month in a day meals and while the thought of it can be as appealing as the thought of giving your cat a bath, once you get started it moves right along and OHHHHHH the feeling when it's completed and you have all those meals ready to go! Follow Tammy's tips and you will wonder why you haven't done it before! And a good tip (from her and from me)--Prep Day is a good day for binge-watching Netflix or catching up your DVR list or listening to that audio book you've been wanting to start!)
Finally, be flexible. Start slow. Only plan a few meals. Next time, add more meals. Don't get overwhelmed or bogged down.
Please visit Organize Yourself Skinny. Tammy has a world of information, tips, recipes, and meal plans. It is a great place to start getting your family into healthier eating patterns.
Next week: #3 Staying Positive!
#healthierhappierfamilies #eatwell #mealplanning #whatsonyourplate #whatsinyourpantry
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