Meal Prepping to the Rescue

Meal Prepping to the Rescue

By Lynette Laufenberg

You’re tired. Had a crazy busy day.  Starving.  The will power tank is empty.  Sound familiar?  All too often this results in ordering take-out, or drinking wine and eating Doritos.  Meal prep to the rescue!

To help with this all-too-common scenario, you need some key ingredients or frozen meals at the ready.  I typically spend 2-3 hours on a Sunday prepping my food for the week.  It doesn’t have to be complicated.  Here are a few examples that will save you from eating junk and help you to live on healthy, nutritious, energy-boosting real food:

• Cook some grains (farro, pasta, barley, quinoa, steel cut oats, etc.)
• Clean lots of greens (lettuce stays very crisp in a salad spinner)
• Hard boil and peel some eggs-great for quick snacks or lunch
• Toast whole nuts-almonds, pecans, walnuts (no oil or salt needed!)
• Clean and prepare veggies that store well after being washed
• Make soup with whatever veggies you have on hand, some boxed broth, and canned beans. Freeze it in small containers or freezer bags for easy defrosting in proper portions.
• Cut up chicken into cutlets or cubes for stir fry or grilling on skewers. Freeze in proper portions.
• Make a vinaigrette (one part oil, one part acid, such as citrus juice or vinegar of choice, herbs, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper). Store in a ball jar in the fridge.

I can’t tell you how often this saves us from eating the wrong things.  Prioritize your food and plan ahead!  It pays off by saving both money and calories.  Spend wisely!