Meal Prep

 I have been thinking about this for a long time now, so I finally decided to actually blog about it. I think for most women that are seeking a healthier lifestyle, it isn't the exercise area that we fall short in. It is with FOOD! I have heard time and again from Mommas that I speak with that they are more than active enough but that they have a hard time getting ample nutrition or the right types. They struggle with the idea of how can they eat to obtain their goals while still being sure that they are feeding their families properly.

There is more than one way to handle this problem. Food prep can be extensive and require a lot of time from your family to do, however I have learned a few tricks along the way that I am happy to share with everyone. I do not make all of my food for the week ahead of schedule. Instead of I have 2 separate days that do use to create a stock pile of food that I can choose from during the week to be sure that I have my meals in and my macros followed.

 One way that I do this is by making a menu of sorts for the week for my family, this allows me to know ahead of time when I am able to eat the same things for dinner that my family is having. It also allows me to prepare for the nights that I need to eat something else. My family has a couple of health issues that we are battling that could arise in the future as well as one very odd one that we battle daily (My 9 1/2 year old has high cholesterol, even though she is not overweight and is very active. It is genetic unfortunately) . I will definitely blog about that one another time. As a result we limit the amount of red meat that we eat as well as the amount of processed foods that we eat. My family eats more chicken, fish, turkey and lean pork. We also grow a garden every year and can things such as green beans, homemade salsa and freeze other veggies to use later. We also raise our own chickens for eggs so we know exactly what our eggs contain.

 The first item that I prepare on Sunday is eggs. I will hard boil 1-2 dozen of them at a time. I eat 4 egg whites every morning so use these every day. I prepare them by washing and peeling so that they are ready for me to grab and go when I need them in the morning. These are also a great snack for my kiddos as we are heading out to practice or archery.

 Secondly, I use the crock pot A LOT! I buy organic, free range, anti biotic free chicken in bulk so I separate it out before I freeze it into 1-2 pound packages. I will put one of these packages into the crock pot with water and fajita seasoning over night on any day of the week and it allows me to have my staple protein source for 4-8 meals depending on the size. I also do this with 99% lean ground turkey 1-2 times a week. I can use the turkey for my meals as well as a starter for tacos, fajitas, taco soup, chili, etc.
     

Another way that I save time is by making extra when I do cook something. For instance with the warm weather, I like to grill out most nights. So, when I do, I add extra chicken or turkey burgers to the grill. Cool them and wrap them up and throw them in the fridge. This allows me to have an ample supply of protein sources for my meals each week. I also do this with my complex carb sources. If I make brown rice for dinner one night, I always make an extra couple of servings to use over the next few days. The same goes for grilling sweet potatoes or quinoa.

Hope these tips help you save time and keep you on track with your fitness goals!

Happy Prepping!

FitForLifeMommyandWife