Setting yourself up for success is the key to healthy living and it’s what most of us are striving for in life. Unfortunately, our default settings during times of stress, feeling overwhelmed or tired, find us revert back to old habits especially when it comes to unhealthy eating.
I can certainly relate; my husband and I both work full-time and although we prioritise healthy eating (to teach our daughter the importance of good nutrition), there are times when after being under the pump all week and tired of making decisions I don’t have enough energy to care about what we eat. Yes, the resolve tends to dwindle for me the further into the week we get.
Yet, when we have taken time to prep our meals in advance, we have more time together as a family and much less stress over what to eat and do we have the ingredients etc. One of the best things about meal prepping is, dare I say is leftovers. Leftovers for lunch are the best.
As life becomes increasingly hectic it’s way too easy to grab ‘convenience food’ that’s not necessarily healthy or good for us. Yet spending a little time each week on food preparation keeps you motivated and on track to not only reach but maintain your weight loss goals.
Healthy living doesn’t have to be difficult or tiresome.
Once you start meal prepping, you’ll be amazed at how many healthy diet meal ideas you can come up with week after week. Although there’s no right or wrong when it comes to meal prep, it’s best to step back and consider your weekly schedule before determining what meals to prepare.
Consider having stackable containers that easily fit together either in the fridge or freezer. Another consideration is batch cooking, a great way to reduce your food prep time. Your freezer may soon become your best friend. Batch cooking is when you prepare meals ahead of time and store them either in the fridge or freezer. This means you don’t have to cook every day, you can just reheat and eat, basically a ready-made meal yet you know what ingredients and love has gone into each meal.
You could also consider roasting vegetables which is super easy and delicious. Try throwing together a big batch of roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, and capsicum to add to a delicious salad that will last you for the entire week. All you need to do is add some lean protein such as chicken, turkey or fish and you have a simple, nutritious lunch. Just divide into containers to keep fresh throughout the week.
Take the time to set up a healthy meal plan
With the addition of some healthy snacks like berries, a handful of raw nuts or boiled eggs you really can keep on track as you have healthy options available regardless of your busy schedule. Taking the time to meal prep and set up a healthy meal plan, can be a major factor in keeping your weight loss goals on track.
Although my husband says that he could eat the same meal night after night, I need some variety when it comes to our weekly meal plan.
Like most things when you first start it may take more time than you initially thought. However, the more time spent on meal prep the quicker and more efficient you become. You get into a rhythm, discover what works for you and the family and before you know it a few hours each week saves you sooooo much time and stress during the week. Not only that, but you also get that feeling of satisfaction when you are done.
If you’re looking for a healthy eating for weight loss meal plan, check out our ‘4 Week Clean Eating Guide’, complete with delicious recipes. This is a great place to get started and it contains some fabulous healthy diet meal ideas.
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If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out, we are here to help with any questions that may pop up when you are considering which is the best weight loss program for you.
Liza Brunell
Adv Dip Health Science Naturopathy, Nutrition