5 Tips For Making Healthy Meal Plans
How hard is it to make healthy meal plans? Many people say that they would like to eat properly, but their busy schedules prevent them from doing so. I say, that if you plan well, making good food takes no more time or effort than making bad food.
It certainly takes no more time than it does to wait in that fast food drive-in than it would to grab a piece of fruit, some raw nuts and a hardboiled egg from the fridge as you walk out the door in the morning. Here are some tips to get you started.
Cook in Bulk
Not everything tastes good when it sits, but chicken is great cold. Grains like buckwheat, quinoa and spelt make great breakfasts if you precook a large pot and set it in the fridge. A handful of berries or a banana and a drizzle of raw honey make the perfect compliment. Add protein from any source you like and you have a great meal that takes about 2 minutes to prepare.
I like to cook chicken legs in bulk as well. I just double any recipe I am using for breakfast and I have several lunches all but done. The same can be done with hardboiled eggs, make a dozen; they make great grab and go food.
Wash Produce Now
When you walk in from the market, don't wait; wash your greens, fruits and hardy veggies right away. Prepare bags of greens that can easily be made into salads. With tomatoes, peppers and cukes already washed, all you have to do is cut them up, toss them in the bowl and add some nitrate/nitrite free cold cuts on top and you have lunch in a flash.
Store Lots of Water in the Fridge
This is a very simple concept, but few do it. If you have a hard time drinking enough throughout the day, take the time to store several bottles of water in your fridge at all times. The water is cold, ready to go, and requires no thought when heading out the door. Planning on a long day? Take two with you. Even if they warm up, you have immediate access to a drink and you won't be tempted by diet sodas along the way.
Count on Leftovers
Around my house, we frequently eat leftover dinner for breakfast. I know not everyone is going to find the idea of sweet potatoes with grilled chicken appealing for breakfast, but it works for us. Keep it for lunch if you prefer. Just pack things up in individual sized containers, and it requires even less effort to grab one for lunch as you start the day.
Stock up on Nuts
We all have a point during the day when we feel tired, hungry and irritable. Nuts are your friends. While nuts are high in fats, they are heart healthy fats, and if eaten in moderation, can be very good for you. A handful of raw almonds, which are easy to keep in a bag or car, will stave off hunger for a while, and if you add a piece of fruit and some water, they are a great way to get over the mid morning hump.
Changing the way you eat takes time and effort. If, however, you put your energy into making the right arrangements to facilitate creating healthy meal plans, your body will thank you.
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