How to make feeding yourself easier - Meal Prep 101

Eating doesn’t have to be hard. It can fit into your daily routine quite seamlessly - who woulda thought, right?

Eating can feel like less of a priority when you’re trying to balance work, kids, school, and other priorities with self care.  When we think of self care, most of us think about face masks and pedicures. While these things can be fun, they are "extras" - the basis of CARE are the things that keep us healthy and happy, the things that keep our bodies and minds functioning. Feeding yourself is an act of self care, but with busy schedules it can be hard to manage grocery shopping, cooking, and actually finding the time to sit and eat. This guide is meant to teach some tips and tricks that make the act of feeding yourself easier and more enjoyable - so that you can care for and nurture yourself the way you deserve to be nurtured.

Let’s break it down into 4 bite-sized steps (get it?):

Step one: Plan

Take time on the weekend to look forward at your week - is it busy? Do you have extra time to cook? Plan your meals around your actual schedule, so that they can work better for you. If you know your schedule tends to be erratic or unpredictable, plan on always having extra convenience foods in the house - stock your pantry and fridge with some simple essentials, so that making a meal in a pinch isn't difficult. 

Step two: Grocery shop

After you make your plan for the week, make a grocery list. This isn't set in stone, but it's a way of making sure you 1) get enough food for yourself for the week, and 2) have healthy options. It also makes the actual grocery shopping experience less stressful and faster. When you’re planning your grocery list, make sure you’re adding a few convenience foods to your list each week. Inevitably, $hit happens and you'll have a day when you don't have time to cook. Convenience foods (like frozen fruits or vegetables, and packaged foods) give you options (other than expensive takeout) to eat when you don't have the time.  Remember, healthy meals don’t have to be “instagram perfect” - try to follow the basic rule of ½ a plate of fruit or veggies, some protein, and some carbs.  One of my go-to meals when I’m busy is ramen with frozen edamame and broccoli - all things I can have stocked in my pantry/freezer and put together in under 10 min.

Step three: Cooking

Most people (including me) don't have time to cook on a day to day basis. It's much easier to cook a couple times a week and make enough for leftovers, or to have options in your pantry that don't require too much cooking. Everyone's cooking schedule might look different. You might cook several meals on a weekend where you have nothing going on, and freeze them for a future, busier you. You might cook every few days, making leftovers for the days in between. Or you might just stock your fridge and pantry with more grab and go foods so that you don’t have to do that much cooking period.

Step four: Be flexible

Part of making healthy eating a habit is being flexible. Meal prep isn't some test where you're being judged on how closely you followed your meal plan, it's just a form of self care making sure you are getting the nourishment that you need and that it's available to you when you need it.

Want some more guidance with meeting your nutrition goals? Book a 15 min meet and greet with me to learn more about how working with a naturopath can help you take some stress out of nutrition.