If you are trying to incorporate more protein into your diet, stick to a simple meal plan , or even just make healthier choices, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right foods on hand. Here are a few easy tips and ideas to prepare yourself for a successful week.
1. Cook lean protein in bulk. Every meal should be built around protein . so make sure you’ve got plenty! At the beginning of the week I like to cook plenty of meat that I can later use for lunches and dinners for the rest of the week. I’ll airfry chicken breasts, cook a big batch of lean ground beef or ground turkey, or slow cook pork tenderloin in the crockpot. That way, I’ve got several different options to choose from each day. Having it cooked and ready to throw into a recipe makes it that much easier on this busy evenings!
2. Have plenty of veggies ready to go. I love steambags of veggies. So simple to just toss them in the microwave for a few minutes while I put together the rest of dinner. I also like to pre-chop raw veggies so I have them in the fridge if I want to put them in a salad or eat them as a snack with hummus or pb . Roasted veggies are the best!!! I frequently roast a large batch of colorful veggies and eat them with meat or eggs… so good!
3. Cook bigger batches! If there’s a recipe that you make that’s good for you and you love eating it- make more!! Sometimes I will double or even triple recipes like turkey chili or stirfry so that I can have those leftovers for several days.
4. Stock up on easy to grab, high protein snacks. Think protein shakes and bars, single serve yogurts and cottage cheese, string cheese , tuna packets, hard boiled eggs. Sometimes things come up and we need to eat on the go! Make sure you have options ready if that’s often the case for you.
5. Jazz it up! Your food should be enjoyed! Just because you’re working towards a goal does NOT mean you have to choke down tilapia, brown rice and broccoli 7 nights a week ! ( been there, done that ) . Add things to your food that you love ! Instead of plain ole crockpot chicken, add some taco seasoning , salsa, fresh cilantro and lime juice. Add some bbq sauce to your pulled pork. Like things spicy ? Add some hot sauce or Cajun seasoning . Try fresh fruit and honey with your cottage cheese. Healthy food doesn’t HAVE to be boring. Tailor it to your taste buds!
6. Last one I promise ! Possibly the most important one! ….Don’t run out of food by Friday !! That might mean running to the store and whipping up a little more food come Thursday . But make sure you still have healthy options ready to go Friday, Saturday and Sunday . Believe it or not- weekend calories DO indeed count, too ! 😊
-Coach Kelly
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