How to Meal Plan Like a Champ
I’m starting with the big announcement because I just can’t contain myself – So here it is!
My Fall Meal Plan is here!! So excited to share this with you and to help make your week of healthy eating so much easier. I go into more detail at the end of this post, so go check it all out, or just hop over to the meal plan here and check them out!
In my last post I talked about the age-old question “What should I be eating??” and gave you the breakdown of my PHFC approach to balancing your meals and snacks. I went into detail about striving to balance your meals with Protein, Healthy Fats, and High Fiber Carbohydrates (there’s the PHFC) to satisfy and fuel you all day long so you can stop dieting once and for all and start enjoying the foods that you eat.
So, in this post I want to talk about putting that into action with some meal planning and meal prepping. One of the most important parts of creating a healthy lifestyle that lasts is having healthy options available. I believe strongly in meal planning and taking time to think through your week, the events you have coming up, and the reality of what your week will look like in order to set yourself up for a successful week of eating. I don’t know the demands of your everyday life, but you do, so think within your reality and come up with creative ways that you can have healthy options at your disposal.
If meal planning and prepping really isn’t your thing, I get it. There are so many options available for meal delivery services that make eating healthy a breeze. Green Chef, Sun Basket, Freshly, Whole Foods Delivery (2 hrs in some locations with Prime!), and the list goes on. There are many local, small business options depending on where you live that might be worth exploring as well. And hey, if you factor that into your meal plan for the week, great! Just have a plan, set your intention, and execute the plan.
3 Tips for Meal Planning and Prepping Successfully.
1. Plan realistically
Think about your week, like really think about the details. What days do you have long lunch meetings, when are you going out to dinner, what time do you have to get up and get out of the house, are you traveling for work, do you have a late meeting this week, are you working out in the morning or evening, etc. etc. etc.
Plan within your reality so that you can actually execute a plan that makes sense, don’t set yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations of what you will be able to accomplish. Create your meal plan for the week, make your shopping list, and get to the store or order online or send someone to do it for you – whatever!
Use my new meal plan to help you create a new, exciting, and delicious menu for the week.
2. Shop with purpose
Ok first and foremost bring your list with you to the store. If you are anything like me you will forget it on the counter at home, so make sure you at least have it when you go shopping. Then, shop your little heart out. Get everything you need, double check your list, and maybe find inspiration from the fresh seasonal produce you didn’t expect to find.
Shopping with purpose doesn’t mean you can’t adapt and be flexible. If the kale you planned on is looking a little weak but the swiss chard is speaking to you, then go for it. And, if you happen upon some new, fancy Trader Joe’s delicacy that you must try, then throw it in your cart! But shopping with a list and with a purpose will help you carry out your plan for the week.
3. Meal prep in bulk
With everything purchased and your plan in place, prep as much as you can ahead of time to make your week run smoothly. That way, when you don’t have time to cook dinner during the week, you don’t have to worry or order take out because you already have something ready to go!
More about the big announcement…
I know that meal planning can seem overwhelming, and you may not know where to start when it comes to picking recipe for the week, so that is why I created my Fall Meal Plan. I am SO excited to announce that my meal plan is now officially available for you on my website!
The plan has 4 weeks of hand-picked, fall-inspired recipes. Each week has 7 days worth of breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners that are full of protein, healthy fats, and high fiber carbohydrates (my PHFC balance) to fuel and satisfy your body all day long. You also get a comprehensive and organized shopping list to make your food shopping and prepping a breeze. I take into account leftovers and use ingredients wisely to help reduce cost, waste, and prep time.
The recipes are all PHFC balanced, super yummy, and simple to make with real, clean ingredients that will satisfy and fuel you all day long.
How it works
When you purchase the meal plan, you will receive an email with a downloadable pdf that is yours to keep forever. The link will last for 24 hours after the initial download. It will have a note from me, weekly meal plan snapshots, organized shopping lists, and each recipe that you will need to start cooking.
I am so excited to share this with you and hope that you enjoy all of the yummy, healthy, balanced meals and snacks!