Looking for ways to help you get back to your routine? Follow these meal planning tips to help you achieve your healthy goals!
Meal Planning 101: Tips to Get Back to Routine
Whether you’re committed to sticking to your healthy routine all year long or need a kick start to remind you of your January goals, routine matters. Maybe you (or your children) are heading back to school. Or you’re starting a new personal or professional opportunity. You don’t have time to spend wishing the perfect dinner would magically appear or getting stuck at the grocery store STARVING at 6PM when all you want to do is be home. Meal planning helps take the guesswork out of what’s for dinner and sets you up for mealtime success. And it’s about more than what to eat; it’s about helping you make your life easier (and yes, healthier). Let these three meal planning tips help you get back to routine, easily by getting your weekly meal planning done and dusted in one sitting.
- Fit It All In
First things first, take a step back and look at your week ahead. You have a lot going on but you can fit it all in. If you have a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday and dinner with friends on Friday, incorporate them into your weekly plan. Knowing what you’ve got going on will help you decide how much you need to prep for the week. Once you’ve got that the real fun begins. Recipes! Use as many whole food recipes as possible (versus pre-packaged foods) and look for recipes that use similar ingredients. If you’re not sure where to start pick one of your favorite go-to recipes and build from there. Say you love noodle bowls. Use the ingredients in your favorite noodle bowl recipe as your base for other recipes this week. Use the peppers and cabbage in your lunch. Have chopped peppers and carrots as a snack and use those versatile noodles for leftovers the next day, mixed with any veggies you have on hand. If you’re looking for recipe inspiration to help get you started look no further than the Vega Recipe Center.
- Cover Your (Ingredient) Bases
You’ve got your recipes, now it’s time to stock your pantry. Before you head out to the grocery store write down everything you need to make your recipes a success. Then shop your kitchen. Hit the grocery store for what you’re missing to fully stock your fridge, freezer and pantry. Break down your list into categories (grocery, produce, refrigerated, frozen, spices, and bulk) to make shopping a breeze. Buy your kitchen staples like nuts and seeds in bulk so you have them on hand for future recipes.
For more great budget tips for healthy eating
- Prep It Like You Mean It
Be prepared for whatever comes up by prepping all of your ingredients for the week. Wash and chop all your fruits and veggies, batch cook your grains and pre-portion snacks. And that’s it. Meals for the week. Done and done. Want one less thing to worry about? Add Vega One to your grocery basket and take the guesswork out of covering your daily essentials. It’s made from whole food ingredients and provides you with 20 grams of protein, 6 servings of greens and 7 grams fiber, all for 160 calories. Try it in this easy to make smoothie, or shake it up with water for an on-the-go snack.
Effortless Orange Smoothie
Ingredients
2 small clementine or mandarin oranges, kept whole and washed well
1 cup Silk® Unsweetened Almondmilk
1 frozen banana (or 1 ripe banana plus 1/2 cup ice)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup Vanilla Vega® One
Preparation
Add all ingredients to blender.
Blend until smooth.
Enjoy!
By Bridgette Clare, RHN
