If there is one thing I push onto my friends and family to assist them in getting healthy it is meal prepping, or the way I like to put it SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS!
If you fail to plan, plan to fail.
The more you plan and prep for yourself the less likely you are to get off track. I know from my own personal experience, when I am ready to eat, I am READY TO EAT. I could have a kitchen full of healthy ingredients to cook with but having to spend 30 minutes cooking a meal when my stomach is growling is the absolute worst. Enter prepped meals.
Having an entire balanced meal cooked and ready to be eaten that only requires a minute or two in the microwave will win over cooking or having to get in the car to go pick something up any day!
This is what a typical Sunday night looks like for me. Throw on my apron and favorite Pandora station and I am good to go. These nights usually turn into a Lindsey dance party in the kitchen but I also get my cooking done ;)
Start with my ingredients:
- Fresh tilapia fillets
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Quinoa
- Sweet Potatoes
- Vidalia onion
Doesn't look like much, but just you wait!
First I use my little handy scale and weigh out my tilapia. I try to get around 3-3.5 oz per serving and I make sure I have enough for 6 servings. I season them with Mrs. Dash lemon pepper (salt free) seasoning, then pop them in the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook them for about 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.
My next step requires a bit more work, but totally worth it because it is the best part! Weeks prior I would use either quinoa or a sweet potato as one of my 3 components that make up my meals. Since I love both I decided to incorporate the two together! Genius right?!
This is my quinoa, sweet potato, and broccoli hash:
- First I cook a 1/2 cup a quinoa and set it aside
- Then saute a large finely chopped vidalia onion until they are translucent
- Dice two medium sweet potatoes, add them in and cook until tender (about 15 minutes)
- Toss in some broccoli (usually about 2 cups)
- Once the broccoli is steamed I add in the quinoa and mix it all together.
YUM, YUM, YUMM! This is my new found favorite thing it the world. I also eat this as breakfast sometimes with an egg on top :)
Last step is to steam my asparagus. Simple. Cut it up, wash it, and throw it into a steaming basket in a pot of boiling water.
Time to assemble!
DONE!
This process usually takes me about 2 hours to complete. That may seem like a long time but the reward is totally worth it. I have lunch for myself all week, all healthy, and they will keep me on track!
Meal prepping is the best way to make sure you have NO excuses to give in to bad meal options! I prep my lunches this way every week. Dinner is different for me because I have time to come home and cook myself fresh food, but if you are an extra busy person, prep dinner too! I pack myself a lunch every single day for work filled with what I need to get myself through the day. This includes snacks too! Apples, sunbutter, kale chips etc. This way I'm not digging in the M&M candy jar at work when I need a snack.
I hope this helps some of you and if you need an extended explanation or list of groceries to pick up for meal preps PLEASE feel free to ask! I love sharing what I do to help reach my goals and I want to help you reach yours too!! :D
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