When your mind is made up, your mind is made up. My mind is made up and I’m ready to take the bull by the horn. As I shared the other day, when it comes to exercising and eating healthy, exercising is was easier for me to do. That was of course until I started having back and knee problems. So now I’ve finally accepted the fact that I have to take a different approach to my weight loss. The good news here is that I know that nutrition is the biggest part of the weight loss equation (next to mindset). So once I’m on point with my eating I suspect the weight will start to melt off like butter, at least that’s what I’m hoping will happen. So I’m so ready to do this and here is my plan.
It’s not a secret that I don’t like to cook. I’m way too impatient to enjoy it. I’m getting better at it but it still isn’t my favorite thing to do. I also don’t enjoy shopping for the food either but I am working on embracing it all because I have to so that I can reach my goal. I have the tools that I need and I am going to automate my process by doing my meal prep to make it easier for me so that I keep up the habit. So, here are my tools for making this happen:
Meal Planning – Each week I will sit down to plan out my meals for the week. This will let me know what I have to buy from the market and how I can use the same ingredients for multiple dishes. Because I’m such a creature of habit this will also give me a chance to step out of my comfort zone to try something new. My goal is to try a new recipe at least twice a month to broaden my repertoire.
Grocery Shop – This is where it comes together or falls apart. I have to get to the market each week to do my grocery shopping. The key for me is to go during a time where there isn’t a big crowd. I hate shopping when there are a lot of people in the market. I’m fortunate to live close to two 24 hour grocery stores, so for me early morning shopping before work works the best. I just have to master being consistent with this step.
Food Prep – I’m taking a page from my mother’s book with this one. I will be preparing my food to cook as soon as I come from the market. I will clean and season my meats. I will clean and cut up my veggies. I will separate, measure and portion off my food before putting it in the freezer so that when the time comes to cook it I just have to thaw and cook. Love that!
Freezer Bags and Containers – Not a whole lot to say here accept these babies will be my best friend.
Sticky Notes – I don’t know if anyone else guilty of this but I’m real good at freezing my foods and awful at remembering to take the foods out of the freezer to cook each day. So I will put a sticky note reminder in the bathroom and on the kitchen cabinet to remind myself to take the food out of the freezer each morning or each night, whatever the situation calls for so I’m not left high and dry with plenty to eat and nothing to eat at the same time.
Ninja cooker – For Christmas my mother gave me the Ninja Cooking System. It’s a slow cooker, steamer, stove top cooker, pressure cooker…you name it it does it. I have not fired that baby up yet, but this week it’s on.
I’m issuing myself a challenge to do weekly meal preps for a month, without excuse to get the ball rolling and turn this into another habit of mine. I’m excited about getting started with this process and to reap the benefits of it as well.
Your Turn To Share
Do you do weekly meal preparation? What is your favorite part of the process? What is your least favorite part? What has been the benefit of making this a habit?
Candie says
Wow!!! Now that’s a PLAN!!! Looks like you’ve got it all figured out. I have to admit…reading your “food prep” plan wore me out. It’s all I can do to get my bags unpacked when I get my food home. You’ll have to keep me posted on how that one goes.
Stacey Strickler says
Hey Ms. Candie! Yes that is my plan and I’m gonna pull it off. The food prep part is the thing I’m actually looking forward to doing. For me it will make cooking less daunting. I will definitely keep you posted on how it all works out