Quick Meal Planning
By Kristine Lewis
Quick meal planning is easy, right?! You can stop at one of the local fast-food restaurants on the corner and pick up a meal. The problem, of course, is that most of these meals are not anywhere near what you would call "healthy"! Quick and healthy menu planning can definitely be a challenge. But, there are some really easy steps you can take to make healthy meal planning a breeze!
1. Take advantage of pre-cut veggies and fruit trays. This is not the cheapest option, but it sure does help! Every weekend, I buy a veggie and fruit tray from a large warehouse store (Costco, in case you're wondering.) The fruit provides a great supplement to our morning breakfasts and the veggies are a great snack. Both are washed and cut-up, so there is no work!
2. Use the crock pot! There are a ton of healthy meals you can make in the crock pot! And, all most of them entail is dumping a few ingredients into the pot, turning it on, and returning 4-8 hours later! With a little planning, you can get your meal started before you leave for work and come home to a delicious, home-cooked dinner!
3. Exchange healthy dishes with a friend. Why not ask a friend if they will double-up on their recipe the next time they cook (the meal needs to be healthy of course!)? You do the same, and you can exchange a meal with your friend! Now you have 2 healthy meals ready to go instead of 1. Casseroles that can be frozen are the best bet for this plan!
4. Keep it simple. Meals don't have to be elaborate to be good. Here are a few of my favorite simple and healthy meals: a bagel with low-fat cream cheese; cottage cheese, fruit & crackers; 1/2 a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread and some soup; a grilled cheese sandwich with a salad; rotisserie chicken and a baked potato; bean burrito and lo-fat tortilla chips with salsa.
5. Use the Internet to find quick and healthy recipes. Here are some great websites to check out:
6. Set aside an hour each week to plan your menus for that upcoming week. By planning and building your grocery list from that plan, you're more likely to stick-to-it and eat healthy for the week. When we are tired and hungry, it's too easy to make the wrong decisions. Make the decision ahead of time, and you won't be tempted to make a bad one!
Hope these tips help you begin to conquer the struggle most of us face with eating healthy in such a complicated and busy world. Remember that you do not need to be perfect to be healthy. Take it step-by-step, implementing new habits and new ways of doing things little-by-little!
About the Author:
An Organized Life provides tools, information and coaching to help you live and work better today by getting organized. Request your FREE copy of 50 Ways to Get Organized to Live and Work Better Today! Visit www.anorganized-life.com.
