MEAL PREP – TO PREP OR NOT TO PREP?

I get asked from time to time - how are you so organised with your eating? Well the answer is prepration, preparation and preparation! Yes this means spending 5 or so hours every weekend doing grocery shopping, chopping vegetables, weighing my meat and whipping up healthy snacks.

Here is what a typical week looks like when I do meal prep and when I don’t meal prep:

NO MEAL PREP:

You’ll see me racing to Coles late Sunday afternoon around 5:45pm, getting the bare essentials for the next few days. I wake up Monday morning rushed squeezing in everything I need to do before the daycare drop off.  I’m out the door late grab and have to grab something on the run for lunch, which is typically not nutritious! I also end up snacking on something sugar laden to get me through the afternoon! I don’t train as well because I’m feeling sluggish from not eating right and I don’t feel good about myself.  I wake up sore the following morning and not well rested….and the cycle continues for the rest of the week!

IF I MEAL PREP: 

If I take the time to meal prep it looks something like this: I get to sleep in Monday morning as I know everything is prepared and ready to go for the week. I’m on time and running ahead of schedule and even have time to grab a coffee on my way to work. Its 12pm and I’ve had a good breakfast, morning tea and about to have my delicious nutritious lunch! I’m feeling good and ready to train that afternoon. I train well and even get a PB, I feel good post-WOD and wake up feeling rested and recovered. I even have enough energy to do some extra training before class. My mind is feeling positive and ready for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

KRISSY’S MEAL PLANNING TIPS:

- Have a meal plan created for your goals (chat with the CFMB staff on where to get one)

- Get a weekly shopping list for your meal plan (this way you know exactly what you need to buy)

- Have plenty of containers on hand and clear fridge space so you can store your meals (pick up a packet of containers at Coles/Woolies for a couple of bucks)

-  Don’t like frozen meals? No worries cut up all your veggies and leave them in a Tupperware container so they stay fresh. Microwave them each night as you need – Tupperware sells an amazing Microwave dish, which can even go in the oven!

-  Brown Rice – put the rice cooker on and snap freeze your rice portions and take out as you need a meal (if you are even more strapped for time, there are 2 minute microwave pouches available at Coles/Woolies)

-  All you have to do now is cook your meat for the day and microwave your veggies for 7 minutes and cook your rice. (Dinner will be ready in 10mins)

-  Snacks – keep your protein, pre-workout meal in your gym bag and get a good size esky to pack your food in, if you can’t make it home between meals.

Meal Prep can set you up for a successful week, yes it’s boring but it’s worth it when you walk in the door after a big day of work/training and know that all you have to do is heat up your dinner and sit down, relax and get a good night sleep.

My choice all the way – MEAL PREP

Krissy