Sunday Meal Prep
July 19, 2016What MY Sunday Mornings Look Like These Days…
As mentioned in part 2 of my postpartum fitness series, meal prepping on Sunday’s has been a life saver. When Tim was born and our families had left, the last thing I wanted to do was figure out dinner. Or any meal/snack for that matter. It is extremely challenging to cook anything when you have a newborn exclusively breastfeeding every hour (yes, every hour). I knew that something had to change. I couldn’t just live off of Greek yogurt, fruit and peanut butter. Meal prep Sunday’s were born and even though I have a bit more time to spend in the kitchen now, I would not change a thing. Prepping allows me to spend more time playing with the kiddos and tend to other tasks that need to get done!
What do I make? Well, I have the usual staples and then try to pick a new meal each week. First, I buy plenty of veggies to roast – asparagus, zucchini, brussel sprouts, onion, carrots, parsnips, peppers and mushrooms. I wash, chop, drizzle olive oil over them on a sheet pan and roast at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. I seriously love roasted vegetables and eat some at most meals. I also roast a bunch of sweet potatoes whole. The sweet potatoes will stay in the fridge and I will usually have one for breakfast or lunch. Next, I grill or bake proteins. Chicken breast and turkey/bison meatballs have been on a heavy rotation. My husband and I make a bunch – some to put into the fridge and some for the freezer. Summer fruits are my favorite. I cannot get enough berries and nectarines! I wash the fruit and cut anything big (cantaloupe, watermelon, etc.) I will hard boil eggs on the stove while I am busy chopping away.
Glass/plastic food storage containers and plastic wrap are very important in this household. This is what I use to store my goodies in the fridge and freezer. I also purchase pre washed organic salad to have on hand that are already in plastic containers.
Completing this task brings me such joy. I love looking in a stocked fridge with healthy foods ready to go. Having this prepared food keeps my body fueled for my workouts and busy days ahead with two kids. Everything is ready to go – I have no excuse to eat junk.
It usually takes about 2 hours out of my Sunday morning to do all of this prep, but I promise you, it is worth it! Whether you are super busy during the week and/or want to stay on track with your healthy eating, this is the place to start! Happy prepping!
What are your favorite meals to make ahead of time?
