Tips for meal planning
I am a big fan of meal planning and bulk cooking once a week as it allows you to be better organised, waste less food and helps to avoid being tempted by less healthy convenience options when on the go. I suggest setting aside some time on a Sunday to work out what you want to eat for the week ahead (use the template provided) make a shopping list then get to work preparing some foods ready for the week ahead. It might seem tedious at the time but you’ll certainly thank yourself through the week when you’ve got an abundance of foods on hand and ready to eat. Try some of these suggestions below –
Roast a big tray of vegetables like pumpkin, sweet potato, capsicum, beetroot, parsnips, cauliflower and brussels sprouts in some olive oil and salt and keep in the fridge to add to some salad leaves and use as a side to some protein for dinner or lunch. Why not throw some chicken breasts on the tray too then you’ll almost have a complete meal.
Make a frittata, whisk up some eggs with some of the above roast vegetables plus some spinach and fetta and then bake in the oven till cooked through and you'll have a great protein rich meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Get some zip lock bags or containers and make some smoothy combinations in them (keep in the freezer) so they are ready to throw into the blender with your choice of milk. For example, make a bag up with 1 cup of mixed berries, ¼ cup rolled oats, protein powder, 1 tbsp hemp seeds and some zucchini chunks (trust me you won’t taste them and it will add extra nutrients to your breakfast) place it in the freezer then add with 1 cup of almond milk in the morning.
Slow cook some meat and keep it in the fridge ready to use. Slow cooking is great cause you can use cheaper cuts of meats like chicken thighs or drumsticks or chuck steak. Place your choice of meat in the slow cooker and add some good quality chicken or beef stock or broth, a can of tomatoes, onions, garlic, lots of herbs like parsley, basil and/or oregano and let cook for a few hours. This can then be added with some sides like steamed veg and rice, pasta or quinoa.
Don’t forget to get some snacks ready too like some pre boiled eggs, a jar of raw mixed nuts, some homemade bliss balls or cut up some vege sticks to have with a dip like hummus.
