Here in Florida, and in my specific County, our children go back to school this week. It was certainly a quick summer for us all, and now we have to get back into the hustle of getting children ready for school, and all those routines we have in place for the busier times ahead. To me – since most of you know I am a big proponent of batch cooking – this time of year means we should be thinking even more seriously about batch cooking to save us precious time.

 
Let’s face it, we’ve all had those nights where you look at the clock, wonder how it’s 7 pm already, and go into panic mode about what you can scrounge up for dinner to feed your family.  If we’re honest here, it probably happens far too often!  Life is busy; it’s bound to happen.

 
This is generally when we resort to a quick solution such as takeout or the drive-thru – and we can both agree on the fact that those aren’t the healthiest options.
One of the biggest determinates of healthy eating vs. the drive-through is preparation.  Preparing for this ahead of time will help you stay on track with your healthy eating, and will give you peace of mind.
With a few small steps each week, you’ll be on your way to a healthy meal every evening — no panic involved.

Here are three steps to get you there…

 
1.  Prepare your space.  First and foremost, prepare your kitchen area. Starting with a clean kitchen makes the process much more smooth and effective.  Throw out any old food that is not salvageable and scope out what you have left that you can use.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve purchased a new container of mustard when there was one hiding in the back of the pantry (situated next to two other unopened ones!)

2.  Make your plan of action.  Before you head to the grocery store, make a detailed list of the items you need.  We’ve all made the mistake of going to the grocery store without a list, right?  You are always bound to forget something — and it’s usually the most important item — so rid yourself of that stress and make a detailed, organized shopping list beforehand.

3.  Make it enjoyable.  If you don’t enjoy cooking (like me), ask for help. Make it an enjoyable experience so you are more likely to continue cooking regularly.  I love to listen to podcasts, uplifting music or audio-books while I batch cook, or another thing that makes it fun is making a day out of it with your closest friends or family.

Spend the next hour or two chopping and prepping all of your food that your meals will include for the week.  A simple way to batch cook all of your veggies is to roast them in the oven — they’re so delicious that way, and it couldn’t be easier for you to fill your oven with veggies and come back a half an hour later to a ton of cooked vegetables.

 
On top of batch cooking your meals for the week — be sure to prepare several meals that you can store in the freezer to pull out in times of desperation.  Knowing you have these options on hand will put your mind at ease, and give you a better option than ordering takeout.

 
I hope these few tips help, and with your busy lifestyle, I am sure you will find this to be useful so that you have more time for “enjoyment of life.”

Be sure to sign up for your FREE 30 minute strategy session where we can get into the nitty-gritty of how you can maximize your health, weight management, and feel good about yourself.