MeAl Preparation for life on the go

Why Plan my meals? “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail” Part of setting goals is understanding obstacles that may arise. When losing weight, maintaining weight or reaching a new fitness goal considering diet is pertinent to success.

I forgot my lunch at home today. I woke up too late to prepare my food for the day. I am just starving- I will eat anything! Excuses can derail your diet and exercise program! Excuses

THE “HOW-TO” OF MEAL PREP Make a list What do I already have? What is considered good food? How many calories/what nutritional proportions am I going to eat this week? List the meals you will be preparing and break the list into ingredients according to where the items are located in the store

Shopping Buy the food! Grocery shopping should happen once a week to assure fresh produce and meat. Make sure you pay attention to nutritional facts if you are adhering to a specific caloric requirement.

Next Steps Cook the food! Make lists of what needs to be cooked the day you eat it and what can be cooked in advance. Prepare dinners that family members can garnish with sides and toppings while you keep it simple. Try preparing some food on a weekend afternoon so items are ready to go for the week.

Storage Store food properly! Invest in storage containers, freezer bags, aluminum foil and use tape and markers to identify what is in each container. Organize in your refrigerator ;convenience is key.

Options for organizing Calorie content and nutritional break down is most beneficial if you are trying to reach a goal in a specific amount of time (ie. Race ready, vacation) If your goal is simply to eat healthier, be prepared make sure that your dishes are balanced (similar to those at www.myplate.gov)

Sources www.myplate.gov www.spotmegirl.com, Become a meal-prep pro Track your food with the app – My Fitness Pal to help make you more aware of what food you are actually consuming