Hello passionate fitness people! I don’t know about you, but figuring out what to eat every day can be quite a difficult task—especially when you’re trying to stay on track to reach your fitness goals. That’s where meal plans come in! Today, I’m excited to break down the tasty, organized system of meal plans and eliminate some of the unpredictability around how to eat. So grab your favorite drink and let’s get started with our blog meal plans made simple: your guided path to healthy eating!
What the heck is a meal plan?
Let’s clarify a few things first! A meal plan is the strategic outline of meals and snacks that you are planning to eat for your desired time period, usually a week or month. Think of the meal plan as the trusty sidekick for your health and wellness journey. Not only will maintaining a well-planned meal plan assist you in staying on track towards your nutrition goals, it might even save you time in the day, save you money, and recover some sanity!
Reasons Why Meal Plans are Awesome
1. Saves you Time: I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather spend my time sweating it out in the gym as opposed to sweating it out in the kitchen! When you have a meal plan, you know exactly what you need to prep ahead of time. You’ll never have to ask yourself – “What’s for dinner?” at 6 pm again.
2. Reduces Stress: The question “What should I eat?” is cute for the first week or two as you indulge in your new routine, but then it becomes a source of everyday stress. With a detailed meal plan, you can sit back and know you are good to go.
3. Keeps You Focused: When you take the time to plan out meals, you are much more likely to stay focused on your fitness goals. If you are trying to lose weight, build muscle, or simply eat healthier, a meal plan is the way to go for structuring what to eat and when.
Creating Your Meal Plan
The work is done and now it’s time to have some fun! Here’s how I plan meals:
Step 1: Establishing Your Goals:
Are you aiming to lose weight, build muscle, or simply eat more vegetables? Your goals will help create your meal plan. For instance, if you are weight loss focused, you may want to prioritize less food and a finished product that is more balanced in your nutrient intake.
Step 2: Gather Ideas:
Check in with your favorite food blogs, Pinterest boards, and cookbooks to quote, “see some meals you would be excited to eat”. Remember, eating should be enjoyable, so look for meals that would excite your taste buds!
Step 3: Create a Grocery List:
Once you have established your meal choices for the week ahead, put together a full grocery list. And then be sure to stick to it! This small trick will save you money and prevent some of those impulse buys (hello treats!!).
Step 4: Meal Prep Like a Boss:
On my meal cooking day (usually Sunday), chop, cook, and prep your meals out ahead of time. I get it–this may sound like a lot of work, but it is totally worth it. I usually try and create a set of large batches of grains, proteins, or roasted veggies to have to easily mix and match during the week.
Step 5: Keep It Flexible:
Life happens. Maybe your friend suggested going out for dinner or you decided you didn’t want that brussels sprout dish at all. That’s fine! Give yourself permission to substitute meals if you need. The entire hecking point is to enjoy what you are eating for health, not to create a burden.
Don’t Forget Snacks!
Now that we are on the topic of meals, let’s show a little love to snacks! Snacking healthy is a good way to support your maintaining of your energy levels throughout the day, and help you manage cravings. Some of my favorite snacks are:
- Greek yogurt with honey and nuts
- Raw veggies with hummus
- Piece of fruit with peanut butter
- Trail mix (but watch portion control!)
In Closing
So, there you have it, my friends! Meal prep is something that seems intimidating or tedious to some, but with a little organization, innovation, and flexibility it can actually be enjoyable, and rewarding. Not only will you get to your fitness goals, but you just may find a new found love for cooking and healthy meals.
I would love to hear about your own experiences with meal prep. What meals do you like to prep? Let’s continue this healthy chat in the meal plans made simple your guided path to healthy eating blog’s comments section!
Happy meal planning!
Read more articles: Meal Plan for Weight Loss
