Monthly Archives: October 2016

Meal Planning Made Easy: Part 1

A lot of people come to me for meal planning advice. The reason I love what I do so much is because I get to break things down and make things simple for people. In this meal planning series I’ll share a few tips in each post. Let me know if they help or if you have any questions you want answered!

Meal Planning Made Easy: Part 1

Get Tupperware

I can’t stress this enough. Having a place to store food is probably the most important pre-step to meal planning. Get enough Tupperware to store at least 5 meals and additional Tupperware to store prepped ingredients.  You can have all the good intentions in the world, but if you don’t have a place to store the food you’ve prepared, you’re out of luck.

I love glass tupperware, it’s definitely the cleanest, but it’s also unrealistic for when I’m on the go. I use glass tupperware to store prepped ingredients in my fridge, and I use BPA free pastic tupperware for traveling.

Keep a list

Most people don’t make new recipes every week. I know I certainly don’t. Most people have a rotation of staple dishes that they like and are easy enough to make. Its fun to throw new recipes in the mix sometimes, but for the sake of efficiency, the tried and true often win out.  To start, make a list of recipes you like and feel confident making. This way you can consult the list when you’re planning your meals for the week. As you get more comfortable in the kitchen, you can start adding more recipes to your list.

In future posts I’ll write about nutrient density and how to increase the nutrient density of recipes you already know and love. Stay tuned!

Make it Fun

If meal prep is a drag every week, there’s less of a chance that you will actually do it. Find ways to make it fun! Play some music, have a friend join you and make enough food for both of you, or listen to a podcast. Cooking is not a punishment. It’s an opportunity for you to honor yourself, your body, and take care of yourself. It’s also an opportunity to be creative. Cooking is a learned skill like anything else. At first it may be stressful, but you’ll keep getting better and better. Trust me.

Now get going, will ya! Show me what you’re making by tagging me in your photos #simplysamanthanyc