Fast meals for busy people
Let's get real for a minute...
Meal planning works. But you also have to be prepared when life happens. Life does happen and your well-laid plan spins out of control. Actually, that can be good.
If you have a handful of emergency meal options in your hip pocket, you can meet life head-on.
Just don’t lose track of the successful actions that got you here. That’s the biggest mistake many people make: they start out strong and then, when they are really winning, they go back to former habits.
For today: Make a list of 5 (decently) healthy meals you can make in 30 minutes or less AND (here’s the kicker) with stuff you regularly stock in your pantry/freezer/fridge and can grab at a moment’s notice.
Why? Because Family Favorites aside, sometimes you have to punt.
Replace high-starch, low nutrient “convenience foods with real nutrition: Because it costs less to feel good!
Using any resources (perhaps unused meals from your 21 days favorite meals list, visit www.OurNutritionKitchen.com or…), come up with 5 healthy meals you can make in just 30 minutes or less with items that you almost always have on hand.
Make sure the ingredients for those meals are on your master grocery list.
Use your (once a week) 20-minute prep time (set the timer) to pre-make and freeze or store the parts you can, that way it’s there.
Ideas to get you started:
- Crustless quiche. Use pastured eggs, whatever veggies you’ve got, almond cheese, etc. (grate, blanch in boiling water and freeze the grated potatoes for the crust; or for hash browns… note: don’t try to freeze raw shreds = yucky)
- Chicken or tuna salad. Serve on salad greens or make an appetizer by dropping on cucumber slices.
- Soups (make your own bone broth or veggie broth as a staple to keep on hand. Add meat + vegetables… mix up endless possibilities with leftovers, frozen or canned tomatoes, more…)
- Crockpots. Use your 20-minute prep time to set up the crock pot with any of your favorite soups. It will be ready when you get home; freeze what you don’t eat.
- Homemade Hummus Yum (keep canned chickpeas in the cupboard) served with raw veggies or over salad.
- Premix the dry ingredients for Buckwheat Pancakes (use the almond flour adaptation if you like them lighter). Store in a jar so you need only add the eggs, oil, and liquid while your griddle heats.
- Premix the dry ingredients for “Paleo Pizza” and you’ll be ready faster than you could get it delivered (and get more nutrients for far less money)
- There are so many great ideas. I’ve reworked recipes for you over at www.OurNutritionKitchen.com or create your own. The possibilities are endless.
Now you are a powerhouse of ready for regular meals not to mention emergencies (which will make them less of an emergency).
XOXO
