Healthy Meals

healthy meals, eating healthy, healthy foods Life can seem so hectic that we rarely feel we have the time to make healthy meals, let alone create a long-term healthy eating plan. But ironically, it's because we're so busy that we need to get organized! Healthy eating doesn’t just happen; we have to MAKE it happen by planning ahead.

Here are some tips on how to organize your eating in order to make healthy foods a healthy reality.

Plan Ahead

Make a weekly menu plan that includes healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Make your grocery list based on your weekly menu plan. This may seem obvious but people who don’t do this end up wasting time and money shopping for ingredients they don’t need and are also tempted by not-so-healthy "extras."
Organize your list in the order the foods are found in the store.
Stock up on healthy foods like lean meats when they are on sale.
Involve your children in the planning, shopping and meal preparation so they, too, are invested in their healthy food choices.

Prepare Ahead

Batch cooking larger quantities is an easy way to save time and alleviate the stress of cooking during the week. Homemade soups are a delicious option that can be put into individual containers for the week ahead. Lasagna is another good choice. Make two pans and freeze one for later.
Chop produce and divide it into individual baggies that are ready to grab and go for snacks or lunch.
Packaged bags of pre-washed salad are a convenient, time-saving option worth the extra cost to get a daily serving of veggies onto your plate.
Use healthy dinner leftovers for a healthy lunch the next day.

Do Something with the Time and Money You’ve Saved!

Use the extra time you gain from planning and prepping ahead to exercise. Not only will you feel better, it’s a great stress reliever.
Treat yourself to dinner out. It’s okay as long as you select restaurants with healthy menu options.

More great ideas, from the LLB Blog:

Why You Should Cook at Home
Stay on Track with Eating Lean
Throw Out The Fat, Not The Flavor
Know Your Beef, Know Your Cuts