Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP, I am truly interested in all these answers. Those of you who prep meals and/or components of meals for lunches do you also do dinner? Right now I let my kids watch a show or two while I throw together a fast healthy enough dinner each night and will probably keep doing that because I just can’t give up time to prep dinner too but I’m just curious.

Here is a tip I learned from another DCUM food section lurker - no produce goes directly from the grocery store into the fridge without some prep. That really stuck with me. So when I bring home groceries I cut the broccoli into florets, I pit the cherries, cut the pineapple up etc. that way everything is ready to cook on weeknights with extra steps and it makes things much easier if you don’t need to chop peppers and onions first (or whatever it is). And then I have fresh fruit ready to put in front of the kids when they need a pre-dinner snack, or at breakfast.

It’s not really a meal planning hack but it has helped me use more produce before it goes bad! Looking at you, head of cauliflower always sitting at the back of my veggie drawer…

You pit cherries?!

…yes I pit cherries! I didn’t realize that was strange. I have young kids, and they are sort of a choking hazard. This way they are ready to put on a plate, on top of oatmeal, yogurt…
Now I’m wondering what everyone else does.

DP, I don't pit cherries NOW, but I did when I had small kids. Thumbs up for that.
My kids are still big and I still cut up strawberries for them - they are much more likely to eat them if they are cut up and accessible. Honestly, if they are around and rummaging for snacks I'll ask f they want me to cut up an apple - they prefer to eat them that way probably b/c I cut them up when they were little.
Pineapple - I cut up as well, but only once I think it is ripe enough.
We don't prep the veggies, but that is because we meal plan and all the veggies have a place in the week and cutting up on Friday for a possibly Wednesday meal - not for me. But if it works for others, I'm not going to disparage it!!

OP, here is what I do. Some of it is food, some is mindset.

1. FOOD
- Pick up farm share on Sundays. Select produce that will be highly flexible - can be used in meals and as grab and go snacks. Prep whatever possible when unpacking farm basket (i.e., washing and chopping broccoli, carrots, etc. so they can be easily grabbed for snacks and for cooking).
- Plan meals for the week based on farm load. Generally eat a plant-based diet, and have set days for certain types of food (i.e., Sunday is soup night - makes great leftovers for the rest of the week - Wednesdays I make Indian, etc.). I do not prep meals beyond the produce and making a big pot of soup Sundays, but having a plan and the supplies on hand forces me to stick to the healthy plan.
- Grocery shop for whatever else we need.
- Plan good breakfasts. I have to eat a healthy breakfast or the rest of the week is shot.
- Spend time over the weekend cooking things that will last all week - I make my own yogurt, bread, baked snacks for kids, etc. This keeps us from reaching for processed, packaged snacks.

2. EXERCISE:
- I belong to a gym that allows you to sign up for classes in advance. I sign up for a week's worth of classes at a time, based on what I can fit into my schedule. This gives me accountability - I already signed up and made the time, so I force myself to go.
- On the days that I can't make it to the gym, I set aside an hour in my day to take my dog on a long walk. I try to listen to a podcast during this time, but will also plan it so I can listen into a work call that I don't need to participate in, etc.

3. MENTAL HEALTH
- I have a gratitude journal and spend 5 minutes every morning while I have my coffee filling out my journal and setting my calendar for the day. This allows me a moment to get my head space healthy, and plan out my day so I am sure I am making time for exercise and healthy eating.
- I walk my dog early in the morning, with my coffee, before anyone else is awake. It's only about 15 minutes, but it gets me outside and gets my body moving, which makes me feel really good every single day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trending in TikTok - ordering chipotle catering for meal prep. $120 for 10 meals

That's not really healthy though.

Eww chipotle is full of sodium.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP, I am truly interested in all these answers. Those of you who prep meals and/or components of meals for lunches do you also do dinner? Right now I let my kids watch a show or two while I throw together a fast healthy enough dinner each night and will probably keep doing that because I just can’t give up time to prep dinner too but I’m just curious.

Here is a tip I learned from another DCUM food section lurker - no produce goes directly from the grocery store into the fridge without some prep. That really stuck with me. So when I bring home groceries I cut the broccoli into florets, I pit the cherries, cut the pineapple up etc. that way everything is ready to cook on weeknights with extra steps and it makes things much easier if you don’t need to chop peppers and onions first (or whatever it is). And then I have fresh fruit ready to put in front of the kids when they need a pre-dinner snack, or at breakfast.

It’s not really a meal planning hack but it has helped me use more produce before it goes bad! Looking at you, head of cauliflower always sitting at the back of my veggie drawer…

You pit cherries?!

…yes I pit cherries! I didn’t realize that was strange. I have young kids, and they are sort of a choking hazard. This way they are ready to put on a plate, on top of oatmeal, yogurt…
Now I’m wondering what everyone else does.

Anonymous wrote:I do meal prep on weekends. Same as other posters, big salad in a bowl to portion daily. Cook quinoa, black beans and chick peas, then store. Chop peppers, cucumbers and make hummus and hard boiled eggs. Then we grill some type of protein. If I want Mediterranean or Mexican then I have multiple types of bases. For dinner- I also cook two big meals on Sunday, usually one to eat that evening and one to use later in the week. I work from home a few days a week and it’s easy to make my lunch. Days that I need to make another dinner I typically do a soup and salad and sandwiches. Very straight forward and quick.

Do you cook from dry beans? If so, do you have any tips? When I try to cook dry beans they either turn to mush or don't get soft. I can't get it right. I do not have any of the newer appliances like InstaPot. I need to be able to cook on the stove or in a crock pot.