How to Plan Your Meals and Food Prep!

Food prep is one of my top priorities in regards to my health and weight loss. Prepping food keeps me organized, never without a meal, saves time and money, and keeps me on track. "Winging it" when it comes to your meals is not something I recommend anyone doing if they are trying to lose weight and life a clean, healthy lifestyle. 

It took a bit of trial and error, like everything I do in life. You will get better at this once you keep you doing it. For example: I like carbohydrates at night. Thus I schedule more carbs then than I do during the day. Sometimes people think I am crazy. However, I know me and I know my body. Consuming complex carbohydrates in the evening has never caused me to gain weight, ever. I have been eating carbohydrates almost every evening since I started my new weight loss journey in November of 2013 and I am down almost 45 pounds. I train extremely hard in the evenings so when I finish, I need my carb fix. Carbs keep me full, cut cravings, and help me sleep better. You may be different. You may find you want to switch your meals and their times - it is all about what works for you most all of, keeps you satisfied.

Believe it or not; food planning is simple.

What I do:

1) I always have my planner. I love this thing. It's a $10 one from Target.

2) Decide what I want my meals to be. You can see those written in the blue marker. I write them out and which meal number I want it to be.

3) List the certain ingredients I want the meal to contain.

4) Put a check mark by the items I already have it at home and will not have to purchase.

5) Make a grocery list on the oppsoite side. 

6) Designate a day to cook everything - except my dinners. Most times I make those nightly.

7) Put everything in tupperware. Grab and go; heat and eat.

Side note: I do not include fruits and vegetables as part of my daily caloric intake. I consider those "freebie's". I know fresh fruits can contain natural sugars but those have never deterred me from losing weight. I view those as natural energy and craving busters. 

I also do this with my workouts and training regimen. It is just as important to plan my workouts as it is my food. I do not write all of the details in my planner as I have a detailed "Weekly Nutrition and Training Plan" I share with you guys.

Lastly, I do this with my finances. Purchasing a planner or even a notebook is a great tool to have to keep you on track. You can never be too organized in my opinion. It is also great to look back on how far you have come, compare bills, and remember recipes, etc.

How do you prep your food? Leave a comment if you have ideas to share or have a question!