When I got back from Florida last weekend I really didn’t feel like meal prepping, but as always I was glad that I did! I kept things simple so that I didn’t have to worry about following too many recipes. although I did do a little baking. It’s the holiday season, after all!
Meal Plan Week Of 11/30-12/6:
Sunday: Steak, roasted red potatoes, asparagus
Monday: Salmon, baked potatoes, broccoli
Tuesday: Crispy Chicken and Quinoa Salad
Wednesday: Burgers, sweet potato fries, spinach
Thursday: Chicken with Italian seasoning, butternut squash, green beans (ended up making a recipe this night; will probably post sometime next week)
Friday: Turkey meatballs, pasta or potato, salad
Saturday: Out
Breakfasts: Eggs with spinach, peppers, plantains, and bacon; smoothies, pancakes
Lunches: Salads with grilled chicken or leftover steak, sweet potatoes, asparagus
Snacks/Desserts: Chewy Paleo Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies, Black Bean Brownies
Meal Prep:
– rinsed and store berries
-marinated steak
-baked brownies
-Rob grilled the chicken
-chopped cucumbers and pepper
-baked cookies
-made turkey meatballs
-roasted sweet potatoes and asparagus
-fried plantains
-cut up broccoli
It actually didn’t end up taking too long, which was great because I had plenty of others things to do to get ready for the work week!
Is your meal planning/prep any different when you get back from vacation?
I’ll also be linking up with Mommy Run Fast and Jill Conyers on Sunday for their meal planning link-up!
When I get back from vacation my meals planning consists of grocery shopping without a list and then coming home and figuring out what I can make with what I bought. Of course I’m always missing some key ingredient and wind up back at the store the next day. I’m not sure if I’ve ever NOT forgotten something key at the grocery store! Glad you made the cookies! I’m looking to bake something today since it’s a rainy day with no plans.
I used to always make multiple trips to the store throughout the week. Now its really inconvenient to go back so meal planning has helped a lot with getting everything I need for the week!
I did some more baking last night- its definitely a good time of year for that!
I did not meal plan this past week and it’s definitely obvious..prepping and planning in advance is SO worth it. Good for you for having the energy after getting back from a trip! 🙂
Whenever I have a week where I don’t meal plan I am reminded of just how much it helps! Its much easier for me to get it done when I don’t have a lot going on over the weekend.
How do you like your food re-heated? I have a hard time eating some things after they have cooled off and then been heated again…I feel like they are watery?
I actually eat most of my leftovers cold! I know some people don’t like it that way, but Ive gotten used to it! I also try to think about what will need to be reheated when I am meal planning. If Im roasting veggies for lunches, Ill just plan to eat those cold. Things like spaghetti squash I roast over the weekend and then heat it up again with the meal and seems to do well being heated again. Most of my prep just involved cutting things up to save time during the week.
Prep being just a lot of chopping, etc. but not necessarily COOKING makes sense!
This is something I always wonder about with people who do a lot of weekend meal prep. I wonder how to heat things up so that they don’t either dry out or get super gross and soggy. Microwaving everything seems awful.
Yep- and I think you saw my comment above but I try to avoid having to microwave things. If I put together a casserole type meal or something I just leave it in the fridge and wait until the day that we are going to eat it to cook it in the oven. Other stuff I just cut up to save time later in the week. And I eat a lot of my leftovers for lunch cold!
I love meal prepping! I feel like I can’t do it enough 🙂 I think meal prepping is the best way to eat healthy foods without the fuss and stress of everyday cooking especially if you are training. It looks like you’ve been busy. Everything looks so colorful!
I completely agree! I get so stressed out during the week if I need to figure out what to make, go to the grocery store, and cook a full dinner. I like to either plan meals that are easy to make or that I can prep ahead of time.
We try to clean out our fridge before a trip so after vacation it feels like it takes a little more planning and creativity (and definitely a grocery trip!) to get back to normal. You reminded me I need to pick up plantains again!
That’s what happened to us to! We had zero food when we got back!
Had I known you were eating such delicious meals last week I would’ve hopped on the next flight & joined you :). Prepping turkey meatballs for the week is one of my favorites. Whether or not I end up having them for dinner, they make an awesome afternoon snack when I need that extra protein.
I would have loved to have you for dinner!:) Turkey meatballs are so good- I usually make a big batch and then freeze some!
My food prep has been slacking lately, due to my new diet, but this week I am going to get back on track!
Good for you! Its not easy to get in the habit, especially when you are already making other changes!
I am going to be doing some food prep later on today. Even just a little planning ahead makes the week go so much more smoothy. Have a great Sunday!
Very true! That’s what I always tell myself- and once I get started I usually end up doing more than I planned!
Nice job! I am finally making a serious effort to truly prep my meals through the week. It really saves so much time! Those black bean brownies sound intriguing! 🙂
Good for you! Its a good habit to get into, I think. Now its just a part of my weekend routine!
The brownies are really good (and easy to make!)
I always look forward to getting back to meal planning and prep after a vacation. Eating foods that I make and love!
Its always nice to get back to regular eating habits, thats for sure! Whenever Im away I find it really hard to eat as many veggies as I usually do!
Your grilled chicken looks crazy good! How do you cook it? George Foreman grill?
Thanks! We have an electric indoor grill from Williams Sonoma. Its great, but the plates don’t come out which makes it difficult to clean.