It’s November!
And it is this time of year that we all start to think, ‘it is how soon until Xmas??!!’
Right now some days feel like they are fueled by caffeine, whatever is in the fridge and just a sheer will and determination to get through the day.
You look at the clock and realise it is almost 3pm, you have had a coffee and a couple of bits of a protein bar for the day!
It isn’t you. You aren’t ‘bad at this eating thing’ an you are far from lazy.
You are likely busy, and tired.
And when you are in that state food choices go out the window and you start to just go into ‘survival mode’ when it comes to foods.
The thing is you don’t need to be perfect, but also, we don’t want you ‘smashing your phone!’.
We just need to work on putting together some simple steps for you to get yourself on track, and stay there, especially around this time of year!
It isn’t that you need a meal plan, or anything like that.
You will need a little prep though, that is all.
And we are going to use the KISS principle, Keep It Simple Silly!
So you will need to book yourself out, in your calendar, diary, whatever. Book it with the people in your life that are part of this, think your partner, spouse, siblings, kids, whoever!
In that time, maybe 30 to 45 mins, you will sit with them and come up with ideas. Snack and meal!
Simple things though, veggies sticks, maybe protein shakes and bars, muesli bars, some nuts, tinned tuna, hummus, come up with ideas together for maybe four or five different snacks.
Then do it for meals. Things you like are going to be easiest, so start with your old faves.
If you get stuck for ideas you can just go to a website like this one https://randomwordgenerator.com/dinner-ideas.php and it will randomly generate a bunch of ideas for you.
If you want to take it up a little notch, this site will help you if you know your calorie intake.
https://recipescal.com/
The cool thing about that one is you can regenerate your plan, you can vary eating styles, select number of meals per day and it comes up with quick daily plans as well as the recipe!
If you are unsure of your needed intake for your goals, hit me up and we can work it out together.
For breakfasts on the go you can bake a big frittata style thing on Sunday with loads of veg in it, portion it up and stick it in the fridge. You just have to grab it and go then. You can have it cold, or chuck it in the microwave at work, also you can have that for lunch! There’s no such thing as a strictly breakfast, lunch or dinner food!
Lunch can be ‘plannedovers’, not leftovers! You plan ahead and make a bigger portion for dinner, pop the extra in a container, and in the fridge, and you have tomorrows lunch already taken care of. I am a massive fan of this, as I always think some dinners taste better the next day!
You can do all of this and be eating well right through this busy period. It will just take a little time each week to sort it out. But it won’t be that much. Do it with your family, that way you are spending time with them and showing them you want input and care about what they want to eat too. If you live on your own, still book your time. Plan it, and then go ahead and execute it!
Taking a breath on that day you have off to sit and think right, I am going to plan my week here will have you feeling so much less stressed and pressured each week, as well as eating so much better than yesterday immediately!