Easy Ways To Make Weeknights Easier And Healthier
I know first hand how difficult it can be to eat healthy, especially on busy weeknights. When I first started on my health and wellness journey I struggled with healthy eating especially around dinner time. I found it was easier to have a healthy breakfast and lunch than dinner. There are lots of reasons for this and a few are:
-most dinner recipes take a long time to cook and when you are short on time it’s just easier to reach for something easier that’s not always healthy
-by the end of the day you are exhausted and the last thing you want to do is cook or think about what to make (or too tired to pay attention to what’s healthy or not)
-when you wake up you’re usually more motivated to be healthy because you have more energy. But by the end of the day that motivation and energy can wear off and you end up giving into something easier and not very healthy.
If you can relate to any of those (or maybe all 3) then keep reading to learn my top tools for making healthy eating more doable, no matter what.
meal plan and meal prep
Always go into a week prepared with a meal plan and a few things prepped and ready to go. I keep this clear acrylic calendar my fridge where I write down the meal plan for the week. This helps keep my household on the same page and holds me accountable for creating a healthy meal each night. I also recommend prepping a few items to make weeknights easier whether that is pre washing and chopping your vegetables at the start of the week or prepping proteins. Check out my top meal prep tips here.
save easy meal ideas
I always have about 6 recipes on hand that can be prepped and served in under 30 minutes or can be made in one pot. These meals are meant to save you time and make the busiest weeknights easier. Whenever there is a night when you don’t have a plan or need an idea in a pinch, these are the recipes you come back to.
keep “meal helpers” on hand at all times
I recommend staying stocked on pantry and frozen items that can help you put dinners together in a pinch. Things like pasta, canned/jarred tomatoes and beans, grains like quinoa or rice, vegetable broth, frozen vegetables, frozen pre cooked rice or quinoa, etc. will help you put a meal together in a hurry. These items are so versatile and there are so many ways to use them. Below are 3 meal ideas that include these staples and are easy to prep on weeknights: