Friday, September 13, 2013

5 Tips for the 5 day Challenge...

Healthy eating takes planning and a little effort...but it doesn't have to be a boring affair.

I wanted to show what kind of effort is required to help you stay on track.

My tricks for healthy eating all week long:

1.  Chopping Veggies


There are tons of ways to store veggies that you prepare ahead of time.
I store my carrots in water in a tupperware container in the fridge.
Change the water every few days to keep things as fresh as possible.

Celery, in particular, doesn't keep for long using the above mentioned method, but can do in a pinch.

Different fruits can be stored different ways.
Some in the fridge, some do better on the counter.

2.  Make Big Batches


I chose 2-3 big meals and make them on Sunday or Monday night.
That way I can put some in smaller containers and have a hearty, healthy lunch.

Some examples of this:  Sheppard's Pie, chili, slow cooker ribs, chicken stew or soup, pasta sauce, black beans and rice

 3.  Make a Litre of Dressing


I will make a big batch of dressing on a Sunday and then I portion it out into a smaller container each day.
You can make a few dressings if you like, but I like to keep it simple.

You don't just have to put it on salads either!
Just think of jazzing up a pasta salad or stir fry with that dressing!
What about marinating your steaks later in the week for a BBQ dinner to die for?

It only takes a few minutes to throw together a dressing.
It's healthy, has WAY less sodium and you control the flavor (I LOVE vinegar).

4.  Pantry Stocked

You don't want to break the bank, but if your pantry is well stocked, you won't have to worry!
Having staples in the pantry can add protein where its lacking, improve a boring entree, spice up a simple dish or add zest to a mundane meal.

Some things we keep in our pantry:

Maple syrup - tapped ourselves!
Salsa - home grown and homemade
Tortilla chips/crackers
Spices:  cayenne, cinnamon, thyme, coriander etc
Local honey
Nuts - almonds, walnuts, seeds
Quick Oats

5.  Baking Ahead


I'm not saying you have to spend your weekend baking up a storm a la Betty Crocker...
(especially not easy to do in the heat of the summer)
But it is easy to make a batch of breakfast protein muffins and keep most in the freezer, taking out one at a time.  The muffins will thaw out mostly on the way to work...whatever doesn't thaw out can be taken care of with the office microwave.

Stuff you can make for the week:  cornbread, breakfast muffins, biscuits,

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Use these simple tricks and you'll hold onto more of your hard earned cash.
(not to mention your body will thank you!)

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Don't forget to post what you bring each day on Facebook
Starting on Monday Sept 16th!

We wanna see who's got the stuff!!!




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