21 Day Fix Meal Prep

To prepare for the 21 Day Fix exercise and meal program, I dedicated a few hours this weekend to grocery shopping and meal preparation.  This is not an easy feat!  To find the time, my husband and I discussed each of our own personal non-negotiable plans for the weekend - mine for groceries and food prep, his for putting his new grill together and getting the grass cut.  The other was on kid duty during these times so we could get our things done and then have time together once the kids were in bed (insert here: fond memory of lazy weekend mornings and doing things together w hubby all day - okay, back to reality). 

The plan: I kept it simple to start my 21 Day Fix journey by finding one new recipe to try, and then fruits, veggies, salads and easy protiens. 

• Breakfast: Shakeology
• AM Snack Options: Greek Yogurt, Fruit, Hard Boiled Eggs
• Lunch Options: Salads, Peanut Butter Toast w/ Veggie Crudite, Dinner Leftovers
• PM Snack Options: Veggies w/ Hummus, Fruit, Nuts, Cottage Cheese
• Dinner Options: Taco Casserole, Chicken w/ Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli, Chicken Tostadas, Scrambled Eggs w/ Toast & Tomato, Salads
• Sweet Tooth: Peanut Butter, Piece of Dark Chocolate

The work: I organized my grocery list in the order I'd grab stuff in the store and made sure I went when I wasn't hungry and during the mid-afternoon "lull" at the grocery store so it wasn't over crowded.  I stayed focused to keep on track with my list and budget.  Once at home I put stuff away, and started in on my cooking.  I started by hard boiling a dozen eggs.  These are great for snacks and my daughter will also eat them so they make for great quick lunches.  While eggs boiled, I start on my turkey taco casserole found on Pinterest and when I had breaks in the cooking I would do my fruit and veggie prep - washing, chopping and storage.  If working out of the home or planning to be on the go, I measure things out and put them in plastic bags or storage containers.  If at home for most of the week, I keep things in larger storage containers ready to go.  When the oven is still hot, I bake 4 chicken breasts to have on hand to put in salads, make healthy tacos, etc. and two for dinner. This way, I have the hardest part of my week's work done so it leaves no guess work and quick meal prep for the rest of the week.  My husband is good with just about everything I make for myself on the program which is great but I do make sure to keep some easy things on hand for him (deli meat, freezer meals made in advance, peanut butter LOL).  While I do my prep, I listen to music or podcasts to pass the time and am grateful for my hubby giving me a break to get this accomplished!  Ready to start the week!!  And I have the fridge to prove it!