November 11, 2008 Eating Healthy On The Run

I'm a mom. I have 2 kids. So it goes without saying that I have a busy life. Some days are busier than others. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a treadmill and can't stop! So how do I manage to eat healthy anyway?
The first secret is a great big upright freezer chest! I cook in bulk, and then freeze individual portions for later use. So if I need a quick meal, I just toss it in the microwave, defrost and heat, and voila! A healthy, delicious meal in a hurry!
Some of my favorites are Chicken Tortilla Soup, Veggie Sauce with Turkey and Ground Beef, Turkey Chili, Spinach Lasagna, and a variety of soups. (Monday is soup night at my house, and I freeze the portions we don't eat for dinner!) I've also made family size containers of the fillings for my Chicken Pot Pie and my Shepherds Pie. All I need to do is thaw the filling and a pie crust, or make some mashed potatoes, and I've got a great meal for the whole family.
Another thing I do is "go to" meals. These are meals I eat on a regular basis that I could make in my sleep. Tuna Salad made with yogurt and sour cream instead of mayo. Lentil soup with canned chicken added for extra protein. My almost every day breakfast of yogurt, cheerios, and blueberries all mixed together (try it, it's YUMMY!) I know the calorie and protein levels of these meals, so it's easy to plug them into my menu based on my needs. For instance, tonite we had pizza for dinner. High in calories and fat, not so high in protein. So I had tuna salad for lunch becuase it's basically just the opposite. Balances out all my levels so I'm within range and I don't have to think about it too much.
I plan my meals in advance for the week (well, dinners anyway) Like I said, Monday is always soup night. Tuesday we are running, so we get pizza. Wednesday the kids are with their father, so I can choose something from my stash in the freezer. The rest of the week I look at what activities we have going on, how much time I have for meal prep, and decide on a menu based on that. I have a few "quickie" recipes that really help when I'm pressed for time, like a quick cooking flavored risotto with some frozen shrimp thrown in. Add a salad and it's a quick and easy meal. By knowing ahead of time what I'm making for dinner all week, I can cut down on last minute trips to the grocery store.
Finally, I make sure that I ALWAYS have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies around to grab for a quick snack or add to a meal. And in case I'm really desperate, I keep V8 juice, and some dried fruit handy (I even keep some in my car!) That way, I'm never stuck with NOTHING to eat. I also know that if I'm in a bind, I can stop at a Wendy's and get a cup of their chili. Best fast food meal out there! Plenty of protein and fiber, moderate fat and calories, and it's really yummy too!
It may be a cliche that "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail", but this is one instance in which that statement is really true. It hasn't failed me yet!