Make a plan, Stan!

It amazes me how much of my time and effort with my health coaching clients are NOT about food! Yes, there is obviously a lot of focus on nutrition for the individual client and their goals, but making it EASY for them to adapt to a more healthful life is always, without fail, 50% or more of our work. So, it's something I've gotten kinda good at myself.

For the last 2 years, Ron and I have adopted a very nice Sunday routine for getting our upcoming week together. We go to a lovely breakfast, make a meal plan for the week along with the grocery list (which usually ends up on the back of a receipt lately), hit up the farmer's market, and then subsidize the rest of our food at the health food stores. Not only do we save sanity (what little we cling to), but time and loads of money! We used to spend $85 or more a week on groceries just for the two of us! We now have it down to an average of $45- almost half! And need I remind you that 90% or more is all organic? We are also proud locavores, and seek out locations/businesses that honor and support our local producers.

As a quick side note: Michael's has weekly menu planners in their $1 bin area. There are 52, a year's worth, sheets in each magnetic pack. Or, you can simply google 'weekly menu planner' and loads of templates will pop up! I like the ones with a grocery list area available so I can write all of the info in one area while I'm doing it all, print it, shop with it, then stick it to the front of the fridge for the week! If you date them, then you can reference them later in the season or next year and just reuse it. "Work smarter, not harder", one of my fave teachers, Mr. Hettinga used to always say:)

When we get home with our bounty we put away what needs to go right in and then the prepping starts! Doing this means Ron has all of his lunches done for the week, our dinners are usually taking out the already prepped food container and dumping into a  heated pan or roasting dish, or eating right out of the container if it's a raw meal! Easy-peasy!!!

When I was asked about doing a workshop about living optimally and frugal, at first I faltered, thinking, "What could I possibly teach a group of people about saving foods of the season that most people don't know?" Then I remembered how much work I do with my clients on this and was able to pull myself and a workshop together. The workshop was phenomenal and the attendees were focused and gracious. They all said they learned a lot and were gonna try to make this a routine for their lives! I truly hope so, for their and their family's sake. Here are some of the things we discussed-

Planning and prepping your meals for the week ahead saves you:

TIME:

• Only one scheduled shopping time.
• Less time in the stores/markets.
• No more staring into the depths of your fridge/freezer/pantry waiting for something inspiring to jump out at you.
• Planning and prepping are the least favorite part, and biggest hindrance, in people preparing meals for themselves and their families.
• Getting everyone involved is even more time saved! If they're eating it, they can find something to do to help with the meals they will be enjoying. Even if they can't cook, they can probably wash, dry, chop, package, or clean up afterwards!!!

MONEY:

• There's less chance for mindless or extra items.
• No extra items will be purchased and left to waste away in your fridge because they already have a planned purpose.
• You won't be hitting up drive-thrus even though you have a fridge/freezer/pantry FULL of foods that don't make an easy meal.

YOUR HEALTH:

• Spontaneous purchases will be nil to none, so the healthful foods you truly mean to eat all the time will be there to keep you on track towards your goals.
• No more stress about what to eat after a long day at work, or for tomorrow's lunch, "Honey, what's for dinner?"
• It's almost stupid-proof! It just take a little practice!

Once this is part of your everyday life, it's becomes a mindless tactic on living it to its best! What could or would you want to do with an extra 30-60 minutes each day? Spend it lovin' on those you love? Spend it lovin' on yourself by finding a moment to do something you LOVE? Or, doing NOTHING!!! Ahhh....

This is what my kitchen looked like this week for prep

The first assembly line has begun! Washing, rinsing, drying.



Look at that bounty!!!



What doesn't fit on my drying rack I put on a large towel and..



gently roll it up!





When dry, I place them into towel-lined containers.





I keep all of the precious stems for soups and green eggs!



Round two begins!



Seeing that it's Thursday, I only had 3 of my weekly salads left to show ya, but this is the beauty I enjoy every day:)



Kidney beans, broccoli, sweet peppers, Mexican summer squash, alfalfa sprouts and salsa will be the dressing.

Butternut squash, red bell peppers, sunflower sprouts(my fave!), summer squash with green goddess dressing.

Sweet potato, celery, sweet pepper, sunflower seeds, summer squash and a white bean humus just peakin' out from underneath.

I made these on Monday, and look how fresh they are still today, Thursday! I reuse restaurant containers for my meals. If forgotten when out and about on my ventures- at least it had another short little use. If I were to pay for a local, organic salad at a restaurant it would be AT LEAST $8 for this size. The little bit of effort and large amount of love that goes into making these are well worth it. I hope this inspires you to take this baby step in living a bigger, better life. Let me know if you have little tid-bits that make your week easier and healthier!