Meal planning for a busy life

[Hosey12]

What do you pack for meals on long days away from home? What are healthy, quick, and easy meals to make after a long day? I am back in college working on a second degree. Aside from attending lecture/lab five days per week, I also attend clincals at area hospitals two-five days per week. To top it off I work 30 hours per week, and I'm married with a messy house and two dogs. Needless to say, not enough time for cooking or preparing healthy meals on the go. Also, what is a good shopping list for someone trying to eat healthy on budget? I'd appreciate any advice, thanks 🙂

[JCY]

Hard boiled eggs, carrots, cut up cucumbers and strawberries, granola bars kashi baked cookies, sandwiches are most of my snack stuff and for (bananas and oranges and apples) dinner I just lean cuisine or lean pocket it. The main objective is to avoid vending machines, fast food, and some of the hospital cafeteria food. Good luck!

[StacyD]

I like to spend several hours on one day (usually a weekend) cooking my meals for the entire week. I usually make a big pot of brown rice or quinoa, a bean dish, a soup and a big batch of steamed veggies and a sauce or two, along with a huge salad. Then I mix and match during the week. For example, one day I may have the rice and beans; the next day I will roll up the rice and beans in a tortilla with some avocado; one day I will have the steamed veggies as a side, the next day on top of my salad with some black beans and salsa. Sometimes I steam a bag of those small fingerling potatoes and eat 2 or 3 cold as a snack. I also have Ziploc bags of grapes. Or celery or apples with almond butter. I also have a big bag of halo mandarin oranges in the fridge. You may also consider using a slow cooker (many are programmable) or even a pressure cooker, supper would be done fast.  Despite the temptation, I would stay away from processed foods, with your schedule you need to be mentally alert and able to focus and a lot of processed foods and foods high in sugar will make you sluggish (at least they do me). Eat lots of whole foods, fruits and veggies, bean dishes and whole grains. The Happy Herbivore has lots of free recipes on her website, most of her dishes are 20-30 minutes. She also has meal plans (you can buy one week or sign up for an entire year) where she lists recipes for the week, a shopping list, and step by step instructions for cooking everything on one day. You could pack a cooler or small lunchbox with your lunches and snacks for the day and then when you get home, just heat up the soup for supper. Best of luck to you on your second degree, I know how hectic that is, I just finished my MBA while working full time, my house was a wreck and more times than I would like to admit, I just bought more towels because I did not have time to do laundry! Lol!

[EmersonFitbit]

Berries, berries, berries!

[Sherri227]

I am super busy, I do 2 meal replacement shakes. They taste like cake and have tons of recipes. Check out http://SherriMarie.bodybyvi.com

[GameGirl]

I cook 6 chicken breasts and 2 bags of frozen vegetables; then cut and portion it into containers for easy grab and go meals.  Preparing things into 1 cup containers makes it convenient -watermelon, cantaloupe, berries, cucumber, pineapple, cottage cheese, to name a few.  Raw fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, and pears are easy to grab and go.

I second meal replacement shakes or protein shakes.  Those are quick and easy and healthy! I also buy a big bag of almonds and measure out 1 oz. portions.  Your plastic container collection might double in size; but you will be eating the correct portions and reusing instead of throwing away. Good Luck 🙂

[DblGee]

  A Seal a Meal with jar attachment and Mason Jars are your friend.  Pretty much anything  from Soup to Salad Veggies and any other kind of leftovers will stay crisp and fresh for about 10 days.  It's all in the planning and prep