Daily Specials

Tuesday's Tip

I believe that planning plays a huge role in the success of being healthy. It only takes a little bit of time and organization, so it's something you can think about as your're brushing your teeth before bed, driving home from work, or during commercials of your favorite show. I have shared my thoughts on planning out your daily menu before (check it out here!), but let's kick that up a notch and plan the dinner menu for the whole week! Of course, plans with friends or longer days at work might require a change in the menu as the week progresses, and that's just fine. One of my best friends, Abbey, is the oldest of 8 children, and her mom, while working full-time, would plan out the family's meals for the week. I always think to myself that if she can do it given her very busy schedule, anyone can do it! 

By the time you get home from work, people are hungry and wondering 'what's for dinner?'. If you haven't planned something, you might find yourself throwing together something that is easiest and doesn't require a lot of prep time, but those things aren't always the healthiest. When I plan our weekly dinners, I am able to have the meat thawed and marinating, so the star of the dinner show is ready to be baked, grilled, or sauteed. I am also able to ensure that we're having a variety of different things so we don't get bored of eating the same thing. A typical weekly menu in our house might look something like this: lemon chicken/whole wheat rotini pasta/green beans, salmon/rice/zucchini, veggie omelet/whole wheat toast/fresh fruit, chicken stir fry/rice/veggie assortment, homemade burgers/homemade steak fries/salad. I try to incorporate a lean protein, whole grain, and vegetable in every dinner to hit all of the important food groups. Then, it's all about the seasonings and marinades to make it delicious while staying nutritious. 

If you plan out your week on Sunday and prepare what you need to in regards to thawing meat and getting ingredients for the marinades, it makes the rest of your week stress-free and makes you less prone to ordering take-out when you're in a time crunch. Make it fun and call it the "[Insert Family Name Here] Daily Special" and have the week written out for everyone to see!