With a new year often comes resolutions of nutritious eating and healthier lifestyles, but sometimes these goals are easier said than done.  At Citrus Pear, we love to help you reach your goals and keep your life simple.  One way to accomplish this is through prepping meals ahead of time. We love meal prepping (obviously) because it has been proven to:

1. Save time

2. Save money

3. Manage portion sizes

4. Lower stress levels

5. Help make more mindful eating decisions

That being said, it can also be overwhelming to get started. As a guide, remember Citrus Pear’s Six S’s for Simple Meal Prep:

Start Small

Focus on preparing only a few days of meals at a time. No need to bite off more than you can chew.

Strategize

What meals would be most helpful for you and/or your family to have prepared ahead of time? Do you need a quick healthy breakfast as you rush out the door to school? Possibly a nutritious lunch to take with you to work? Maybe you need dinner thrown together in a hurry between evening activities? Decide what meals you could use a little help with, then go from there.

Selections

Select meals/recipes with a combination of lean protein, carbohydrates, and colorful fruits or veggies to keep your meals balanced and exciting. Explore different flavors, cuisines, and recipes.

Storage

Choose a storage container that fits your needs. Many have divided compartments, side dishes for sauces, stackable lids, etc.

Shop

Once you have a plan, make a grocery list and head to the store. Having all the ingredients on hand will make prep time much quicker and less stressful.

Schedule

Schedule a specific day and time where you will be uninterrupted. During this time, cook and cut your protein, prepare your carbohydrate, and get your fruit or veggies washed, chopped and cooked (if needed). Once your food is organizedand ready, divide it between individual containers and refrigerate or freeze immediately.  

If this all sounds good but you still aren’t sure where to begin, try a few of our favorite ideas to get you started.

Breakfast:

• Bake and freeze whole grain muffins, waffles, or pancakes.

• Make overnight oats using yogurt, oatmeal and frozen berries for sweetness.

• Make individual omelets by mixing eggs, cooked meat, chopped veggies and cheese into muffin tins and bake.  Once baked and cooled, freeze and reheat wrapped in a damp paper towel in the microwave.

• Boil eggs to have on hand for a healthy protein (also a great add-in to salads for lunch)

Lunch:

• Make Citrus Pear coconut peanut pork loin.  Dice and divide into individual containers with cooked quinoa and roasted vegetable of choice.

• Prepare Citrus Pear chicken fajitas and portion into containers with rice and black beans.  Top with salsa or fresh avocado before serving.

• Make a salad with romaine lettuce and toppings of choice.  Be sure to add a protein such as hard-boiled eggs, Citrus Pear Balsamic chicken, or go for a Tex-Mex version with Citrus Pear chicken lime tacos, black beans and avocado.

Dinner:

• Prepare a large pot of soup to eat throughout the week.  Serve with store bought wheat rolls and a side salad.

• Prepare and refrigerate spaghetti sauce and toss it with noodles later in the week.

• Cook chicken (or buy a rotisserie chicken) and dice and freeze for use later in salads, pastas, enchiladas, etc.

And, last but not least, our favorite way to meal prep is attendinga Citrus Pear class! Spend 2 hours making 10-40 meals for your family that make dinner time a breeze. The dinners can also be prepared and portioned for easy, healthy weekly lunches.

Visit www.citruspear.com for more information.

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