The word “exercise” strikes fear in the most unexpected of hearts. Driven executives. Successful entrepreneurs. Multitasking super moms. Take-no-prisoners deal makers. The most fearless among us are sometimes taken DOWN by the mere mention of exercise or physical activity.
Even I – an exercise junkie – struggle with exercise fear on occasion. Like last night, when the anxiety manifesting in my stomach was almost enough to keep me from my spin class. (Almost.) And a week or so ago when I went for my first lap swim in probably 25 years (seriously). Water is scary. Just sayin’.
Whatever the reason…whatever the excuse…whatever the very-well-thought-out and perfectly valid, by the way, avoidance technique you’ve conjured in your head, I have a suggestion:
Photo credit: *Zephyrance - don't wake me up.
Replace FEAR with CURIOSITY.
Be a scientist. Be an observer. Be a BEGINNER.
WHAT IF I went for a walk around the block?
WHAT IF I trained for a 5K?
WHAT IF I hopped in the pool?
WHAT IF I tried a Pilates or yoga class?
WHAT IF I went for a bike ride?
WHAT IF…?
Curiosity makes it all a little less threatening. No performance goal. No expectations. Just “Hmmm…this is interesting. My breath is getting more labored. My heart is beating faster. My fingers and toes feel a little hot. My calves feel a bit tight. Hmmm…my left side is stronger then my right. I wonder why I feel like I’m working harder tonight than usual. Huh. Weird. What’s gonna happen next?”
Oh yeah…and don’t forget to breathe.
“Fear is excitement without the breath.” -Fritz Perls, MD
I went a little smoothie crazy this weekend…and remembered to write down the recipes for a change. (I sometimes forget that not everyone acts like a mad scientist in the kitchen, throwing in a little of this and a little of that.) Here’s what I came up with.
Tropical Green Smoothie
A rich and creamy treat featuring mangoes and coconut, this banana smoothie is so sweet you’ll never know you’re having spinach for breakfast.
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen mangoes
1 cup baby spinach
2 tablespoons almond butter (skip this for a lighter smoothie)
1 tablespoon coconut manna
1 teaspoon agave
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup ice
Blend in blender and serve immediately. Makes approximately two 8-oz smoothies.
Chocolate Monkey Smoothie
I made the “Chocolate Monkey” in response to a request for a “banana chocolate milkshake” from an ice cream and sugar addict. This deep, dark, chocolate and banana smoothie passed his test without a single flinch at the healthful ingredients tucked inside…and even got a sincere thumbs up (because his mouth was full of smoothie).
1 banana
1 cup almond milk
1 1/2 tablespoons organic raw cacao or cocoa powder
1 teaspoon agave
1/2 cup ice
Blend in blender and serve immediately. Makes approximately two 8-oz smoothies.
I’m in one. Big time. And my body just raised the red flag in the form of what I’m pretty sure is a stress fracture – or the beginnings of one – in my right foot.
I get it. I GET IT!! I’m running too much. I am training for a half marathon, you know? *sigh*
Problem is, no other cardio workout turns me on the way running does. Spinning is a close second, but – up until very recently – there were literally no spin studios in all of Seattle. (NYC-based Flywheel Sports has recently remedied this dire situation. More on that later.) I could cycle, but Seattle’s monster hills and less-than-attentive drivers cause me to fear for my life. I’ve considered swimming – planning to head over to the local pool later today, actually – but I’m already making all kinds of excuses. (I won’t bore you with the list in my head, but it mostly has to do with not wanting to deal with chlorine…or water.)
And then there’s the strength training part of my routine. Yoga is out – Downward Dog with a metatarsal stress fracture is NOT happening. Pilates is still in, but less frequently…because, frankly, I’m bored with it. Crossfit? Maybe; but it scares the hell out of me in theory.
I even tried to convince myself that it was okay to “take my birthday week off,” even though I started feeling really, really gross a day or so in…and started to make food choices that make me feel even worse. Neglecting self-care is a slippery slope, I tell ya.
The irony is that I’ve just started coaching an amazing group of women via Girl Power Hour’s Fit & Fab 30 Day Challenge. Just last week, I was helping one of them work through her resistance to working out while, in my head, I was thinking “Perhaps you should follow your own advice, Lara.”
So, ENOUGH! Here’s my plan (and how it works for you too):
- Get to the pool 2 – 3 times a week. Cycle 2 – 3 times a week. Translation: Try something new.
- Figure out how to get my bike in my car so I can drive to the Burke-Gilman Trail and ride – safely – there. Translation: Remove barriers.
- Book private Pilates sessions for once a week. My guess is that I’m bored because I’ve been training myself and doing the same stuff over and over. Hiring another instructor to kick my ass should solve that problem. Translation: Get support.
- Grab a ride with Flywheel. Yay! Translation: Circle back to stuff you love.
- Map out my May training schedule using the same half marathon training plan I’ve used for the past month, substituting swimming and cycling for runs. Translation: PUT IT IN YOUR CALENDAR! NOW!!
- Spend the next two weeks eating from the Clean Elimination Diet. My sugar and caffeine intake has ratcheted up as my training has slipped this past week. Time to bring my food back in line with my fitness goals. Translation: Maximize energy with food choices.
That should get me through May when, I hope, my foot will be back in business for running. If not, well, at least I’ve got an alternate plan in place and may still be able to run my race at the end of June. Translation: Keep your goals in sight.
What about you? What’s your plan to get out of your exercise rut and get back on track? Tell me in the comments.
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Make exercise – and the food that fuels it – FUN again!
Don’t forget: My 40th birthday celebration includes YOU! Save 40% on an individual health consultation or customized health coaching program when you book by May 15th. Contact me to schedule a consultation now!
Yesterday was my 40th birthday. All the cliché things were said – “It’s just not possible that you’re 40!” “Oh my god, SERIOUSLY?! I thought you were like {insert sufficiently young age here}.” “40 is just a number.” “You don’t look a day over thirty-{insert sufficiently small number here}.” – and, while these sentiments are deeply appreciated (seriously), the funny thing is that they’re almost unnecessary.
Before my b'day dinner. (Photo credit: AJ Epstein)
No one is more surprised than I to be saying that. If you’d asked me a year ago how I felt about turning 40, I would have uttered some half-truth like “Oh, it’s just a birthday.” But the truth is, I’ve been thinking about what this birthday means to me since this time last year…and about what I wanted to accomplish in my 41st year.
Manifesting change is a funny thing – there’s the germ of an idea at first, it percolates in your head and grows until, one day, you find yourself listing the things you’ve been wanting to do and realize that you’ve already done them or at least set plans in motion. Not only that, but amazing people have come into your life along the way.
Weird.
As I step back and think about how and why I am where I am – physically, emotionally, professionally – the pieces of what has felt like a pretty haphazard series of events have finally come together. And they all point to some variation of what I like to call “extreme self care.” Because, as Lao Tzu wrote, “If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.”
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Plan. Then go with the flow. I guess all of the things I wanted didn’t “just happen.” There was planning involved; but at some point, the planning has to stop and the letting go has to begin. And then the planning comes back in…followed by the letting go. You get the idea. Took me a little while to figure this one out.
- Move onward and upward. Alexander Graham Bell once said “Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the other that is open.” Confront challenges. Deal with them. And move through them…as quickly as you can. Stop looking backwards and keep your eyes peeled for that open door. (Do you see it? It’s sooooo there!)
- Listen to your body. My body is my single greatest source of information when it comes to having enough energy to actually make stuff happen. For example, as I write this, I’m feeling a little sluggish. I trained hard last weekend, so my first thought is of salt (especially given my tendency to eat sweet stuff instead of salty). I put the coffee aside, had some water, and then downed a Nuun electrolyte drink. I could almost hear my body sigh with relief (and feel my eyes open just a bit wider). It really is that simple. Learn to “deconstruct” your cravings. They’ll give you all kinds of great clues about taking care of yourself.
- Find inspiration every day. In quotes. In work. In your kids. In friends. In flowers. In new experiences. In art. Whatever turns you on, try to have a little every day.
- Sunscreen + Pilates = Eternal Youth. These two simple things are the secret to eternal youth (or at least to looking eternally young). I’m totally serious.
- “I get to” vs. “I have to.” Re-frame your day by flipping all of the “oh my god, I HAVE to”‘s to “I get to”‘s. This little mind shift makes all the difference in how you approach even the most frustrating tasks. (Just try it for a week. I swear it works.)
- It’s okay to be grumpy sometimes. I began a session with a client the other day with my usual “What’s new and good?” “Nothing,” she said. Ohhhh-kay, then. She immediately began apologizing for being so negative. “It’s okay to be grumpy, K.. Tell me what’s up.” Give yourself permission to be crabby when you have reason to be crabby (and even if you don’t)…it’s okay to wallow sometimes. It helps us process.
- Eat well, but not too well. Don’t take “extreme self-care” to an extreme. Sometimes eating that cupcake or greasy burger is the healthiest thing you can do. Easing up on healthy living can sometimes be the healthiest thing of all.
- Be grateful. Try to remember at least a few things every day for which you’re grateful – it’s the best kick in the pants when you’re feeling sorry for yourself. They might be as small as “I’m grateful for the daffodil that just popped up in the yard.” or as big as “I’m grateful that I closed that million dollar deal.” Point is that, even on days where it seems there’s nothing to celebrate, there is. You just may have to look a little harder.
- Change it up. This is a big one for me – I’m programmed to explore. It keeps the juices flowing. If you can travel, travel. If that’s not practical, take a new route to work tomorrow. Or go to a new coffee shop. Or walk down a block you’ve never walked down before. Even a small change in perspective will refresh your brain and power-up your “manifesting ability.”
- Allow yourself to wander. Sometimes things (and people and places) happen for no good reason. Be open to the possibility that they hold the clue to your true north.
Sooooo…for my birthday, I wished for and got: Sunday brunch with friends (scones + mimosas + way too much food at the Hi Spot Café on a brilliantly sunny, 70-degree Sunday…heaven!), an afternoon at the spa, an indulgent dinner at the Book Bindery with my foodie boyfriend, and shopping at Nordstrom. Still to come: a great half marathon in June (a personal record would be nice, but not absolutely necessary), a soul-expanding trip in the fall, and visits from dear friends and family throughout the year.
I also wish for you to be your best, healthiest, and happiest self this year. If I can help you do that, I would be honored, and want to make it easier by offering $40 individual health consultations (normally $75) + 40% OFF my customized health coaching program if you SIGN UP BY MAY 15. That’s a HUGE discount and one I probably won’t offer again anytime soon. So if you’ve been thinking of working with me to reach your health goals, give me a shout to schedule a consultation now – I only turn 40 once.
(You can go here to read more about individual health consultations and my customized health coaching program.)
Spring is in full swing here in Seattle. Flowers and trees have been in bloom for some time, but the surest sign of the season is streets crowded with sun-deprived runners and cyclists sans rain gear.
As we enter “the magic time” in the Pacific Northwest (well, almost…) – dry, 14-hour days filled with sun-drenched waterfronts, gentle breezes, and warm-but-not-sweltering temperatures – I’m training for my third endurance race, the Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon on June 23.
Maximizing my energy jumps to the top of my priority list when I’m running up to 26 miles a week (plus yoga, Pilates, and strength training in between). Whatever your workout or sport, these “energy-packed eats” will help you maintain steady energy throughout the week and boost it during your toughest workouts.
- Whole grains: “Whole grain” cereals are so heavily processed that they barely resemble the grains they came from (or the nutritional profile of those grains). Go to the source by turning the real deal – like whole oats oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, or farro – into sweet breakfast cereals or savory side dishes. Your body needs the fast energy of carbs during heavy training cycles. Stick with unprocessed grains for the biggest and most sustained boost. Oh, and by the way, whole grains are good sources of protein too. (Yep.)
- Nuts: A handful of nuts is a great quick energy source just before a workout. Here’s a list of nuts with the highest nutrient density (including protein) for the least amount of saturated fat.
- Eggs: I eat eggs pretty sparingly in general, but sometimes find that having one (or some egg whites, which cuts out the saturated fat) before a particularly tough workout keeps me going a little longer. Experiment and see what works for you.
Fresh fruit and vegetables: Load up on fresh fruit and veggies for a low-calorie source of carbohydrates. Most sports nutritionists recommend a daily carb intake of 60 – 65% during training or heavy workout cycles. Fresh produce will help you get that in without feeling heavy and sluggish.- Lean protein: I stick with fish, poultry, and beans to keep saturated fat to a minimum. Aim for 10 – 15% of daily intake from protein.
- Ground chia seed: It’s a “superfood” for a reason. Packed with protein, fiber, and a good balance of essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6), chia gives you more nutritional bang for your buck. Add a spoonful to smoothies or oatmeal for a nutty flavor similar to flax seed.
- Sweet potatoes: Yummy, starchy sweetness! Sweet potatoes are a great source of potassium, iron, and manganese – minerals that you’ll need if you’re working out hard. Try them baked with a sprinkle of walnuts and cinnamon – great for breakfast or a snack.
- Fluids: Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Even on non-training days, consistent hydration is a key part of keeping your energy up on your tough workout days. Try coconut water or Nuun for electrolyte replacement and good ol’ H2O for general hydration. (Note about coconut water: It doesn’t have much sodium, so be sure to eat something salty too if you use it for electrolyte replacement after a tough workout.)
Larabars: Still my favorite on-the-go snack for pre- or post-workout…and that’s saying a lot! I’ve tried virtually every “energy bar” on the market, and I always come back to the simplicity of Larabars. (Yes, I recognize the irony.) Just nuts + fruit – nothing more. Yum!- Avocado: A great source of potassium and unsaturated fat (can you say happy heart?!), avocado is a yummy addition to your training diet. Fats should make up about 25% of your daily diet when you’re training, so avocados are an easy way to get the healthy fat. I slice or spread it on a piece of multigrain toast and add a sprinkle of salt and pepper for a satisfying post-run snack. If you want something a little more interesting, try this Avocado Breakfast Sandwich.
- Pancakes! Okay, not exactly what you want to eat before a half marathon, but after? Ummm, YES!! Try my Blueberry Oatmeal Almond Ginger Pancakes: Carbs to replenish you; nuts with “good fat” and protein to fill you up; and ginger to keep the inflammation down. What could be a better “recovery meal”?
What foods do you use to keep you going for workouts or sports training? Share your tips and recipes in the comments.
Fennel bulb – sometimes called fresh anise – is one of my absolute favorite spring veggies. Don’t let your hatred of licorice deter you from trying this relatively mild, versatile, vitamin C-packed vegetable. I like it raw in salads at this time of year.
Here’s a refreshing and satisfying salad I threw together last week when a beautiful fennel bulb showed up in my CSA share.
Fennel, Mango, and Walnut Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette
1 bulb fresh fennel, thinly sliced
2 mangoes or other tropical/citrus fruit (like oranges), cut into 1 – 2 inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Dressing:
1/4 cup walnut oil
1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Remove stalks from fennel bulb and cut bulb into thin slices. Combine fennel, fruit, and walnuts in a large bowl. Put dressing ingredients into a glass jar and shake vigorously until emulsified. Pour dressing over fennel, etc. and toss. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 – 5 servings.
For more ways to use fennel bulb, check out these recipes.
Yep. It’s the obligatory green food post for St. Patrick’s Day. I’m Irish. On both sides. I couldn’t resist.
Besides, it’s spring. And spring means more dark leafy greens at the farmer’s market or in your garden…and a body that’s craving light and “expansive” energy as we enter a time of year full of new beginnings.
If you hate greens, don’t worry – I’d be willing to bet that you just haven’t found a type of green that you like or a way of preparing it that works for you. I could list the health benefits of eating greens, but that’s a total waste of time if you refuse to put them in your mouth.
Suffice to say that if you’re human, you could probably stand to sneak in a few more greens. Chard, spinach, broccoli, bok choy, mustard greens, kale, arugula, collards, beet greens, watercress, napa cabbage…the list is nearly endless. Make March the “month of greens” and try them all at least once. I bet you’ll find one you like (or one that you used to like but have forgotten about).
Once you find them, try these quick ways to prepare your greens:
- Blend them. Smoothies. Best way EVER to get in an extra serving of greens, especially if you hate them. Throw some greens into a blender with frozen fruit, a little agave syrup, some ice, nut milk, and a little flavoring (almond butter is my fav) and hit blend. You start your day ahead of the game, and with the right mix of ingredients, you won’t even know the greens are there. Some favorite combos: Blueberries + spinach + almond milk + almond butter + agave + cocoa powder. Mango + chard + coconut milk + cardamom + agave + chia seed.
- Sauté them. My default way to prepare greens for lunch or dinner is sautéed with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and a little sea salt. Garlic makes everything taste better.
- Rip ‘em to shreds. Don’t be all fussy about chopping dark leafy greens. With kale and chard, grab the stem and just rip the leaves right off. Then, tear them into bite-sized pieces before you cook them. Broccoli: Get a pair of kitchen scissors and cut the florets right into the pot. Done. Unless you’re a Top Chef contestant, no one cares…I promise.
- Blanch them. “Blanching” is just a fancy cooking term for throwing your greens in a pan with an inch or so of boiling water and cooking them just until they turn a bright and vibrant green. After blanching, drain your greens and toss them with your favorite oil (sesame and almond oil are great) and some nuts or seeds. Whatever you have handy. (Make sure your kitchen is stocked!)
- Toss them. Make salads with dark greens like spinach or mesclun – iceberg and romaine lettuces are mostly water and fiber – plus a few other yummies. To make a killer entreé-worthy salad, think sweet + crunchy + protein + a little fat. For example, apples (sweet, crunchy), avocado (protein, “good” fat), sunflower seeds (crunchy, “good” fat), balsamic vinaigrette made with extra virgin olive oil, and greens. Protein could also be beans, nuts, chicken, or some other lean meat (or fish, even). Great way to use leftovers.
- Cheat ‘em. Fresh greens are best but frozen or bagged will do the trick. Keep frozen broccoli in your freezer and bags of pre-washed greens in your fridge. They cost a little more, but they’re worth it for keeping greens handy!
What’s your favorite dark leafy green? How do you get a few extra servings into your diet each day?
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Is “what’s for dinner?” the scariest part of your day?
You’re invited to join me for Meal Planning for Busy People: How to Plan AND Prepare A Week of Meals in JUST 3 HOURS! on March 29, 2012 at 7p ET. Call-in from anywhere to learn how to build fresh, tasty, whole foods meals into your life WITHOUT spending all day in the kitchen. REGISTER BY MARCH 15 FOR $25 – ONLY 5 EARLY BIRD SPOTS LEFT. Learn more and register now!
Spring is here (almost)…everyone’s kicked into “how do I lose weight for the beach?!” mode. Whether you want to lose weight or maintain your current weight for the spring and summer, try these not-so-obvious weight loss tips…that don‘t involve dieting. (“Diet” is a four letter word. Just sayin’.)
- Rest and relax. First, sleep. When we’re low on sleep, we consume more calories AND are less able to burn them off due to hormone imbalances caused by sleep deprivation. Second, give yourself a break! Trying to lose weight can be all-consuming, creating more stress, which disrupts sleep, which amps up your cravings for sugar, which causes you to eat more, which…well, you get the idea. Many of my clients lose weight as soon as they stop focusing on losing weight. (Weight loss is sneaky like that.)
- Take a look around. “If you can’t change the people around you, change the people around you.” Study after study shows that the habits of the people around us – friends more than family – rub off on us. I’m not saying you should ditch all of your “pizza and beer diet” friends; just be aware of the influence your friends and co-workers have on your eating habits in particular and work hard to set an example by replacing the desktop candy bowl with healthy snacks or splitting lunch portions with a friend or co-worker.
- Eat real food. Avoid products with a long list of unpronounceable ingredients – they’re highly processed, lacking the nutrients your body needs. They’re also loaded with empty calories. Here’s a good question to ask yourself when choosing food: If I left this on the counter for a day or two, would it rot? If the answer is no, I’m thinkin’ you might want to pass.
- Chew your food. I know, I know. You eat fast…it’s just the way you are. Fair enough; but consider this: It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that you’re full. By slowing your eating, you’ll feel full and satisfied on less food. If slowing down doesn’t work for you, try the “10 Minute Rule” – after you eat, wait at least 10 minutes before you go back for more. You may find that you don’t want anything else.
- Eat a plant-based diet. You can still eat meat! Just choose plant food more often than not. Plant foods – like beans, whole grains, fruits, veggies – are typically lower in fat and calories and higher in filling fiber than meat and dairy. They’re also jammed with essential nutrients. Essential nutrients = happy body = weight loss when you least expect it.
- Move your body. Sadly, you can’t sit on the couch all day if you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight; but any kind of increased movement helps. If you really hate exercise, give this a try.
- Get support. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association stresses the importance of ongoing support for sustainable weight loss. It showed that monthly personal contact from a coach is a better indicator of sustained weight loss than self-directed weight loss programs.
- Have fun! Schedule time for friends, family, physical activity, and other stuff you enjoy. When you’re happy and satisfied in other parts of your life, you’re less likely to depend on food to fill the gaps.
Have you lost weight and kept it off? Share your tips in the comments.
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Are you ready?
If you’re ready to lose weight, have more energy, or just be your best you, I’m ready to support you! Schedule an initial consultation with me today and we’ll get you moving towards your goals ASAP. {you CAN do this! i’ll be right beside you.}
“Lara helps you develop a relationship with food that isn’t about deprivation or antagonism…[and] define the role of food as something to fuel and nourish you in every sense, with the ultimate goal of bringing out the very best in you.”
– Sarah Ruback | New York, NY
Read more Success Stories.
I created this recipe last month, inspired by a chilly day of snowshoeing in the very snowy Pacific Northwest.
It’s the perfect spicy + sweet treat for Valentine’s Day. And with the health benefits of cocoa and cinnamon (see below), why not cuddle up with your sweetie and enjoy a mug? (Did I mention that cayenne pepper is an aphrodisiac? You can thank me later.)
Lara’s Spicy Hot Cocoa for Two
Ingredients:
- 2 cups almond milk (or other milk of your choice)
- 3 – 4 tablespoons organic cocoa powder (Health Bonus: decreases blood pressure and improves cholesterol)
- 3 – 4 tablespoons of agave syrup
- pinch of cinnamon (Health Bonus: regulates blood sugar, reduces LDL “bad” cholesterol, reduces pain associated with arthritis)
- pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions:
Warm milk in a small sauce pan over low heat. Add cocoa to a small amount of warm milk and whisk until it dissolves, creating a paste. Add paste to rest of milk along with agave, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir and enjoy!
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Sweet Deal: Boost Your Energy and Optimize Your Health in 2012!
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My cookbooks. I only use one every week. I'll tell you which one in my Menu Planning 101 workshop (info below this post)).
Is “what’s for dinner?” the scariest question in your day?
You’re not alone. Figuring out what to eat every night (and every morning and every afternoon) can be a serious source of stress, even for those of us who “do food” for a living. How can you plan your food for the week when you barely have time to brush your teeth and shower every morning?!
Here are a few tips to get you started down the path of never having to hide under your desk when you or someone at home asks “what’s for dinner?”.
- Stock your kitchen. Make it a priority to stock your kitchen with some essentials – like dried or canned beans, frozen vegetables, common spices, several different grains (like brown rice, couscous, or quinoa), and some other basic ingredients that show up in lots of recipes (soy sauce, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, vegetable or chicken bouillon cubes, apple cider vinegar, red pepper sauce, garlic, etc.). This alone will make last-minute meal prep much easier. Here’s a shorter version of the pantry list I give clients.
- Make a date. Schedule 30 minutes in your calendar every week to plan meals, scan your pantry for missing pieces, and make a shopping list. Then, schedule an hour in your calendar every week to go grocery shopping. Make it at about the same time every week. I plan on Sundays/Mondays and shop on Mondays/Tuesdays…every week. It’s just as important – if not more so – than other regular meetings in my calendar.
- Cook once, eat three times. NEVER cook only one serving of a meal! That’s just crazy talk. Optimize your time in the kitchen by making enough food for at least three meals – for everyone in your house. That may mean investing in some industrial-sized pots for those of you with large families, but I promise it’s worth it.
- Buy food storage containers. Invest in some plastic and/or glass food storage containers in lots of different sizes. You’ll need them for leftovers that you can use later in the week (see #3).
- Hire a sous chef. Well, not exactly a sous chef; but it’s okay to order out one or two nights a week! Just choose your “sous chef” with care and make smart choices. A few places I like for less junky prepared food: Chop’t (NYC and Washington, DC), ZAW (Seattle), Whole Foods Market (nationwide), Dig Inn Seasonal Market/formerly The Pump (NYC), The Counter (California, NYC, Seattle, and several other cities in the U.S. and, oddly, Dublin, Ireland), Panera Bread (nationwide), and Pret A Manger (NYC, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and the U.K.).
What about you? How do you make it through a week of meals without going nuts? Share your tips in the comments. (And to become a meal planning pro, keep reading…)
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Be a weekly meal planning ninja!
You’re invited to join me for Meal Planning for Busy People: How to Plan AND Prepare A Week of Meals in JUST 3 HOURS! on March 29, 2012 at 7p ET. Call-in from anywhere to learn how to build fresh, tasty, whole foods meals into your life WITHOUT spending all day in the kitchen. Space is limited. Learn more and register now!
Lara Dalch holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia. She is a Certified Pilates Instructor – with certifications from both Core Pilates NYC and Power Pilates – and received her training to practice health counseling via the State University of New York and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.