Everyone looks forward to the weekend.  Two days to relax, destress from the work week and spend time doing the things we love.  The weekend is also a great time to set yourself up for success when it comes to your health.

I have talked about meal prepping before on the blog.  I believe that it is one of the most important parts of eating healthier.  If you have a plan and are prepared, making better decisions become like second nature.

I’m going to share a few of the things that I do over the weekend to help my meals during the week go quickly, smoothly, and healthfully.

Make bigger meals

This might not sound like a healthy tip, but it is.  On the weekends I have a little more time on my hands.  What I do with that extra time is come up with new recipes for the blog as well as make big meals.  I might do chili or other slow cooker meals.  I might make different kinds of casseroles or soups or stews.  Whatever I do, I make sure that I make extra.  The leftovers then become lunch for the rest of the week.  You can portion out the leftovers into individual containers that way you can just grab them in the morning and go.  If you have healthy food in your fridge that is easily accessible, that’s what you’re going to eat.  Spend a little extra time over the weekend and plan out a few big meals so you have your lunch ready to go!

Think about snacks

Snacks are another area that you can work on over the weekend.  Healthy snacks are really easy to make and again having extra time on the weekend is the perfect opportunity to set yourself up with some tasty snacks.  I like to make hard boiled eggs, spiced almonds, snack bars, and roasted seeds.  These are all simple snacks that last a while and are good to grab and go.  Pick out a few snacks that sound good to you and prep them over the weekend.

Cut it up

Buying whole fruits and vegetables are a lot easier on your wallet but can be a pain to prepare for eating.  Set aside some time to cut up your fruit and vegetables and portion out into containers or bags.  I like to cut up my broccoli and store it in big gallon zip top bags so I can just pull them out and cook them come dinner time.  Again, if you have healthy food ready in your fridge that is what you’re going to eat.

 

Get saucey 

Yeah, that was a horrible pun.  Get over it!  I am a huge fan of sauces, dressings, dips, and spreads.  These things are simple ways to add a ton of flavor and pizzaz to your meal.  Over the weekend I will make a few different sauces to use for my dinners over the week.  I know that store bought can seem like the easier choice, but the “simplicity” comes at a cost to your health.  It is just as easy and so much better for you to make your own sauces.  Some of my favorites to make in big batches over the weekend are cashew sour cream, hummus, and tomato sauce.  I also like to make a few marinades for Adam’s fish and my chickpea tofu.  Think about making one or two sauces or dressing on the weekend and then use them throughout the week in your meals.

These are just a few of the things that I take the time to do over the weekend.  I know it might seem like a lot of time spent in the kitchen, but it isn’t.  Break it up over a few sessions and it will be done in no time.  Or if you’re like me and like being in the kitchen pick one day and knock out all of your healthy prepping.  Once you’re done you will feel like you have accomplished a lot and you will be ready to face the week full of healthy food!

What are some of your weekend kitchen habits?  Are there any simple tips you use?