How to plan meals when you’re busy

I lead a busy life, and I’m sure there’s many of you out there who do too. I have no time to cook during the week, as I’m up early and home late and then on my way to the gym before I let myself get too tired to not go. My everlasting question therefore is: how can I make sure I get plenty of food into my stomach that is not only healthy, but also tasty, yet doesn’t take up too much time? If that’s a question you’re struggling with as well, then read the rest of this post as I will be sharing my tips with you.

Tip 1: Save time in the mornings

I am not a morning person. I like to staying in bed as long as I can, so any steps that I can skip on my early mornings, is a bonus. one step I’ve been skipping is meal prep. I always bring my own lunch to work and I prep my meals the night before so I don’t have to cut any veggies with a foggy and drowsy brain. I gather every bit of food I plan on packing for work the next day and put it together on a shelf in my fridge so I can’t forget anything.

Tip 2: Use your spare time wisely

Apart from prepping meals the night before work, I also prep food during weekends. I don’t have time to cook once I get home so I do most of my cooking on the weekends. Usually I save Sunday’s as my cooking/ baking time. I make it the first thing I do that day, then I go through my pile of dishes and I have the rest of Sunday off to do whatever the heck I please.

Tip 3: Make lots at the same time

And when I’m cooking on Sunday I try to make it worth my while by making meals that I can make in bulk and store in the freezer. Cooking meals ahead of time and storing them in the freezer ready to be reheated when you need them makes for a quick and easy way to grab some healthy grub. Since you made it yourself you know exactly what went into it and shelf life is roughly 2 months so you can make for a bit more variation in you meals too.

Tip 4: Take it easy

I do like to try and make freshly cooked meals one other time of the week. But since I’m pressed for time I have to make sure they are easy meals that I can whip up in 10 minutes tops. I usually resort to eggs or smoothies. Omelettes with veggies such as spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper and cheese make a great dinner, boiled they are a quick and easy breakfast and if you want to go fancy you can always try turning them into muffins. Smoothies can also be a meal, but then I usually ensure they contain some form of veggie and protein powder to give them a bit more body. My current favorite is a beetroot smoothie with yoghurt and blueberries or raspberries.

Tip 5: Double it up

Lately, I’ve been finding meal prepping the night before a bit too much of a chore, so I’ve decided to do something a lot easier. I now eat dinner at lunch time. That’s right, instead of chopping up a salad at night, I simply take a meal from my freezer and heat that up at work. I am blessed to be working at a place which is equipped with a microwave. I now try to have that salad at night. So far I’ve been loving this change up as it makes for fresher salads and dinner time meals are much more appropriate for lunch I find.

How do you plan your meals at busy times?