Healthy decisions start at home (not at the grocery store).  Healthy eating starts with choosing the right ingredients. It is much easier to make a healthy meal if your kitchen is properly stocked.  Think about your menu ideas when adding foods to your list. Make sure to always bring a list when grocery shopping.

It is unlikely that planning ahead will ever feel convenient, but without a plan, you will make decisions when you are too hungry and have to make do with whatever is convenient.  Being unprepared creates negative food experiences and can make you feel out of control. Having a consistent day that you meal plan and make a grocery list will help you stick to your plan and create a habit that you won’t want to break.

Meal planning means a lot of things to a lot of different people.  It can mean planning for the entire week on a specific day. It can mean batch cooking and repurposing the food over a set number of recipes/servings.  Or it can simply mean having a plan in place to avoid drive through or carry out.

Ashley and Samantha’s Staples:

• • Peanut butter/nut butter

• • Eggs

• • Sweet potatoes

• • Oatmeal

• • Olive oil

• • Fresh Fruit

• • Bagged fresh greens (arugula, spinach, kale)

• • Zucchini

• • Carrots

• • Celery

• • Broccoli

• • Cauliflower

• • Hummus

• • Avocado

• • Plain Greek Yogurt

• • Lean protein (chicken breast, ground beef/turkey/chicken), lean steak

• • Cottage Cheese

• • Milk

• • Lentils

• • Whole grains (quinoa, farro, barley, brown rice)

• • Spices/herbs
  • Unsalted or low sodium nuts