When I discovered the SANE program and started reading The Calorie Myth, I didn’t think it was possible to eat twelve to fourteen servings of non-starchy vegetables a day. Yet, I was surprised to discover how simple helps have made it possible and tasty. Here are some of my favorite ways to make SANE eating possible in our family.
Make meal planning your new best friend. Create a simple weekly menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Create your shopping list from this menu knowing that any time spent planning will save you time and frustration when energy is low and hunger is high.
Count your blessings. Each day (or the night before) take a quick inventory of how many veggies you have planned for the upcoming day. It’s easy to add a side dish or change things up, but it will be helpful to know where and how you are getting your veggies.
Presentation is everything! Store fresh, washed, chopped veggies in clear glass containers front and center in the fridge. Make it look beautiful! Make it more convenient than anything else. Get in the habit of pulling these out for snacking at home, adding to a dinner or lunch, or grabbing on the go.
Make over your meal prep. Make the dreaded dinner hour easier by dicing, slicing, and chopping before meal time, if possible. Don’t make this complicated; just consider that sometimes pulling it out and putting it away feels like more work than it really is. If you can streamline your meal prep in any way¾do it!
Consider convenient items. If you are in a hurry, take advantage of baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, prewashed bags of spinach, and things like peeled and diced butternut squash.
Dinner savers quicker than you can say take-out: Boil a dozen eggs and use half for part of a cobb salad and use the rest for snacking. Roast or grill more meat than you’ll need for one meal, and double your soup recipe so you can freeze the leftovers.
Pack powerful lunches. When you prep your lunch the night before, you save money by using what you have and reduce the temptation to opt for other lunch options the following day.
Green smoothies for everyone. Blend a big batch of green smoothies. While you enjoy a big glassful, pour the rest in mason jars and refrigerate. Give it a good shake before slurping down, or even freeze the batch in plastic cups. Make sure they are nice and cold and include a straw for kids.
Love your leftovers! Many a meal at our dinner table is pieced together from portions of previous meals. It’s worth it to teach your family to appreciate the same meals in a new way! It saves money and time, avoids wasting food, and is a good way to keep family dining realistic. Add a big veggie tray or green smoothie to fill in the cracks.
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