Thursday, November 1, 2018

The Importance of Planning

It’s 10:30 a.m. and I’m hungry. Craving something; I’m not sure what. I look in the refrigerator and then the cupboard, waiting for something to jump out at me. And something does. And it isn’t healthy.

One key tool I’ve learned over the years is to plan meals and snacks. It is a tool I should use more often but it is a matter of making time to do it and the food preparation. Food preparation and planning changes my focus from what I can’t eat to what I can. There are hundreds of good, healthy choices for me to make, if I just keep them conveniently available. 

Many people recommend taking one day a week to do the meal preparation. It works well to plan the grocery list and meals (including several snacks for each day) at the same time. I work in a meal of fish two or three times a week. As soon as I get home from the store I wash and prepare the fresh vegetables and fruit. I clean and slice veggies so I can have a crunchy snack any time of day, or toss them into a stir-fry or soup in a minute flat. It is time very well spent.

I need to keep the healthy snacks at eye level in the frig so they are the first thing I see. I boil a batch of eggs every week to keep handy for a great protein snack or salad addition. I stock snack spots with nuts and fresh fruit. And, this is important: I remove those highly-processed treats from the house.

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred,” (Proverbs 15:17 NIV).  

Planning gives me a guideline that makes the day go better. I can look forward to what is on the menu and I can relax in knowing things will work out well.

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