Question: I know fast food isn't good for me, but I just don't have time to cook! I work full time and I'm tired when I get home, so I feel like I have to choose between fast food or cold cereal. And cold cereal gets really old really quick? Any ideas?
Answer: Two words for you: PLAN AHEAD!!! This is truly the key to eating healthy. We all lead busy, crazy lives. I have a 1 year old, a 3 year old and a job. I know the meaning of the word "busy!" But, we have dinner at home at the dinner table most nights of the week. Believe me - it's not that I have any more energy or time than you do, it's simply because I do one thing: Plan ahead. Where I live, the ads come on Thursdays. I save the ads because what is on sale will play a role in what we will have for dinner the following week. I sit down on Saturday morning and come up with meals for the week. Looking at items on sale will give me ideas of things to make and I will also look on-line, in recipe books or in my recipe file. I then write down every day of the week and put a meal next to it. I know making dinner 7 nights a week may seem daunting or unrealistic. And I agree. We usually have at least 2 nights a week that we deem as "fend" nights where we eat leftovers from the previous meals. And if you eat out one night a week, that's okay.... as long as the other 6 are at home. So, that really only leaves ~4 meals a week you actually need to prepare. Now, that's doable! Especially if you use your crock pot (check out http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/ for ideas), 30-minute recipe ideas and other short-cuts. I make my grocery list as I write down our dinner meals and then I add some staple items of thing we eat for breakfast and lunch (cereal, milk, fruit, bread, etc.) And whala! The grocery list is complete! I go to the grocery store with one rule: Buy ONLY what is on my list! This will save you both time and money. Now, every night, you know ahead of time what's for dinner. Start it in the crock pot before you leave for work. If you live with someone, have an agreement that whoever gets home from work first starts dinner. If you know in advance that you're going to get home late, have that be a fend night.
So, plan ahead! And then enjoy a home-cooked meal nearly every night. Your wallet and your waist-line will thank you!
