Meal Preppin'

Okay, so this was a requested post and even though I don't know why anyone wants to know how I spend my Sundays, I decided to go with it.
This is my 4th week using Sundays as meal prep days and prepping for the whole week.
So umm.. I guess I'll just run through my Sunday with you guys?

First things first, the biggest thing I've learned is that meal planning is key. Way more important that meal prepping. I sit down before I decide to go grocery shopping and write out exactly what I'm going to eat Monday-Friday. I always consider 2 things -

1. What do I have going on during the week that week? Am I working athletic events any nights that week? Do I have any meetings any night that week? Etc.
2. What food do I already have that needs to be cooked or eaten to reduce waste?

Those are the 2 big things I've realized I need to plan around. So first I decide what I'm going to eat and then I make a grocery list for the things I don't already have.

The next step is to grab your purse, lock your apartment door, walk down to your car, start your car, get down the road, and then realize you've forgotten your grocery list.
Actually, to be efficient you might want to just skip that step.

Oh, but the next important step is to get to the grocery store, determined to not stray from your list.. but then you see that blueberries are on sale and that's unheard of! So you buy them. And then you mentally re-write your meal plan.

So alright, I'll be honest.. I didn't time myself food prepping. So I have no idea how long it actually took me. To be fair, It definitely took me longer than it usually does this time. One, because I had decided on a lot of foods that all needed the oven. Two, because I bought those damn blueberries so I had to make blueberry pancakes with them and that's time consuming-ish. Three, because I was doing about 6 other things while I was food prepping, so I didn't cook non-stop.
I'm bad at this, guys.

Here's a better/closer look at my plan for this week.

I made oven fajitas using this recipe.

I also made roasted sweet potatoes using this recipe.

 I made whole wheat blueberry pancakes using this recipe.

I cooked up some cous cous and veggies.

I baked some chicken tenderloins (i know those look huge, but they are, it's just a super small pan).

Things not pictured:

• Hardboiled eggs. (anyone with a super amazing tip on making them easier to peel? don't suggest it unless it's beyond amazing because i've tried everything)
• Cut-up apples for 2 days, soaked in lemon water.
• Diced a tomato for my salad.
• Cooked some brown rice.
• Portioned some peanut butter into little containers. (for my apples)
• I opened a can of green beans, because I already had them and I'm cheap.

Because I'm already anticipating some questions, here are some of the answers -
No fruits? Uh nope, not many.. I like fruit, a lot and fruit has a lot of sugar in it. I'm watching my sugar fairly closely right now, so uh yea.. Not many fruits.
Not counting calories? No, not right now. This isn't for everyone, but for me I KNOW what my portion sizes are supposed to be and I KNOW high calorie foods vs. low calorie foods. I just don't always do it. So currently I'm not keeping completely accurate track, because that's not where I struggle.
No cheese? I know.. I'm depressed. I'm trying to go very light cheese this week.. I love cheese. Ugh.. I miss it already.
So, what are you trying to do? All veggie, all the time. I'm trying to eat as many veggies as I possibly. It blows.

Okay, so here's another disclaimer.. GUYS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING!