How to Make a Green Smoothie- Recipes and Tips

Drink your salads!!!  Just think of your green smoothie as a way to get your green veggies and/or fruit in each day. Try at least getting in one 16-20 oz smoothie a day. Or replacing up to 3 meals a day and getting in 60 oz.   Here are some guidelines to make them and also a few simple recipes. 

The recipes can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for the day ahead. You may also find the need to tweak these recipes to your liking, which is Absolutely fine! Swap out the liquid with the liquid of your preference. Don’t have chia seeds?  Use another protein source, like almond butter.  Don’t like the consistency? Add more liquid.

As a base, I am gonna suggest starting off by stocking up on spinach, kale and maybe romaine lettuce. They are more mild greens and then you can go into arugula and collards which have a stronger taste next. Ideal fruits would be apples, oranges, berries, bananas and avocados.  They will add sweetness or a smoothness to your drink.  If you use at least 1 frozen fruit, your smoothie will already be cold. If not use ice.  

There are many guides, such as this one on how to build your green smoothie

Simple recipes

Here are a few recipes I came up with and found while reading more about green smoothies. Dont worry about exact measurements. A handful of greens.... is sometimes what you need. These recipes can make up to 32 ounces or 2 servings, give or take.  Pick 3 recipes and try them out for the day. If you have any recipe suggestions, please leave them below.

Beginners Breakfast

2 cups fresh spinach

2 cups water

1 cup mango

1 cup pineapples

2 bananas

Beginners Lunch

1 Cup Almond Milk

¼ Cup Kale

¼ Cup Spinach

½ Avocado

1 Apple

Honey or Agave to sweeten

Island Smoothie

1 Cup Coconut Milk

¼ Cup Spinach

¼ Cup Kale

¼ Cup Frozen Pineapple

¼ Cup Frozen Mango

Juicy Orange 

1cup of coconut water

1- 1 1⁄2 cups collard greens leaves,

1-1⁄2 cups frozen banana chunks

1apple (core removed, skins intact)

1orange (peeled)

1 to 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds

Immunity Smoothie

Handful of kale

1 cup frozen banana chunks

1 large apple

1/2 cup of frozen mango chunks

1/2 tablespoon of freshly peeled ginger

1-2 cups of water

Purple Dreams

8 oz or more of preferred liquid

2 handfuls of collard greens

1 cup of frozen banana chunks

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup of purple grapes or red apple

1 tbls chia seeds

Ginger Smoothie Recipe

1 banana

5 blackberries or small handful of blueberries

1 cup of water

1 tbsp fresh chopped Ginger

Handful of kale

1 tbls of chia seeds (optional)

4-6 ice cubes

Spinach Orange Smoothie

2 oranges

1 banana

2 handfuls of spinach

1/2 cup coconut water

1 tablespoon hemp seeds

Ice

Ginger Orange Smoothie

·         1 1/2 cups water

·         4 handfuls fresh spinach

·         4 romaine leaves (optional)

·         2 oranges

·         2 ripe bananas

·         1"-2" knob of fresh ginger

·         1 cucumber (optional) 

Which One is Better~ Blending or Juicing?

Juice or Blend?

Honestly, I like both methods. I see where there is a little confusion. Both juicing and blending have great health benefits and can aid in weight loss. No way is bad. We can all definitely use more fresh vegetable and fruit in our daily diet either way.

Juicing vs Blending

When you juice, your juicer extracts the juice from your produce, leaving behind the pulp. The juice is the water and most of the nutrients that was extracted from the produce. When you blend, the blender pulverizes everything. It pulverizes the entire produce, leaving behind no pulp to discard.

Juicing will remove the pulp or the insoluble fiber. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Here's why. The fiber slows down the absorption of some nutrients and some nutrients actually just stay in the fiber. So when you juice, your body is able to absorbs 100% of the nutrients in your glass. I like juicing because you are getting MORE nutrients in one glass. You have to juice like 4 apples, 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks and a 2 inch piece of ginger to get a glass and that's a lot of nutrients at once.

Cons- Juicing takes a little more produce, time and cleanup.


Green Smoothies are sometimes called 'Blended Salads' . They are generally lower in calories because they contain lots of water and fiber and it requires less produce to make them. But because of that insoluble fiber, you will fill fuller longer and you will actually feel as if you just ate a full meal.

Finally, My Thoughts on The Matter~

This week, I am actually gonna do both green smoothies and juicing. I am gonna do 5 days of green smoothies and juice on the weekend but also snack on fresh veggies, fruits, soups and herbal teas.  In the future, especially during the winter, I will incorporate at least one green smoothie in my diet daily as a way to get my salad in.

I think both green smoothies and green juice serve their purpose in a well balanced diet and can truly help with developing discipline, help with managing medical conditions and with certain food addictions. We need to learn to eat and our diets should include a variety of nutrient sources. We should not completely rely on green smoothies or juicing daily. I am a girl who enjoys eating. Eating whole foods and a salad or two wont hurt at all!

How to Make a Butternut Squash Soup- The Best and Easiest Recipe

This is simply the Best Butternut Squash Recipe. This is a good starter recipe that you can customize as you prefer. Last night was my first attempt ever at Butternut Squash soup. Its the time of year where there are different kinds of squash everywhere and last week, I bought one. I roasted it in the oven but then forgot to eat it. So before it was too late, I decided to try making a soup of it and freezing it for another day. It was everything you need in a soup with a bisque-like consistency. Not too thick, but hearty and creamy with just enough flavor. Here is a simple, quick and delicious recipe that I used to make the soup. 

Keep in mind that my butternut squash had been roasted prior to. It was cut in fourths and roasted in the oven at 420 degrees for about an hour.

You will basically toss everything into a pot. Boil and blend. Its super easy and super delicious.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup

Makes about 3-4 servings

1 large squash (about 4 cups cubed) or 20 ounces of  of precut squash

1 small green apple 

1 half red bell pepper 

1 half of a  medium yellow or white onion 

1 clove of garlic peeled and pressed

1 can of low sodium chicken/vegetable broth

2 cups of water

1 tablespoon of sugar (if squash and apple are not really sweet)

Salt 1 tsp or to taste

1/3 cup of heavy whipping cream

Chop all ingredients pretty roughly. Doesn't have to be perfect because everything is getting cooked down. Combine all ingredients except for the whipping cream in the pot. Cook on medium high heat until boiling. Then cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to cool (I didn't because I have no patience.) Once slightly cooled, puree the soup in the blender by blending the soup in batches, if necessary. I used my Ninja 72 ounce pitcher and poured everything in at once.  I kept the lid open slightly to allow steam to pass. I blended for about 2-3 minutes using the blend and ice crush settings until I was happy with consistency. 

Pour soup back into pot and add whipping cream and bring soup to a slight boil over low heat.  Stir well and determine whether to add more salt or sugar to the soup.

My soup was perfect and needed neither. Depending on ripeness of ingredients used, you may find it necessary to add some.  And that's it. Ladle it into a bowl. I added some cayenne powder on top and Greek yogurt.

ENJOY!!!!

Waist Training

I get questions periodically on waist training so I've spent some time looking into it. Here are some brief answers to a few questions I've received.

1.  What is waist training? Is there anything wrong with doing it?

 

Waist training isn't a new practice BUT it is a "new" popular and trendy practice. I see it everywhere from YouTube to celebrities and its growing in popularity. It basically a gradual process that involves wearing a corset for long hours at a time each day for and extended period of time (months/years) to compress your core. When wearing it as directed, it should decrease the size of your waistline and shape your midsection "permanently" over time. Not only has it shaped some but it has helped with posture and digestion of some wearers. One thing to take note of is that, it is a shaper. It does not cause you to lose weight or burn fat. The corset compresses, pushes and molds your body into its shape. It could make it harder to eat.   I personally do not feel that there is anything wrong with a corset. I do not waist train but if I wanted a certain look under or over a garment, I would wear one. Is the corset the problem? NO. It's the mindset. The problem lies more with those who are overly obsessive and their habits become physically and mentally destructive. You have to know where to draw the line. Unless, you are doing it for sport or to beat the world record. 

2.  How soon should I see results if I use my waist trainer?

Everyone is different. There is not really an average time where you can see results. Results can vary depending on your body size, shape and other factors.. Some may see measurable results in 1 week while others may not see anything changing in a months time.  Some experience a bulge on either end of the corset, while others smooth out pretty evenly.  Factors that come into play are genetics, length of time you wear your corset each day, days per week, are you incorporating healthier habits etc.  As with most things in life, there is a commitment involved. Even after you reach your goal, there is the necessity to do maintenance waist training to keep your new shape and curves. Sound familiar?? Of course, my feelings are that maintaining a proper diet and exercise regime will most likely help you to get better results.

3.  Does it shift internal organs?

 I've seen the crazy pics and it has been confirmed through x-rays that some types of waist training can shift organs. Now to what degree, I'm not sure. Every one is different  However, as  women, our organs do shift during pregnancy. Then after childbirth, things start to go back where they are supposed to be. So while shifting organs sounds crazy, it is one of those things that pregnant women go through. I can attest to that. I carried 3 children and pressure on organs and them being moved out of place is the reason why you have so much heartburn, or can't breathe or have to go pee so much.  Interestingly enough, after the birth of my twins in 2007, the Dr. sent me home with some sort of waist cincher. The compression definitely helped me feel more stable and kept my posture straight as my uterus shrank and everything else moved back into place. I've also read cases though where waist training can also lead to muscle atrophy and fatigue due to the muscles constantly being supported. So there is little strength when unsupported by the corset. (My back hurts thinking about it.)

I found a great article and video which shows a recent study done on organs and digestion. This girl's site is pretty informative.   Click here to view the video.

Of course there is a genuine excitement when trying any new product and there are tons of different kinds of waist trainers out there to choose from. From plastic boned waist cinchers to steel boned corsets and girdles to body briefers. Some tight-lace for fashion or special events and others wear their steel boned corsets for up to 23 hours a day for a more permanent change. Finding the corset and regime for you really depends on your individual goal. Even though I battle with my waistline, I'm not convinced enough to jump on  and commit to a waist training regime. 

One post cannot cover everything. There is so much more to learn about corsets and the effects of long term use on the female and male body. I would recommend taking the time to learn more about them before making a purchase. As with everything, 

MODERATION is KEY!

**I am not an expert on waist training. Neither do I  promote or sell waist trainers. The above post was written for informational purposes only and to address the questions of my customers. This post is purely my opinion and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical physician. If you are looking into waist training, talk to your doctor.**

I'm Not a Runner But....

I don't consider myself a runner. It's not really my thing. But, I do enjoy getting out the house and getting out on the lakefront. I'm pretty sure that's what I like most. I kinda like running through the park but there are so many distractions and people to distract, lol. I prefer the lakefront for the calmness and because for that hour or two I feel alone with just my thoughts and my music. 

I DO like organized races. I set a goal this spring to run The Biggest Loser half marathon in August. It was here in Chicago, along the lakefront.  It was a phenomenal experience on several levels for me. However, what I enjoyed seeing most was the fight. Some people could barely walk but they were out there to do 13 miles of it. I saw couples and families and best friends supporting each other and I was really inspired by that. It's a great feeling to see people of all ages, sizes and abilities out there. They set a goal and they are out to get it done. I love to see that kind of passion and determination. Its contagious. 

I'm not a runner but I've decided to sign up for one more race. Its coming up in about 5 weeks. Its the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k. I'm not too sure if the course is lakefront, so that will be different experience for me. I'm sure it will be scenic though and will get me inspired to get back out running for the next month.  I haven't been out to intentionally run in about 6 weeks but I will start back running 2 times a week, starting Oct 6th. This is in addition to my current Focus T25 and soon to be 21 Day Fix workout schedule.  

I signed up to do the 15k. Compared to that half marathon (13 miles) in the August heat, 9 miles is definitely doable. Its still a challenge but I absolutely know I can finish it strong.  This time possibly, I will start timing myself just for fun and to watch my progress throughout the month.  The weather should be cool but pleasant which for me seems to be better weather to train in. But what do I know? I have to find a runner to ask.

Meatless Meal Plans

Over the weekend, I shared my personal mealplan for my Meatless Week with my FB group.  I also shared with them one that includes poultry, fish, dairy and eggs with Wednesday being completely free of animal products. 

We all start somewhere, so I wanted this week to be 

adaptable for everyone.  Here are both plans.

This is my personal plan. If I create a plan, I generally stick to it pretty well. (I hate to feel like I've wasted my time.) I did get an eggplant and lots of fresh strawberries today so I will swap those foods in somehow this week.

What My First Half Marathon Taught Me

So now that my first Half Marathon is over, I want to share a little bit of what I learned.  There were so many different types of people. Different shapes and sizes, some well over 250 lbs, some with knee and hip injuries. Others were 50, 60, 70 years old. I saw best friends and couples walking and running.... 
All out there to hit those 13 miles.  

Seeing this inspired me and reminded me of something I already knew.  You cannot judge a book by its cover. Many of them could do a 12 minute mile with no problem. You cannot look at a person and assume they are happy and have support. Or look at someone who is  thin and assume they will finish the race faster than a person who is overweight. 2 years ago at my highest weight, I was still smaller then several people out there on Sunday. Yet, 2 years ago, I lacked the confidence and the stamina to do a half marathon.

Now, I average running/walking about 14 mins per mile. But, since this was my first experience, my goal was to simply finish the course without falling out.  I did have some problems. My foot started hurting at mile 3. Then, when they ran out of water along the course at mile 9/10, my mind started doubting that I could run any more without having water so I walked the last 2 miles completely.  But, I finished in 3 hours and 20 mins and I am Happy with that.

Starting my weight loss and fitness journey 2 years ago with Insanity, gave me the confidence I have today. Back then, I had no support and had to learn to do for me and believe in myself. It's my own journey and there may be ups and downs but I don't stop. Even when I can only do 1 or 2, I keep going because soon, its 5 and then its 15. And then, you cant tell me nothing, lol.  Today, I'm confident in myself and my ability to set goals.

Participating in this half marathon was a great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed those 13 miles. 

The question that I keep getting is.... "When is your next run???"  

My answer... coming soon.

3 Tips to Keep Yourself on Track This Weekend

We all work soo soo hard all week to get some exercise in and make good meal choices and then here comes Friday night and Saturday and Sunday!

On the weekend, if its not alcohol, its overindulgence in pizza and wings or cookies and cake. We literally throw all of our hard work out the door and then Monday comes and we feel like we are starting over. I have been there and have got to a point where I knew that my little extras during the week and my fun on the weekends was affecting me getting to my goal body. See, I had, and still have, the exercising part down pact. But I had to start asking myself, "Is this extra slice of caramel cake or having another glass of wine worth me throwing away all my hard work this week?" Nope. Its not going to make me feel or look cute on nobody's beach!


I'm all about 'All Things in Moderation.' I love fresh baked goods- cakes, cookies, cobblers, pies, french breads, biscuits and rolls. And, I like to have a glass of wine with. But, I honestly had to seriously ask myself how I really felt AFTER I would overindulge in them. Truthfully, when I'm tasting and sipping, I feel great and excited. But afterwards, (when my sugar high goes down) I don't.  I start to feel disappointed in myself. I often would feel like, "Why couldn't I just stop at 1?"

And at the end of the day, I know how AMAZING I feel when I give my body the foods that are good for me and drink enough water. I have enough energy to get through my day and more and I just feel good all over.  

Making changes DID NOT happen OVERNIGHT for me. I have a family of 5 and sometimes, I'm thrown for a loop with the constant changes in our schedule.  But, I want to say, it is POSSIBLE. Here are a few tips to gain and maintain control on the Weekend!


1.  Eat Before You Go:  If you know that you are headed somewhere where there will be no healthy food options, have a healthy meal before you go!    If you go hungry, you will eat more. If you are not hungry, you are satisfied with nibbling on the fruit and veggie tray. If you have some of the party food, watch your portions. You already ate, Remember??  Then, instead of pigging out, Be More Social.
2.  Drink Plenty of Water:  Stay hydrated and limit the alcoholic beverages. Having several drinks usually means eating more. They go hand in hand.

3. Be Committed:  Believe your own commitment and tell the people you are with. Let them know what you are doing and that you wont them to help you stay accountable. Sometimes telling others helps us to stick with it.

You've worked too hard to get where you are. Stick to your guns. 

You deserve to reach your goal because you are worth it!

 YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!!

Free Calories Can Still Make You Fat!

Stop Eating When You Really Don't Want To

I know one of the biggest problems I have is eating food when I really don't want to. It may be because it's free or someone made it for me, so I feel obligated. I'm still really working on this but 

I am getting better at this. Here are a few ways to avoid rationalizing in those moments 

and adding extra calories and fat to your daily diet.

It's a special occasion.

Usually good times with family means lots of food. Usuallly the food is not healthy for us and we overindulge.  You dont have to deprive yourself but be reasonable and have a small portion. Depending on the occasion, you can plan something that takes the attention off of food. Bring a game or a movie or an idea that will get the whole family up and moving.

I deserve it!

Yep, dont we all. If we have had a bad day or a really good day, shouldn't we treat ourselves.   Food should NOT be the reward. Instead, try relaxing or treating yourself with other activities that are rewarding. For instance, give yourself time to take a long bath, a massage, take a walk or call an old friend to say hello. 

It's Free!

Free food at work, at the grocery store, samples at the mall..... Free calories still make you fat!  Before you pick it up, ask yourself, "Would I eat this if I had to pull money out of my wallet and pay for it?" Probably not.

I don't want to be rude.

Maybe someone baked you a pie or cake. Or maybe you are just at someones house and they have food  prepared. Dont feel obligated. Politely pass on certain foods if you know wont help you. If you feel like there is NO Way you can say "No" then, only put a very small portion on your plate.

I should clean my plate. There are children starving in other countries.

There are children and adults starving in some places, but in reality, you finishing your food doesn't help them. I do understand the thought behind it which is being appreciative of what you have by not wasting. Best thing to do here is to practice portion control BEFORE eating. So while fixing your plate, only put a reasonable serving on it. If you some left over, dont be afraid to pack a take home box.

Hope these couple tips help!

Stay on Track!

Self Love Times 20

Simply put... 20 Things I LOVE About Myself

This list is whatever came to mind within 15 minutes. I felt like this was a good exercise to do to simply remember a few things that I honestly love about me.

1. I am genuinely positive.
2. I love that I have a good heart and honestly do to others as I want them to do to me, forreal.
3. I'm a pretty good cook.
4. I'm a fun mama! My kids and their friends know I rock!
5. I am pretty creative and crafty, (not always neat) but still can come up with a good design nontheless.
6. I have learned to take time for me, even if it is just a nap. 
7. I have good business sense. I have had that knack since I was about 11 years old.
8. I am loyal and value the relationships I have.
9. I love that I can be high maintenance about my hair and skin products one moment and the next moment run out the house in sweats with my hair pulled back and shea butter on my face. 
10. I put thought into being a good wife and mother everyday. That part of my life is not on auto-pilot.
11. I love that I look good in most colors.
12. I like my hair even on bad hair days.
13. I'm curvy.
14. I love that I'm ok with learning something new. Even if it is Minecraft, Lego Batman 2, Little Big Planet and I'm being taught by my kids.
15. I love that I listen before I react. Great quality to have. 
16. I love that I have a strong faith in God.
17. I love that I know how to sew, a little bit. That skill comes in handy a lot!
18. I love that I will do whatever it takes at any given moment to support my family.
19. I love my legs. They're Hot!
20. I love that I've learned to set goals for myself, set a strategy and get there.

What do you love about yourself??

Comment below or if you have a page or blog, leave the link in the comments 

so we can all check it out.

OMG, I Messed Up!

So last week, I thought it would be a perfect week. With my children being out of school and my schedule being slightly lighter (I thought), I figured I would have no problem keeping everything in control.

WRONG!!
Last week probably was one of my worst weeks since starting T25. I was so much more busier than I thought. I missed 2 workouts and my eating wasn't exactly controlled. When I overeat, its normally on something like almonds, peanut butter or granola cereal. I don't buy a lot of junk food.
But, I bought some Doritos last week for my kids. I bought the family size jumbo bag. The crazy part is, I don't even eat Doritos! But those Spicy Nacho Doritos attacked me and I fought back with a bottle of Cholula.  And it was great. LOL!

My Weapon of Attack

Anyway, so glad that's over!
So this week I've started my mealplan, which I will post later. I am basing it off the T25 nutrition Get It Done Nutrition Guide. Although, I don't cut out food groups, for the next 2 weeks I am cutting out dairy, white sugar and anything carb that is not complex. Getting back to business. I have to do this because I find that when I eat junk food, I start to crave it (I think they put drugs in it). So when I do a stricter plan for a week or two, I do way better in the long haul.

Now the only other thing is "Do I Re-Do last week??" As a coach, I get this question a LOT. Here is my answer, "NO!" I never go Back. Only Forward Motion for me. So I will be completing week 5 this week and moving on to the Beta Phase next week. This is of course, my opinion and if you prefer to Redo a week, there is no harm in it.

I don't turn around

Be kind to yourself! If you happen to mess up, Its NOT THE END! 

You always have the control to get back in and change the story! Never forget that!

Connect with me:

Coach Lanise 

FB- Fithoney

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I can help you earn and income while getting fit!

Email me for more information.

coachlanisemartin@gmail.com

How To... Meal Prep For Busy Moms

Once or twice a week, I take 2 hours to cook meals for 3-5 days at a time.TIME is my biggest asset so I try to manage it well.  Being organized helps me do this. I start with planning my meals and my family’s dinner for the week.  I am married with 3 children and I work full-time from home.  I have a pretty full life and planning is NOT my strongest trait. I used to be pretty organized but once we had children, our days can change in the spur of the moment.

My mealplan is in line with my fitness goals. I typically plan for Mon- Fri. The weekends are a time when we may eat a special breakfast, dinner or try new recipe. I recommend finding a time that works for you. I work better when everyone is in bed, so I can prep quickly and in peace.

I may begin prepping at 11 pm sometimes.

To make a mealplan, I generally look through the meal guides that come with my fitness programs. Once I have a plan. I look over my pantry, fridge and freezer to see what I need to add to my grocery list in order to make the meals on the meal plan.  And once the grocery list is made, I head to the grocery store. If its early, I get to shop and prep on the same day.  That way, everything is ready to go, once it hits the fridge or freezer.

Groceries

Before prepping my kitchen is pretty clean. My countertops are clear because I will need to use all the space I have. I use both the stovetop and the oven at the same time. This is a BIG TIP- USE BOTH THE STOVE AND OVEN. First, I preheat my oven to 400-425. Then, I put on the grains because QUINOA  and BROWN RICE usually take about an hour to cook.  While the grains are on a low simmer and covered, I wrap a few sweet potatoes in foil and put them in the oven. They need about 45 mins to cook. The foil keeps them contained.

sweet potatoes

Quinoa and Brown Rice beginning to boil

Next, I move on to the meats. Chicken breast, Ground Turkey, Steak and Shrimp are easily prepped for the week and are usually easy to make a variety of FAMILY MEALS from.  I take 2-3 chicken breasts, remove fat and rinse them. For one, I may do a taco-like seasoning. The others may be something simpler like pink salt and pepper.  I put them in baking pans, cover them and put them right in the oven.  Steak follows the same method. I season and cover it and put in oven.  Now my oven work is done.

Seasoned Chicken Cutlets

A few seasonings that I normally use

Moving back to stovetop, I cook and brown 1-2 pounds of ground turkey seasoned with pink salt and pepper.  The shrimp is precooked, so I season it well usually with something spicy, wrap it in foil and put it in the oven later to bake the seasonings in.  At this time, 10-12 eggs are put in a pot of cold water and on the burner to boil.

Ground turkey browning, while brown rice, quinoa,  and boiled eggs are on stove.

Spicy Shrimp

Another type of chicken cooking on the stovetop while eggs and grains are cooking.

I move to my table to wash and chop my veggies. I like to do medleys. Medleys are just a little more fun. So I chop, pair together and season my veggies- Broccoli and Cauliflower, Carrots and Zucchini, Colored Peppers and Asparagus. Then,  I and either steam or sauté them on the Stovetop.

Lastly, I chop any fruit that needs chopping and by this time everything is fully cooked and ready for the next step.

Peppers and Asparagus Medley

Fresh Pineapple  

Now the FUN PART…..

The ASSEMBLY LINE!   Here is where I line up all my containers and storage bags.

I do measure my meats using a food scale that cost me about $7 or I use my 21 Day Fix containers for portion control.  In this example, I am using the colored portion containers.  

Breakfast this week will be fruit and yogurt with All Bran cereal. I measure out all fruit and cereal and put in a baggie or container. Making it easy to grab without thinking in morning.  Lunch for me is simple- SHAKEOLOGY. I usually blend with a low calorie almond milk or water and then add my favorite extracts, almond or caramel.

Mixed fruit in 21 Day Fix Purple Container

Snacks- 10 baby carrots/2 boiled eggs/almonds/fruit – Measured out and put in bags.   I put a different meat in each dinner container and then add veggies and a grain/potato of choice to each.  For added flavor, I toss in a lemon wedge, spray Braggs liquid amino acids, or squirt hot sauce on top. My dinners are complete.

My Meals Are DONE!!

Meals prepped for the week.

 And now for what I call the "Mama's Touch." 

This is done to make sure 

NO ONE TOUCHES MY FOOD.   

My children and husband all eat pretty healthy and if its fresh, it doesn't last long in our fridge. So in order to protect what's mine, I have to do a little extra. I bag my Breakfasts, Snacks and Lunches in larger Storage Bags and store all my food on the top shelf of the refrigerator, heehee. Since my freezer is at the bottom, the top shelf is normally ignored. '

Bagged Breakfasts, AM and PM Snacks

My meals on the top shelf of the refrigerator

(Here are some meals that can be prepared for a Family using the foods I prepped earlier in the week.)

And For My FAMILY MEALS-

 Ground Turkey, Brown Rice, Peppers and Asparagus= Tacos with Rice and Veggies

Chicken Breast and Carrots/Zucchini= Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Veggies

Steak, Quinoa and Broccoli and Cauliflower= Steak!!! They love Steak

Shrimp and Broccoli and Cauliflower= Shrimp Alfredo with Veggies      

Chicken/Steak, Quinoa and Peppers and Asparagus=  Chicken or Turkey Wraps with Quinoa Pilaf

***Keep in mind that I do wash my hands frequently during prep to prevent any contamination.  I actually think I keep water running the whole time.  And my kitchen may NOT look so pretty during the process. But, I love the way it looks when everything is on and cooking simultaneously because I know that my load during the week will be much lighter. I do freeze some meats after cooking, if it will be consumed later in the week and veggies are cooked only slightly to 

preserve a little crunch.***

I hope this helps you to see how easy it is to prep. 

If I can do it, I'm sure you can. 

Once you do it a couple times, it will be a breeze.