Tighten up your wallet and your belt

Remember being a kid, and sometime during the day you asked "what's for dinner?"?  You were not the person responsible for putting the meal together. You had very little control of the meal. You were either elated or whined incessantly when the said meal was served. Your plate likely had a serving of all things your guardian deemed 'good for a growing body'.  Now, as the adult in charge of meal preparation it is safe to say you make meals that you are craving. You fill your tummy with your favorites day in and day out. You resolve in January to eat a balanced, healthy diet, but you are overworked and exhausted at meal time and are influenced by your cravings.  This undoubtedly leads to overeating, and last minute fast food purchases or unbalanced food preparation. 

There is a solution: Plan your meals in advance. 

On a full stomach (and of course, after being motivated by Jo:Moma memes, blogs and tips) plan your balanced meals in advance. Grocery shop according to the planned meals. This way, at meal preparation time you are guided by forethought and not a tired mind and body. 

Attacking meals this way will ensure that you prepare a variety of balanced meals (hitting on needed protein, fibre, carbohydrates, fats....and eliminating, sugars, empty calories, etc). If you are not craving Monday's planned meal... Too bad. You will eat if you are hungry. Sound familiar? Not only will you avoid emotional eating (which is what eating your cravings frequently is), it will keep your grocery bill under control.  

Planning and preparing meals you aren't craving sounds like work. AND it is. BUT it is worth it. You will find that eating meals that have been planned to nourish your body, not fill a craving, will give you MORE energy. Of course you have favourite meals. You can still have them, but plan for it and look and see where they might lack what your body needs and make the necessary modification. Both your belt and your wallet will thank you. 

Stay happy & healthy

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