It’s not Easy

It’s not easy to do all the things. It takes a lot of trial and error to figure out what will work best. Sometimes I don’t have the time, sometimes I get frustrated, sometimes I feel guilty and sometimes I am tired. On a typical food prep Sunday, I’ve got a baby strapped to my chest and a toddler standing on a chair so she can reach the counter to “help.”

I can’t remember the last meal that I ate at a leisurely pace. If I’m totally honest, part of the design of my meal prep includes the fact that it’s easy to chew so that it is easy to eat one handed and quickly. A burrito or a sandwich is really out of the question right now. Meal prep for me week can not take longer than an hour, that’s the amount of time I know that I have. I put rice in a rice cooker, meat in a skillet with a lid on to cook and divide a large bag of frozen broccoli between 10 containers for the week.

While those two things cook I’m likely folding laundry, playing with my toddler or nursing my baby….mostly doing all the things a mom does to try and avoid any meltdowns.

As much as possible my workouts are done while everyone is still sleeping. If that’s not possible; I let my toddler pack up her toys and bring her and her brother with me to play in the gym. I’m lucky to have what I need at home and I’m lucky to have a gym space I can bring them to.

But, none of this is simple. There is never a perfect time and you can’t let the ‘hard’ stop you from the things that are important to you. The hour I spend on Sunday to prep my own meals, saves several hours through the week. My toddler and I typically share my meals through the week and I’m thankful that she enjoys them.

The most ‘relaxing’ food experience I have is my morning drive when I enjoy my coffee with a sweet treat. Be honest about the season you are in, but don’t put any expectations on what this ‘should’ look like, more than nothing is the goal. And if you want help creating a plan, ask for it :)