We all have shared interests, but as the foodie that I am, the first thing that comes to mind is food! We all must eat, and we all have our culinary habits and challenges when cooking.
Cooking can be Tricky. I am not sure about everyone else, but I find it challenging to find time and energy to cook each day between my daily activities. Not only does the world expect me to cook practically every day, but it also expects me to be conscious of the foods I consume. Cooking can be challenging, stressful, and time-consuming, especially for those who eat three or more meals per day and have others to cook for.
I have developed and learned life hacks to make my days easier in terms of cooking.
Meal Prepping
Meal prepping has become increasingly popular as a result of social media. Yet, weeks later, we’re back together, and I’m noticing a pattern. The world frequently tells us what we should do, but it rarely informs us how to do it. Let’s just say I battled for us to succeed together. My first idea is to make a weekly schedule.
First, consider how many meals you have to prepare every day, which days of the week you have the most time to prepare if you snack frequently, and how many times you can eat the same dish before becoming bored. Now, remember, sometimes we’re just craving something particular, so it’s okay to deviate from the plan.
I recommend starting with one of your favorite meals when planning your first meal prep venture or trial run. This way, it is a recipe you are used to, and it may be easier to make it in bulk. Hopefully, it isn’t anything that will spoil soon, as you will be less likely to get weary of it as time passes.
Once you have settled on your week’s menu, it’s time to make a shopping list. Hopefully, you made a list that included fruits, veggies, snacks, and food storage. A fast suggestion for fresh fruits is to cut them up and freeze them to reduce the risk of going bad over the week. It’s a good idea to revise your grocery list and organize the items into groups. This way, you won’t find yourself walking in circles at the grocery store.
Now that you have your ingredients, food containers, and the time. It is time to chef it up. Hopefully, your meal is not too intense, and your components can easily be stored together without any hassle. I recommend adding toppings such as dressing before eating rather than letting your ingredients soak up the sauce and become soggy over the week.
Meal planning has shown to be really advantageous in my daily life. It has reduced my day-to-day stress because I am no longer concerned about what I eat or finding the time to prepare the meal. It has provided me with extra free time to unwind after a long day at work and a sense of accomplishment. Overall, it has enhanced my connection with food by broadening my palate, understanding how different foods make me feel, and not allowing societal norms to stifle my objectives and habits.
Listen to your Body
Intuitive eating is a way of eating that is comprehensive. The goal is to obtain health by listening to your body and freeing your mind from any limits imposed by society.
After each meal, pay attention to what your body is telling you. Are you exhausted, energized, nauseous, or perhaps still hungry? Hopefully, you will notice how your stomach affects your mood, energy level, and happiness over time.
Comment below if you’d like to know more about intuitive eating.
Take it all in
Meal prepping looks different for everyone and changes from week to week due to family size, energy level, religion, nutritional demands, and availability differences.
Patience is required because this is an adjustment. With fast food readily available or cooking every day, we’ve grown accustomed to eating something different for each meal. In comparison, that is okay. Each person has a style that works for them. However, if time management and stressful days due to cooking have been a problem for you in the past, I hope this may be of assistance.
As a wise person once said, “Great food puts you in a Great mood.”
Before making any significant changes, consult with your doctor.
D’Erika Cromartie✨
Spanish 
English (United States)