Preparing for a busy week!

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Today is officially the last day of my nice and long 2 week spring break, 2 WEEKS! Thank you Bastyr, reason #234565 why I love you. Really though, I can honestly say I LOVE my school, and for that I am forever grateful!

Spring quarter, and my last quarter of my first year at a university! This is something I am very proud of. College wasn't something my parents ever pushed on me. They have always done a really good job about giving my sisters and I the option to do what we wanted. I think that deep down they knew, and trusted we would make the right decision for us. I chose to pursue college, and even though it was a scary thought, thinking about how I'm going to pay for it, or if I'll be able to make it through the college level classes, I never let it stop me. I had a dream, and I made it come true. The saying, "You can do whatever you set your mind to." couldn't be more appropriate for this situation.

That being said, I'm getting back to the school grind on Monday, and this consists of long days full of lectures, hours of homework, and a whole lot of learning! This means, that if I want to eat, and I want to eat well, all the while avoiding hangry Kelsey, I need to be PREPARED!

A typical Sunday during the school year for me; grocery shopping, getting ALL the essentials, then preparing food! For me personally, full on meal prep doesn't work. I know that I probably won't crave the meal I made for Wednesday, on Wednesday, and it could end up going to waste. Instead, I cook, cut, clean anything that will make my life easier when it comes time to eat.

This could be different every week, depending on the items I choose to buy.

This week it looks like this....

  • Homemade hummus
  • Precooked black beans
  • Quinoa flour waffles
  • Ground turkey/ turkey meatballs
  • Quinoa
  • Homemade marinara
  • Roasted chicken
  • Bone Broth
  • Roasted sweet potato
  • Roasted green beans
  • Spiralized zucchini
  • Blanched asparagus
  • Kale chips
  • Homemade hemp milk
  • Oat & dark chocolate energy bites
  • Chopped celery, cucumber, and peppers.

I kicked some serious butt today, and took roughly 3.5 hours to prep ALL of this. And thanks to my mama for teaching me to clean as I go because the clean up at the end was simple, just how I like it!

(Above) Left: all the food prepared today.          Right: food I will use for lunches and dinners.

(Below) Left: food I will use for breakfast               Right: food I will use for snacks

To give you an idea of some meals I'll most likely throw together with these items ( attached are pictures of meals I've made in the past, be on the look out for full recipes of these)...

Corn tortilla tacos or tostadas:

(ground turkey or shredded roasted chicken, black beans, sweet potato or butternut squash)

Burrito bowl:

(black beans,ground turkey or shredded roasted chicken, quinoa, sweet potato or butternut squash, and any precooked veggies seasoned with spices like chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, chipotle powder, and/or cinnamon)

Pasta:

(red lentil pasta, spiralized zucchini, turkey meatballs, marinara, asparagus seasoned with salt, pep, and Italian seasoning)

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Chicken zoodle soup:

(bone broth, spiralized zucchini, shredded roasted chicken)

Snack plate:

(pre-cut raw veggies, hummus, sliced roasted chicken breast)

Sweet or savory waffles:

(quinoa flour waffles + whatever toppings )

Sandwich:

(sliced roasted chicken breast, hummus, cucumber)

Food prep can take a lot of time, and it may be hard to get the motivation, but I will tell you it is worth it. I know that after my long days at school, I will be thanking myself for taking time out of my Sunday to make all of this. I hope that this motivates you at least a little bit to take the time to prepare, or gives you some ideas to use when you do take the time to get prepared.  Now lets rock this week everyone!

-Kels

 

Kelsey DuBois