Prep time
I’ll be honest, shopping, cooking, and eating “Outside of the Box” requires a commitment. Having a plan of action will save time and ultimately make the days easier.
For most folks, one of the biggest challenges to eating and living “Outside of the Box” is being prepared. On the food front: Being prepared means of course grocery shopping, but it also means once home with the goods taking it one step further — prepping. Slicing and chopping the fresh produce, hard-boiling eggs, making side dishes, making a pot of beans and/or grains, packaging up nuts and grains, etc.
Though, I am fortunate to work for myself from home or near home. I still benefit and stay on track better when I am prepared. I dedicated part of my Saturday to prep time. So, this week when I’m blogging and my stomach starts grumbling I can just go grab a quick snack. Or after a day of talks and presentations I can come home and reheat with ease.
I prepped fresh veggies (carrots, cucumbers, and mushrooms), made a pot of wheat berries, and three side dishes (Sautéed Collard Greens with Garlic, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower).
Prepping tips:
Fresh produce always takes a little prep time. Do it in bulk right when you get home from the grocery store that way you’ll be prepared throughout the week.
1. Pull out a cutting board, a colander, knife, produce peeler.
2. Rinse and/or peel produce. Get to slicing.
3. As you’re slicing, put on the pot of beans, grains, eggs (cook as directed).
4. After vegetables are sliced either place in storage bags/containers or prepare as side dishes.
6. Once beans, grains, or eggs are finished cooking. Allow to cool slightly and then store in fridge.
There you have it, prep time made easy. Happy Shopping, Prepping, Cooking, and Eating!
A peek at the side dishes I whipped up:
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!