This week, work to establish a rhythm with eating that makes you feel that there is always something waiting for you. Pack snack bags and keep a stash of them handy so you can always have food ready. Boil a batch of eggs and keep them in your fridge. Grab a couple of salad kits so they’re an easy part of your menu planning. Find protein that you crave and prep it beforehand. I find that when I do a big cook and pack. session on Sundays the rest of the week is easy and stress-free around food.
Water? Three quarts each day.
Cheating? You bet. Select foods from this list for four days this week. Then, eat what you want on the other three days. Next week, we’ll do this plan for five days and take two days off. Ultimately, we’ll eat from a list like this for six days, with one day off.
Here’s a shopping list for the week.
Portions
For meals (brex, lunch, dinner)
Protein as big as the palm of your hand
Carbs the size of your fist
As many vegetables as you can eat
For snacks (3 snacks per day), aim for
Healthy carbs (pick one)
1 piece of fruit
At least 1 cup of vegetables (carrots, celery, cucumber)
A bit of protein (pick one)
A boiled egg
2 oz. smoked salmon, chicken, or tuna
1/2 cup cottage cheese (small curd, if possible)
A bit of fat (pick one)
1/4 avocado
A handful of nuts
Breakfasts
Protein shake
2 eggs + sprouted grain toast w/avocado
Oatmeal with berries + boiled egg w/nutritional yeast
Breakfast burrito
Mid-morning Snacks
Boiled egg + 1/4 avocado + multigrain crackers
Protein shake
12 almonds + 1/2 cup cottage cheese + fruit
Nutrition bar
Lunches
1/2 salad kit + broiled/grilled salmon or chicken + 1 sweet potato
A plate of sushi
Tuna or chicken salad with sprouted grain bread and fruit
Mid-afternoon Snacks
Protein shake
Protein bar
Turkey or beef jerky + a piece of fruit or a bunch of veggies
Dinners
Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Chicken or Salmon
Sushi
Shephard’s Pie
Grilled lean meat or fish + sweet potatoes or rice + as much steamed broccoli or carrots as you want
A beef, turkey, or meatless burger + a sprouted grain bun + garnishes + baked potato or sweet potato + salad or steamed greens
Evening snacks
12 almonds + 1/2 cup cottage cheese (small curd, if possible)
1/4 avocado + jerky
1/2 cup rice pudding made with vanilla protein shake, rice, raisins and cinnamon