I like to refer to myself as an adventurer, but in my domestic position you might call me a chef. I have been working in a kitchen for many years and I have always had a love for food as well as art and you combine those two and look out! It is very easy to lose yourself in indulgences more often than you should. It might seem strange being around food all day and still I would take the time every morning to not only prepare my food, but also the lunches for both of my kids every day. I loved how one day one of my son’s teachers cracked up at what I put in his lunch, mind you I lived in the south for his first year in school so eating habits there compared to here are very different, I had sprouts in his lunch. Not in a sandwich or on anything just a little container of sprouts along with meat and cheese and some veggies. My kids love sprouts. What can I say. Me personally I love them too but I don’t just eat them plain. I like them with a salad or in a sandwich pocket. It makes me proud that they are for the most part very good eaters!

“Preparing Meals can help you take charge of what you eat, along with taking away the temptation of going out.” doTERRA Living  Fall 2016

When I work in the kitchen it can be like going out all day long. You have all this food that is very rich and tastes so good right in front of you. It is very easy to put on several pounds with this as your job. It is not bad to indulge here and there. In fact it is actually good for you. If you are always telling yourself no, you can do more harm than good but every day indulging, not so much

A good meal plan will keep you on track and keep you healthy. Keep it simple the simpler, the better. I like the suggestions in the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute website https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/eat/calories.htm Given my background with food, it is easy for me to come up with creative solutions to change things up a little.  I understand that is not the case for everyone. Here is what I do and it is so nice and easy for a busy single mom of 2 kids:

Breakfast: (largest meal) 2 eggs scrambled, poached, or over medium (whatever I am in the mood for) with a good amount of sauteed veggies, very little avocado oil or coconut oil and half of a baked grapefruit.

Morning snack: 1/2 c. of cottage cheese sprinkled with sunflower seeds and a handful of blueberries, strawberries, or pineapple.

Lunch: a salad with a portion of salmon or chicken lots of veggies and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. (keep in mind that your choice of dressing is where a good deal of you calories come from)

Afternoon snack: an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter

Dinner: A hamburger with no bun and lots of veggies on the side. This meal tends to be the smallest one.

Keeping your refrigerator stocked with fresh fruits and veggies will help with keeping you satisfied. If you are grilling out one night, throw a couple extra pieces of chicken or fish on the grill and use those in your meals during the week. Getting bored with your veggies, throw those on the grill as well and that will change the flavor and make your taste buds happy without adding fat. Again keep it simple. We do not need to kill ourselves preparing food or stress ourselves out with it. Protein, fruits and veggies and some good fats and lots of water. Find the time that works best for you to set yourself up. If you like to do it daily, in the morning or before you go to bed that is great. If you like to, do it weekly and spend a Sunday evening getting it all ready for the week. Whatever works best for you. There is no right or wrong way to set yourself up with a plan. The goal is to give your body the energy it needs to get through the day. Stay within the suggested caloric intake for your body and eliminate the temptations of all of those quick meals that don’t give your body what it needs and makes you feel sluggish throughout the day.

Erin