When it comes to dieting many of us find that the number one hindrance to our success is the lack of time to prepare the proper meals and snacks for our dietary needs. It is often much more convenient to throw one thing in the crock pot for the family or resort to the fast food last resort rather than preparing the healthy and nutritious meal that we should be eating.

There are things you can do however that will reduce the temptation to hit the drive thru and keep you on course with your dieting needs. The first of these is a process known as once a week cooking. With this method you cook enough meals to last you a week on one day.

This means that for every night of the week you have a diet friendly meal ready to go. If your entire family is dieting or eating healthier with you, this works for this situation as well. Dieting and incorporating healthier eating habits into the food for your entire family is a great way to set an example for your children will keeping you motivated and removing temptation.

With once a week cooking you freeze the food that won’t be immediately consumed and thaw it the morning you will be eating the food to cook when you arrive home after work or decide it is time for your evening meal. This is a process that works well no matter how many soccer games, dance practices, and band recitals you have on your calendar for the week. You can manage to stick to your diet while having a great meal for your family each and every night of the week.

You should also make sure to have a nice supply and cleaned and cut fruits, vegetables, and salad ingredients in your refrigerator in order to make these dishes readily accessible for quick lunches or snacks. Having these foods readily available will help you resist the temptation to snack on higher calorie prepackaged food while also helping to insure that you have a ready supply of fresh fruits and vegetables to help you get your 5 servings a day.

You should also keep some conveniently packaged yogurt on hand as a good quick and easy dairy product. Sugar free pudding cups are another decent snack for those who need something quick and easy to have on hand. Preparation and planning are essential to successfully meeting your weight loss goals. By preparing as much of the food as possible ahead of time you will never even miss the convenience of those high calorie pre packaged meals and snacks that so many of us survive on when not dieting.

Another time saver is to work your fitness opportunities into the course of your day. Rather than performing one lengthy workout each day, try to find methods of bringing a little fitness activity into the most mundane portions of your day (go stair climbing at lunch, park on the top level of the parking garage and walk down-then up when returning-the stairs), park far away from the door of the supermarket and see if your mall has a walking path that is clearly marked. You’ll be amazed at the hidden opportunities many of us have for exercising during our busy days. The trick is often in discovering the activities rather than the time.

When all is said and done, dieting doesn’t have to be as time consuming as you may think it is. There are all kinds of prepackaged plans for dieters however if that is the choice you feel is best for you. Whether you are going with Lean Cuisine meals, Weight Watchers frozen entrees, Jenny Craig, or the Slim Fast program there are all kinds of opportunities to work dieting and fitness into even the busiest of schedules. When planning your dieting practices be sure to consider the tips and advice mentioned above.

Looking for a sample meal plan to help you get started on a clean eating lifestyle? Here’s a week’s worth of great, clean meal ideas that you can try at home.

Day 1

Breakfast: Poached egg with marinara – Use homemade marinara to avoid the processed stuff in jars.

Lunch: Chicken salad and pita – Greek yogurt is used in place of mayonnaise to fit in with clean eating guidelines.

Dinner: Black bean burgers – Use whole grain or whole wheat buns. Add a dash of cayenne for a little kick.

Day 2

Breakfast: Green protein smoothie – You can use your favorite leafy greens for this recipe. Blend in fruit for added sweetness.

Lunch: Veggie sandwich – Use whole grain or whole wheat bread and several types of veggies such as bean sprouts, tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers and your favorite type of leaf lettuce.

Dinner: Roasted salmon and kale with rice – Squeeze a lemon wedge over salmon and rice for a fresh pop of citrus.

Day 3

Breakfast: Chia breakfast pudding – You can find many variations of pudding to fit your taste, some of which include fruit, oatmeal or peanut butter.

Lunch: Lettuce wraps/lettuce cups – Look for one of the many delicious and easy Asian-inspired dishes.

Dinner: Pasta with olives, tomatoes and goat cheese – Long noodles are ideal for this recipe. Be sure to use whole grain or whole wheat pasta.

Day 4

Breakfast: Egg in a basket – A very simple and delicious way to incorporate veggies. You can use squash, bell peppers, or even potatoes.

Lunch: Superfood smoothie – Blend a variety of berries, leafy greens, greek yogurt and your choice of fruit juice for a sweet and healthy treat.

Dinner: Stir fry – Rice and veggies such as mushrooms, broccoli, carrots and sugar snap peas sautéed and tossed together. May incorporate your choice of lean protein or tofu.

Day 5

Breakfast: Breakfast cookies or bars – Grind oats in a food processor and mix with your choice of fruits and nuts. Flax-seed is optional as well as types of spice such as cinnamon or nutmeg.

Lunch: Burrito wraps – Beans, rice and spinach or kale wrapped up in a warm tortilla.

Dinner: Quinoa chicken – Bake chicken breast with your favorite seasonings, slice and serve on top of a bed of quinoa. Use a lemon wedge for a citrus boost.

Day 6

Breakfast: Veggie frittata – Zucchini, onions and bell peppers are roasted and then baked in an egg and cheese mixture. You can use your favorite veggies.

Lunch: Spinach salad – A very delicious and versatile salad. May incorporate fruits such as raspberries or dried cranberries sweetened in fruit juice.

Dinner: Sweet potato skillet – Sweet potato sautéed in Tex-Mex inspired flavors with beans and tomatoes, or served with a ground lean protein such as turkey.

Day 7

Breakfast: Warm oats – A very filling meal of oats cooked with your choice of fruit. To sweeten, use pure organic honey or pure maple syrup.

Lunch: Tuna salad – Incorporate Mediterranean flavors in your dish with olives and artichoke hearts. Serve on whole grain or whole wheat bread or crackers.

Dinner: Shrimp or chicken kebabs with veggies – Grill a lean protein on skewers with veggies such as zucchini, bell peppers and grape tomatoes.

Clean eating has never sounded so good. If you’ve been thinking that eating this way is drab and boring, think again. Let the healthy yumminess begin!

Tag Archive for: meal plan

Dieting with a Busy Schedule

Sample Weekly Meal Plan for a Clean Eating Lifestyle