If you backtrack some of your habits, you may be surprised by the number of years you've had them. My weekend prep habit started in College. I noticed the laundry room was empty at certain times on Saturday so that became my laundry day. I used to clean my room on Saturday during my breaks from my cafeteria job.
When I went to graduate school, that habit continued. Weekends were for cleaning, cooking and laundry. There was little time during the week to prep. Everything needed to be ready so I could hit the ground running. I even started working out early. My roommate and I would hit the gym at 6 am. The mutual encouragement was good.
When I got married, we kept the weekends as prep days. I took a break during my early motherhood years. I was staying at home, which gave me more flexibility to fix meals and laundry during the week. Sundays were the big days for us. We needed to prep outfits, hair, food and diaper bags.
Being prepared for my week has allowed me to feel peaceful and prepared. Alert and ready to tackle any challenges I may face.
This prep thing looks so simple but really it is powerful. You can get things done when don't prep but the freedom to know things are ready so I can fulfill God's call for my life is amazing.
The areas that help me the most during weekend prep are:
• Laundry - I start by choosing a laundry day and committing to finish what I started. I wash, dry, and actually put my work outfits together for the week. The less I have to think when I'm getting ready, the better. The outfit has to be complete from head to toe.
• Food - I've been asked over and over why I prep food. The questions help me define why I go through this process each week. At this point in our family's life, we eat for fuel. We are all active people. Food fuels the life God has graciously given us.
I look at my schedule first. There are days we are not eating dinner at home. I plan for the days we will eat at home. Then I write a menu. A few years ago, I decided to stick with foods my family will eat. I used to try to cook all types of things I didn't even want to cook. I still try new things, but the old reliable ingredients are so much easier to prep and serve.
I write down a list of ingredients I need. I try to take inventory of things we need so I don't buy things we already have. I go to the grocery store and buy the foods. Then, I commit to a prep day. Usually, by Sunday, everything needs to be prepared.
Lately, I commit to prep foods for at least 3 days. The first part of the week is the busiest one for us. Life truly is easier if dinner is ready when we get home. I also freeze a few of our meals, if I can. This way, all we have to do is bake dinner for 45 minutes or less.
I also batch cook most weekends. I discovered that if rice and black beans are in the menu, I can freeze a portion for busy nights. I've thanked myself plenty times when we were hungry, I didn't have anything ready but there were plenty healthy meals in the freezer.
Last weekend, I prepped the following:
• Grilled chicken - marinate recipe
• Chicken taco soup - recipe
• Green salads with protein - 2 and a half cups of greens, 4 oz of lean protein.
• Protein overnight oats - recipe
• Protein bean muffin (makes 6 regular muffins)
Bake at 350 for 22 minutes and enjoy! You can also freeze these.
- 1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1 egg
- 1t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
I usually prep more food but we have a school break so there will be more prepping as the week goes by. For now, we're pretty set.
Do you prep for your week? How does it help you?
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