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Nutrition Information |
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Meal Planning: Your Ticket to Freedom
It's 5:30 p.m. and you're heading home after a long, full day. All of a sudden your mind turns to the daily question, "What's for dinner?" Whether it's just you or whether you're preparing a meal for a whole gang, it's not an energizing prospect to imagine planning, shopping for or cooking a meal from scratch at the end of a long day. That's probably why the fast food businesses are booming and why our health is suffering from the effects of these "easy" foods. If you think meal planning is an unnecessary step, or that it would create a strict regimen that you'd be trapped by, read on about how meal planning can free you from worry and improve your health and well being. REASONS FOR MEAL PLANNING Less time and money spent at the grocery store When you plan your meals out a week at a time, your trips to the grocery store become much more manageable. You know exactly what you'll need and you'll be less susceptible to "impulse" buying. Sometimes, when I'm feeling REALLY efficient, I even write my list in order of where I'll find it in the grocery store. Plus, buying the ingredients to cook a meal from scratch usually costs much less than the ready-made version. Healthier meals = healthier you and your loved ones When you're planning ahead, you'll have much more control over what you eat, and you can consciously choose to improve the health of your meals. Better-timed meals If you BEGIN planning and cooking dinner when you get home, it could be quite late before you're sitting down to eat it. The closer to bedtime it is when you finish dinner, the less likely you'll have time to properly digest and for your body to absorb what you've eaten. For breakfast and lunch, having the meals planned out can help remind you to STOP and EAT them. Variety When we choose our meals in the moment, based on what's fast, easy and enjoyable, we tend to stick to a few standby's and don't branch out very much. Nutritionally, this leaves us lacking. We also risk getting bored with our food and looking to fast food or unhealthier options for "excitement". HOW TO PLAN YOUR MEALS FOR THE WEEK 1. Keep some spontaneity. You could just plan one part of the meal. For instance, if you know that you always have plenty of fresh of frozen vegetables that you can choose from, then simply plan "chicken, potatoes and vegetables". Then you can still have some spontaneity in your meal. 2. When you have time, make "frozen dinners". Make a double or triple recipe; package the leftovers in single (or family-size) servings and freeze. 3. Factor in schedule changes. Maybe the night after the big meeting or the night of the soccer tournament aren't the best nights to cook a meal from scratch. Plan a quick meal, take-out or your own "frozen dinner" for those nights. 4. Aim for balance. With the week spread out before you, look for balance between heavy and light meals, vegetarian and meat-based meals, and a variety of different-coloured fruits and vegetables. 5. Plan while you're in the kitchen. That way you can easily check for the ingredients of the dishes you're planning. If they're not there, add them to your grocery list immediately. 6. Keep an active grocery list through the week. That way, when staples run out you can add them to list. 7. Grow your recipe collection. Use the Internet, the cookbooks of your friends and family, magazines, etc. and find new things to try. One new recipe a week will keep things exciting! 8. Get some expert advice. Consult a trusted source such as Canada's Food Guide, or better still get individualized meal and nutrition suggestions from a registered dietician or a holistic nutritionist. 9. Make it a team effort. If you're feeding others as well as yourself, make the planning a team effort so that everyone gets some of their favourites through the week. 10. Always follow your plan, except when you don't. There are going to be things that come up, days that you just don't feel like eating what you've planned, or days when you've forgotten to do your nightly prep. Create a list of healthy stand-by's that you can throw together with the staples in your own kitchen. If you're on the go, be prepared by having a list of healthy choices at your favourite restaurants. A meal plan is not a rigid "diet" or set of orders. The meal plan serves you, not the other way around. Start now with tomorrow's meals. What can you defrost or partly prepare tonight to make tomorrow's meals easier and healthier? (c) Copyright Linda Dessau, 2005. Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, is the author of "The Everyday Self-Care Workbook". For free resources, including your own Meal Planning Worksheet, visit http://www.genuinecoaching.com/resources.html
Look For
MORE RESOURCES: Montana Supreme Court rules restrictions of vacation rentals allowed under subdivision covenants Daily Inter Lake Vacation Rental Compliance City of Sarasota (.gov) Maui condo prices fall sharply in August while single-family homes hold steady, report says Maui Now TIME’S UP FOR TRANSIENT RENTALS IN TRUMAN ANNEX; 20-YEAR AGREEMENT ENDS DEC. 22 Keys Weekly Newspapers Maui Condo Market Collapse: What It Means For Travelers Beat of Hawaii Vacation Rentals: At Your Own Risk Scripps News Santa Cruz County supervisors advance new limits on vacation rentals Santa Cruz Local City calls on lenders in vacation rental crackdown Hawaii News Now Council to consider vacation rental pause Evanston Now City of Santa Barbara Chips Away at Illegal Short-Term Vacation Rentals The Santa Barbara Independent Inside The ‘Out-Of-Control’ Debate Over Axing Maui Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation rentals could be banned in one of California’s top coastal destinations San Francisco Chronicle Maui condo prices plummet as short-term rental uncertainty looms The Business Journals Maui Vacation Rental Owners Poised To Sue Over Ban Beat of Hawaii Largest Hawaii Vacation Rental Company Faces Major Shake Up Beat of Hawaii Commission takes initial step to tap brakes on vacation rentals along Monterey coast Local News Matters Two Oregon Towns Named Among America’s Best Fall Getaways thatoregonlife.com The Coastal Commission approves Monterey County’s vacation rental ordinance in a major win. Monterey County Weekly Maui measure to phase out half of the island's vacation rentals moves forward Hawaii Public Radio Honolulu Sees Doubling Of Vacation Rental Registrations Under New Rules Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation Rental Study in Goleta Tells More About the Neighbors The Santa Barbara Independent Maui panel passes bill curbing vacation rentals to boost housing supply after Lahaina wildfire CBS News Plan To Convert Maui Vacation Rentals To Long-Term Housing Delayed Honolulu Civil Beat How Short-Term Vacation Rentals Impact the Tourism Economy in Greater Palm Springs Palm Springs Life Main St. request on hold, but ‘Kitschy 2 BR House’ gets vacation rental OK Evanston RoundTable Study: Maui Should Phase Out Vacation Rentals With Caution Honolulu Civil Beat Sanctuary Vacation Rentals seemonterey.com You Can Stay in n Romantic Castle Airbnb in South Dakota Only In Your State Florida vacation rental company files for bankruptcy Gulf Coast News and Weather - Southwest Florida News Maui County Council committee approves bill to phase out thousands of vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Honolulu Hasn't Fined Airbnb, Vrbo for Illegal Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat A novel idea for Maui’s housing crisis: Using vacation rental profits for residents’ down payments Maui Now Changes coming to Sarasota's vacation rental ordinance Your Observer Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Millions; Riverside DA Launches Investigation After Public Outcry NBC Palm Springs Committee seeks to halt vacation rental requests Evanston RoundTable Maui Council hears another 70 testifiers on vacation rental phase-out bill; still more to come Maui Now You Can Stay in an Enchanting Castle Airbnb in Utah Only In Your State Emotions Are High As Maui Considers Phasing Out Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Property Owners, Renters Over $1 Million NBC Palm Springs Maui Plan To Phase Out Thousands Of Short-Term Rentals Advances Honolulu Civil Beat Couple who owns Manasota Key vacation rentals welcomes first renters since Hurricanes Helene, Milton FOX 13 Tampa Bay Uncertain Economy Contributes to Slow Summer Rental Bookings The Vineyard Gazette Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer Honolulu Civil Beat Key West Vacation Rental Platform Targets Off-Season Visitors Travel Agent Central Supreme Court: cities cannot limit vacation rentals based on owner occupancy Idaho Public Television No More Vacation Rentals In Maui. Here's How The Mayor's Plan To Strip The Island of Short-Term Rental Will Affect The Economy Yahoo Finance Alders flip on vacation rentals Evanston Now Maui vacation rental bill continues to draw passionate testimony from both sides Hawaii Public Radio Maui County Council debates future of vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Top 5 most-read stories last week: Vacation rentals, workforce housing and housing inventory SummitDaily.com The county’s vacation rental ordinance faces one more hurdle for approval. Monterey County Weekly City has no mercy for illegal vacation rental operators Hawaii News Now Hawaiʻi County Council seeks more oversight with passage of vacation rental bill Hawaii Public Radio Combatting human trafficking: New training, reporting requirements for hotels, vacation rentals WRAL.com Vacation rentals back on council agenda Evanston Now Council targets lot sizes, vacation rentals at latest Envision meeting Evanston RoundTable Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly Planetizen Capital One Travel Adds Vacation Rentals — And You Can Earn 5x Miles on Venture Cards Upgraded Points Capital One Cards Now Earn Bonus Miles on Vacation Rentals Upgraded Points More complaints, lawsuits against Florida vacation rental company Gulf Coast News and Weather - Southwest Florida News Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Board recommends new education programs, property management rules for vacation rentals The Palm Springs Post |
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