Paleo Asian Lunch Meal Prep

I did my lunch box a little different this week. I only cooked one dish, and the other boxes I filled with fruit, nuts, and all natural mint chocolate treat. Last time I actually cooked 4 different dishes. Not surprisingly last week took me a lot longer to prep 5 meals. This week my boxes consisted of: 

Paleo Chicken Stir Fry with Asian Vegetables
2 clementines
1/4 cup of sesame cashews
1 all natural honey mint chocolate treat 


The only thing about making your boxes this way, is you want to take out your main dish and heat it up separately. But we should all heat our meals in glass anyway. I definitely, prefer cooking only one dish rather than 4. It was a lot easier, and lot faster. I also liked incorporating fresh fruit and treat into my lunch. The bulk of my meal is plant based. I gave myself a little shortcut using organic frozen stir-fry vegetables rather than doing all the washing and chopping myself. Using frozen in the winter definitely is a cost and time saver. In the spring, summer and fall, I hope to eat locally and raw. But for now, frozen is a frozen does. 

So this is my lunch for the week... and I can't wait. 

Paleo Breakfast Meal Prep

So this my second week meal prepping. I made 5 breakfast boxes and 5 lunch boxes. It took me a little less than 2 hours to make all 10 meals. I really love having a hot breakfast on a cold day. It is like waking up and knowing that you get to put on a super cozy sweater. It makes waiting on the metro platform for 20 minutes in below freezing temperatures totally bearable. For my breakfast box this week:

Spinach and Wild Mushroom Baked Omelettes

Frozen Organic Strawberries and Blueberries 

Paleo Banana Bread 

So you say, "that is a lot of food". And I say, yes, but I space it out. I try to have about 300 calories every four hours or so. When I get to work I heat up the entire try for 2 minutes in the microwave and with my infused water, I have my omelette. Then about 10:30 am, I have my banana bread, fruit, and a coffee. I like using frozen fruit in the winter because it is cheaper, I plan to cook it anyway, and it is great way to make sure I have organic produce. Overall I really liked my breakfast box. I certainly liked it more than last weeks. Last weeks box included: 

Tri-color Pepper Baked Omelette

Roasted White Potatoes with Cajun Seasoning

Stewed Apples with Cranberries

Most people recommend meal prepping for a few reasons: 

• Saves Money
• Saves Calories 
• Less likely to cheat your special diet
• Better for you
• Saves time and clean-up 

I can definetly say, meal prepping saves me calories and time. I am happy to say that this week was completely Paleo, which is a goal of mine. As for money... I always eat a breakfast from home, so I can't say I am really saving any money making my boxes. I do harness quite a bit of disdain for my co-workers for their hot breakfast that they picked up from those hot bars filled with french toast. I am trying to eat more vegetables in the  morning. This certainly an easy way to make sure that my meal is organic. I look forward to spring when I can have organic and local fresh meals. As for now, I am happy to use frozen veggies. Thus, my little packed boxes are my take-away joy. 

Lunch Meal Prep: Vegetarian Voudavan Curry, Quinoa, Roasted Beets, and Black Bean Brownies

Have you ever heard of meal prep? Basically, you cook for two hours on the weekend and you have some meals ready to go for the week. A lot of different people do it, for a lot of different reasons. Some folks do it for weight loss, saving money, dietary restrictions, body building, or time constraints. For me, it is a combination of all of these reasons, well save body building. Yes, when I was in high school, my best friend and I actually dressed up like Hans and Franz. 

OK, back to meal prep. This week my lunch menu included: 

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Voudavan Curry

Organic Tri-colored Quinoa

Roasted Beet Salad

Black Bean Brownies 

I wasn't trying to make meals vegetarian this week, it just worked out that way. I love curries, they are so filling, and so warm and comforting during the dark cold months of winter. The beet salad was a happy accident, I had bought some organic beets at Trader Joes as an impulse purchase. (Wow, that sounds ridiculous. Am I the only person that buys organic vegetables on an impulse?) The Black Bean Brownies was no accident, I figured, I would need to have a dessert if I was going to eat the same thing all week. 

I think the best advice I have heard related to meal prep is make food you want to eat. If you don't, you won't eat it and you will have just wasted a lot of time and money. 

If you are looking for more inspiration on meal prep, my favorite meal prepper on YouTube is the MadBakingGymAddict. Check her out.

As always, much love, many blessings and happy meal prepping.