I woke up this morning and my hips and pelvis area were just so sore from those plank twist things, a.k.a. torture devices. That area for me is already a problem area with more chiropractic work needed in my SI joints and lower vertebrae, so that move really kills, it’s the first move of the challenge I actually hate. At any rate, I skipped the run this morning and opted for easing into my day with some house work to let my hips and lower back stretch out gently. I definitely don’t want to throw my back out and derail myself. I plan to get the BBM workout done later as usual and maybe get that run in still depending on the rain. (I can’t pull my little guy in the wagon in a down pour.)
I have noticed several ladies on the BBM facebook page who have determined that the meal plan isn’t for them, whether because of pickiness or grocery cost, or whatever. I’m one of those ladies. I need to have an extremely flexible “plan” with clean eating to allow for my very small budget. Certain things I need to repeat a lot depending on my weekly deal finds at the grocery store or the things I’ve stocked up on that I have in my cabinet. That’s why I go to Pinterest to get inspiration and then roll with it from there.
That doesn’t mean the BBM meal plan doesn’t have it’s merit or that you can’t eat clean unless you follow it or have a larger budget. And even if eating completely clean isn’t in the cards, there are adjustments you can make like the small, frequent meals, that will help you with the nutrition side of it. Any little bit helps, right?
Here are some of my tips and tricks for keeping things at my house small, frequent meal friendly, especially when I’m on the go or running behind schedule.
I try to keep 8-10 eggs boiled and in the fridge, ready to peel and go.
I like to make a batch of granola or trail mix and keep it to snack on. The kids love this too.
If I have salad produce in the fridge I like to keep a big salad made in a covered bowl in the fridge. It’s easy to grab a small bowl when you are busy or running behind as long as it is already put together.
Mozzarella sticks make a quick and easy snack and are travel friendly.
Fresh fruit like melons or citrus are easier to grab and go if they are already peeled or cut up in a larger batch, and again, you are more likely to eat on them when you are pinched for time.
My bananas that ripen too quickly I peel, cut into chunks and put in zip bags in the freezer. They are the base for smoothies, no ice required and add plenty of sweet to even sour berries if you let them ripen very well before freezing. Smoothies make a very quick and filling meal when you are pressed for time and in addition to bananas I buy bags of frozen fruit at Aldi, sliced peaches, berry medley, raspberries, blueberries, etc. I blend frozen bananas and berries with orange juice or milk (coconut or almond milk works beautifully) and make a very simple, very tasty breakfast or dessert. Another favorite is bananas, sliced peaches, frozen spinach, and orange juice. It is a bright green but tastes completely like the fruit. Try it, you’ll be amazed how delicious it is.
Dried cranberries, dried apricots, apple or banana chips, these all make great snacks or add ins to oatmeal or just when you are craving something sweet and don’t need to grab that cookie you are dreaming of.
I started baking muffins this week. They make a great grab and go breakfast or snack and you can make them healthier than a mix by using whole wheat flour or oat flour, coconut oil, cut back on the sugar and add dried fruits or use apple sauce instead of oil. Muffins are pretty easy and quick and I have found them a little more forgiving for the person who doesn’t bake as long as you remember the golden rule of muffin making, don’t over mix. Remember the frozen berries from the smoothies? You can throw those raspberries and blueberries right into your muffin batter. I did some raspberry almond muffins last night, they were delicious.
I like to mix up a larger batch of chicken or egg salad, it stays good for several days and is easy to graze on. Yesterday’s post was a recipe for chicken salad on apple slices, you could do a similar rendition with egg salad on tomato rounds. Yum! Cut out processed crackers and carbs in one fell swoop.
These are just some of the ideas I’ve come up with to make meals and busy schedules run a little smoother and work together. Clean eating is not out of the question for the budget and time challenged people out there. Seriously, go to Pinterest and find all kinds of ideas. Write out a list of meals and meal ideas you’d like to try and go from there. You can do this. It really is so important to get your nutrition on track, Briana stresses that over and over. This is a lifestyle, eating well is a crucial skill you must learn to make this lifestyle successful and long lasting. Don’t make excuses because you are picky or on a tight budget or very busy. If you take the time to do the workouts, you need to take the time to address your nutrition. They go hand in hand, each is as important as the other. You will find what works for you, I believe in you, because I’m also facing challenges each day and week, and sometimes they are familiar and other times they are brand new stumpers, but where there’s a will there’s a way. Make it happen, you won’t regret it!
Remember, it’s not about “perfect” and “ideal”, it’s about making it happen, doing it today, and doing the very best you can with what you have. Yes, this morning’s breakfast was a muffin, but it was a muffin made with real ingredients from scratch. Whole wheat, real fruit, reduced sugar, healthy oil. It isn’t hard to walk when you start with baby steps.
And for those of you who are self proclaimed picky eaters, keep in mind that it takes trying a food about 20 times before your brain begins to recognize it as yummy. Pick something new and healthy every so often and just eat it anyway. You will begin to like it and even crave it. The more healthy stuff you eat, the more you will crave healthy foods. Fact. I have personal experience with this too. 🙂
Comment below if you have a fabulous quick and easy snack or grab and go meal idea. I love to hear from you all!
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What is BBM?
Bikini Body Mommy, a movement led by Briana Christine, and you can find out more at http://www.bikinibodymommy.com
Did you miss my first post outlining my goals? Find it here.
https://natasiachampion.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/my-newest-project-an-overview/
Looking to find some inspiration on Pinterest? You can follow me there too.
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