Hot lunch or cold lunch? Main line or ala carte? These were the typical choices I would have to make in high school as I would decide what I wanted for lunch. I remember SPRINTING down the halls (yes actually full out sprinting) to avoid having to wait, what seemed like half the lunch period, standing in line for food. We would be on the lookout for our principle or any other staff just incase they were lurking around the locker bay trying to snipe the runners and hold them back. What?! Running in the halls?! A safety hazard?! Let's be real...who didn't run to lunch?! Turkey chunks and gravy, nachos, grilled cheese and tomato soup, potato wedges, and snickers ice cream bars were all a hit in my high school. Gosh I miss those days. What was your favorite school lunch? In previous years for college I have always gotten a meal plan through the school's dining services. After much thought, I decided to not get one. It was hard making this decision because I knew it would be a test for my recovery. Not having a meal plan would mean I would have to be accountable and go grocery shopping, make more meals, and prepare my lunches and snacks ahead of time. With my busy schedule it was not initially a great idea. My dietician and I talked about what it would look like if I did get a meal plan. First, I would be limited to certain choices each day. This was a negative aspect because one thing I struggle with is variety. In the past I would get a salad every single day or the same sandwich over and over. Another thing she pointed out is that now is the perfect time to try and do it on my own because she could help me with the process. If I tried it at another point, a point where I wasn't going to the Emily Program, I would be more likely to fail. And last, the meal plan is expensive. I would get 5 meals a week and each meal would come to about $8. For what I was getting it wasn't worth it! So the first week of school was coming and I was already doubting if I could do it. But luckily I had a dietican meeting to go over things. Together we made our own meal and snack ideas. I turned to pinterest, simplytaralynn and budget bytes for inspiration. I made a list of what I needed to go grocery shopping for in order to have what I needed for the rest of the week. I set aside Saturday to go grocery shopping and Sunday to cook. It ended up going so so well! I was happy that I only had to go grocery shopping once instead of running to the store 2 or 3 times a week. I was also happy that I only had to make a mess in the kitchen once. Each night or sometimes the morning of I quickly grab the snacks and lunch I need for that day and I am out the door! No more standing in front of the cupboard in the morning wasting valuable time. I intentionally leave some spots blank to allow flexibility. Meal prep has changed my life. If you struggle with time management or if you are sick of paying for over priced meals, I encourage you to try this out!
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HEY IT'S ME TARA!Thanks so much for coming to check my blog out. I am a recent college graduate who is taking a crack at this blogging thing for the first time. I hope to inspire you to live a more connected and peaceful life with my own experiences. Recent Posts
February 2021
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