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Week 1 Continued: Planning Time for Health



Week 1 in the series will continue on with Planning Time. This time it will be planning time for health:



My number one excuse for not eating healthier {even though it's a passion of mine} is.....Time!  I never have time!  For this reason, I think planning time for healthy eating is a number one priority for this series.  I know I never post about health here, but it's because 1. I don't think people read this blog for that, 2. It can lead to some serious eye rolls and 3. It can be personal.  But if there's a time to talk health, the time is now.  You can read more on where my passion for health started, here.




Here are my tips on how you can make time to eat healthier!


1. The second you get home from the market wash all your fruit and veggies


2. Cut all your items.  I never cut my veggies pretty...ever.  I know nobody is ever coming into my kitchen to give out the best chopped veggie award.  It saves a ton of time!

3. Bag items separately for the week {you can wash bags and dry inside out when done}.  This is where the planning comes in.  I've chosen to make 4 bags for juicing, this way all I need to do is grab a bag to juice in the a.m.  You can click here for my favorite green lemonade.


If juicing bags don't apply in your situation, you can chop veggies for meals for the week.  I planned a bag for a rice noodle soup {which I love that it's cooking while I type because of the prep}.   

Bottom line: If you have veggies washed, chopped and ready to go, you will be more inclined to cook with them.



Fruit is also washed and ready to add to oats or quinoa in the morning:


If you've never tried quinoa, don't be afraid.  It's high in protein, gluten free and delicious.  If you're trying to keep it really healthy but still tasty, you can add raw agave nectar and fruit to up the flavor.



4. Keep healthy breakfast items accessible.  I'm a huge jar collector so I always have a few for storing food.  Nothing fancy and these are really easy to pour from.  The one unlabeled is quinoa uncooked.


5. Keeping tea bags in a tackle box saves space and allows them to be easily accessible.  I keep mine in a drawer, so I just tore the top off my tackle box.  


  A tea with benefits beyond your imagination is Pau D' Arco.  Steep for 7 minutes and it's ready to go.  Delicious.


Preparing on a Sunday night is ideal for the week.  It honestly doesn't take that long to wash, chop and bag.  You won't have to waste all that time during your busy week to prep for meals because it's done...or have any excuses for eating an unhealthy breakfast {guilty}! Have someone in the house help too.  Delegate chopping to one person while you wash, etc.  

I have done a separate post with more details on what I like to juice, my favorite brands of health goods, resources, and I will try to update that post more later.  Also, my sweet friend who inspired me on my health journey is free for questions if you have any on starting on a journey of your own.  Hopefully you found a tiny something here that inspires!

34 comments:

  1. Two things, could you BE any cuter? I don't think so!

    Also, when are you coming over to give the BF and I a health lesson? I could totally use your help considering I ate an avocado and cheese slices for dinner tonight, I do make my own salad dressing though. That counts for something right?

    (I don't count the tube of Girl Scout cookies that just HAPPENED to jump into my mouth...yea those don't count)

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  2. Loving this post! I love the green lemonade, I have a similar one and it's a brazilian favorite. You make everything look so deliciously organized! BTW looking pretty must be all the good eats.
    xx
    Gina

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  3. this is something i really have to get better at, and i think planning is really the key. i noticed i'm bad about doing complete grocery shopping, and that causes me to reach for things i shouldn't be. i used to love squeezing carrot juice, but my juicer is so messy i gave up. maybe i can start scheduling it in again.

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  4. interesting topic! I love how you arrange veggies so clever...thanks for sharing=)
    flory

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  5. Oh, I am so agreeing with you. I try and do this every Sunday (a.k.a kitchen day). What kind of juicer do you have? I'm on the market for one and could use a recommendation. I also looked at your other post and I love celtic salt (huge health benefits). Have you tried really raw honey? Or coconut oil? I also take fermented cod liver oil every day - v. tough to do, but it has great EFAs. Also, very good and super healthy. Great post! Thanks,

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  6. Hi Fran! Yes, I love raw honey and try to buy it from the area. It has the highest allergy benefits {I hear} when you get it from the same area you live in. I do use Cocunut Oil for cooking too, my favorite brand is Jungle Products, Beyond Organic. I try and take liquid flax oil, but it can be very tough!

    My juicer is a Breville Juice Fountain Elite. I love it and {knock on wood} have never had any problems with it. It's really easy to clean too and most of the items can go into the dish washer. Thanks for the feedback and questions! And I need to go add those to the other post!

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  7. Love this idea...when I have actually done this - my whole family eats better bc my kids don't rely on me to "wash" anything before eating!!!

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  8. Cute pic of you! :) Great tips- good idea to bag and wash before hand...

    Enjoy the Warehouse sale! I hope you find some good stuff. I am going after work tonight.

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  9. delish & organized - you've got it all going on here

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  10. Great ideas!

    Do you have any recommendations for juicers? My husband and I have been looking at them for a few months, but we can never figure out which one to get.

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  11. love this post! I am motivated to pre-wash and cute veggies and fruits so I eat them more!
    <3

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  12. You are adorable Carlee and I totally agree. If I don't organize all fruits and veggies after the store I totally end up throwing half of them out! Love quinoa too...SOOO good!

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  13. Hi Sit. Relax. Gossip.- Fran up above asked the same question and here is what I wrote below. I really recommend that one and have loved it since the day we bought it. I hope that helps! I'm sure there is a newer version by now that is even better!

    My juicer is a Breville Juice Fountain Elite. I love it and {knock on wood} have never had any problems with it. It's really easy to clean too and most of the items can go into the dish washer.

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  14. New to your blog and I love it! I am following you and your organized ways! I cant help but love anyone who has a thing for jars and baggies!

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  15. Have to agree with LEB on this one, you're adorable! I also agreed with the cutting the vegi's tip! I started cutting up carrot and celery sticks and keeping them in a cup of water in the fridge (baby carrots creep me out). Whenever I have a snack craving, I reach in and they are the perfect crunch treat (bailey LOVES them too!)

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  16. Hey ladies, I gave you a shout out over on my blog today - seems everyone wants to get organized!!!

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  17. Good for you on trying to eat healthy. I love to cook and bake & I don't do it the healthy way. I do it the Paula Deen way:)

    Good luck and your jars are so cute:)

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  18. Great ideas. Thanks for the organizational tips. They'll definitely be useful.

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  19. you're so cute.

    and, do you have granite counter tops? If so, I am moving into your apartment when you go back to SF. Seriously.

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  20. I had never though to pre-cut everything! I love the blog and all the ideas... Looking forward to week 2!

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  21. You're so right on with this post. I wash, chop and bag all my veggies and fruits on my weekly shopping day.

    Both I and my family are more likely to eat them if they're convenient.

    {and you are really cute.}

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  22. This is so great! Thank you for sharing. It all looks so healthy.

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  23. love it and i love quinoa! You look so cute!

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  24. Another little tip is to make a big batch of brown rice. I keep it in the fridge and use it all week in different recipies. In a pinch for lunch I warm it up and put a little braggs on it.

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  25. This is a KILLER post! I love it!! Great pics, too! I don't always have time to plan my meals and sort veggies accordingly but I always wash all my fruit and veggies and line it up - on display so it's easier to use and we don't forget about them! BTW, the baskets are rectangular and fit perfectly in the fridge and they're from Ikea. I'll need a few more so perhaps I will run out and grab some and look for your lamp from the next post :) Marija

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  26. kayce! I love that idea...I always "think" about making a big batch, but never make time. I'm going to do tha this week....and i love braggs!

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  27. I can't wait to try quinoa! Thanks!

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  28. I am new to this blog, thanks so much for this post. I have to lose alot of weight and have started juicing every morning, I've been doing it for the past month and a half and I can really feel a difference. I love your bag idea, it would really cut time, it can become tedious, but if I have everything cut up like that it will be a breeze. Thanks!

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  29. I don't know how I missed this post. We juice too! Mostly greens with a fresh apple. Kale is hard to get down w/o it.

    We have something else in common!

    xo,
    cristin

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  30. Oh, my nutritionist told me (may be debated however) that if you are taking flaxseed (which is highly recommended), eat it freshly ground (coffe grinder will do) and not the oil (w the oil you don't get the fiber benefits of flax). Just passing along some info...
    xo,
    cristin

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  31. You won't get any rolled eyes over here. I think you are so right on with the preplanning. I have always been conscious, but really am just now putting my knowledge of healthy eating into play.

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  32. Oh my gosh-- this is fabulous. I love the labels on the oats and all your tips are so helpful. I'll definitely have to try this out. My coffee and biscotti in the morning is not exactly the epitome of health!

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  33. I just discovered your blog and am thrilled at your spring cleaning/organizing series. I too love the green lemonade and use the Breville juicer. I got out of the habit because prepping the ingredients in the morning was such a pain. I saw your photo of the ingredients organized into the different ziploc bags and that is a wonderful solution to my problem. Can't wait to start juicing again!

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