Make-ahead Food Prep Meal Plan and Exercise Schedule {December 21st, 2015}

Make-ahead food prep recipes and ideas for this week’s meal plan.

Please tell me I’m not the only one NOT ready for Christmas. I do it to myself. Either my schedule is jam packed every day or when I do have time I’m totally burnt out and lazy. I need a 2-week vacation to a remote location with zero technology. Yep, I’m spent. And I still have presents to buy, food to make, and work to do. Honestly, it’s taking everything in my just to write this blog post. Just keeping it real folks. Many people think I’m super woman but I can assure you I am not. Some days maybe…but right now I want to shut down my computer, crawl into bed, and sleep for a week.

I’m pretty sure I say this every year but next year it will be a #1 priority to have all my Christmas shopping done by November 1^st. That’s my goal. I want to enjoy the holidays with my friends and family not run around like a lunatic. Oh and it’s a must to have my blogging schedule planned a couple months in advace too because it’s guaranteed I won’t want to work from Dec 1^st – 31^st. However, I will suck it up because mama gots to work and I want to spend the next couple days sipping Lambrusco and eating Italian cookies. Ahhh that will be heaven.

Remember last week I said no weigh in until January. I’m sticking to that so no weign in this week. But…last week was a great exercise and food week so despite the craziness of the season I feel pretty good. Skinny jeans were fitting good today and that made my morning. I’m excited to start my 2016 weigh ins.

My exercise schedule worked great last week so I’m gonna push to keep it going this week. I know it’s Christmas but I still need to stay somewhat focused.

Here’s my schedule…

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Cardio

Run/Powerwalk on the treadmill for 45 minutes.

Core

3 (30-second planks).

75 – 100 crunches using my exercise ball.

Legs/butt

50 squats. I will use 5 lb weights and do bicep curls while doing the squats.

Arms

25 modified push-ups

16 bicep curls with my resistance bands

16 tricep extensions using 5 lb weights

My meal plan this week.

This week I’m all about easy classics that I know my family loves. I didn’t have time this weekend to prep food and when I did have time I was too lazy so all my meals will be made the day we eat them. I might do a little prep tomorrow but not sure. I’ll still give some quick make-ahead tips for some of the recipes. If you click on the links you will find more detailed make-ahead instructions with each recipe.

My meal plan is over on Plan to Eat too. This is a great tool to start using in the New Year. I use it to keep my recipes organized, easily put together a weight loss meal plan, and quickly generate grocery lists. They offer a free 30-day trial so take a look and see what you think.

Breakfast

Strawberry and Kale Green Smoothie

Make-ahead tips

• When I make my smoothie tomorrow morning I will prepare extra for the rest of the week. Most likely I will store it in the refrigerator but I might freeze a couple too.

Mid-morning snack

Cheese stick or yogurt

Lunch

Greek Turkey Wrap

Ham and Swiss “no bread” rolls

Antipasto “no bread” rolls

Make-ahead tips

• I will make each lunch recipe the day I eat them.

Mid-afternoon snack

Apples and peanut butter sandwiches

Dinner

Tacos

Hamburger Macaroni and Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Subs using slow cooker buffalo chicken.

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and cheese

Quesadillas made with salsa chicken

Make-ahead tips

• I know it’s a lot to see two mac n cheese recipes on the meal plan but I plan to freeze a bunch of it for future dinners.
• Buffalo chicken and salsa chicken will be made tomorrow and stored in the refrigerator.
• Hamburger mac and cheese will be made on Wednesday.