Make Time for Meal Prep

My daughter, Halana,  is a 21 year old college junior. She is studying film and producing. So in addition to her studies, she spends lots of time on student project shoots. She is a Resident Assistant at her dormitory; she has a job at the library; she has a 3.9 grade point average. She’s busy. She struggles making time for good eating. Her go-to fast food is Chipotle because she can get a burrito salad. Yet the pounds seem to slip on more than they remain steady.

When I shared my website with her she said, “Mom, what I need is time. I need time to prepare my food, go grocery shopping, do my homework, engage with my residents. Many days I have breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and leave for school. I don’t finish my last class until 7:00 p.m. I will not have eaten all day. By the time I get my second meal, I’ll eat anything. So I grab a ‘healthy option’ from a fast food restaurant.”

OK, maybe your busyness is not school, but her situation sounds familiar. So I asked Halana, “How long does it take you to prepare your food?”

“About 45 minutes.” she replied.

“It takes me about 90 minutes to prepare a meal. Can we agree that it takes anywhere between 45-90 minutes to prepare a meal?”

She shook her head in agreement. “Surely you can find 90 minutes each week to prepare your food?” I asked.  “Each week you must schedule time on your calendar for meal prep. Allow 90 minutes. If you don’t schedule it, it doesn’t happen.”

“But what can I eat for lunch?” she asked. There is no microwave or refrigerator when I’m on the go. Click Here for Part 2.