The Perks of Meal Prep During the Holidays

In recent times, I have found myself LOVING meal prep (I also write about it and rave about it, too, more here)! Not only is meal prep more affordable in the long run, but it also allows me to cook things in bigger batches at the same time as opposed to every single night. With my busy busy busy schedule ESPECIALLY with what is to come during the holiday season, meal prep helps me to have structure and maintain a *somewhat* of a healthy lifestyle during a not-so-healthy mainstream time of the year.

To be frankly honest, I am writing this post on the Sunday evening of Thanksgiving weekend. Having taken off the Wednesday-Sunday of Thanksgiving week, I am so happy to have had a break. However, I am still SOOO tired after the fun weekend filled with joy, family, and LOTS of food. I also find myself sitting on the couch after a few hours of meal prep for the upcoming week. I have recently added in breakfast to my meal prep circuit, which I know will work WONDERS for me (thanks to my bestie Shivani on this one!!!). However tired I JUST may be, I am so grateful for the joys of meal prep even during this busy holiday season. In fact, I am so thankful to have decided to meal prep more often than not during these busy times.

My holiday season schedule is literally jam-packed. Not only do I have a holiday party, event, dinner, celebratory trip (CONGRATS to my bestie Alanna on this one!!!), or activity planned more nights than not, I also have as most Americans do my 9-5 job that I LOVE which keeps me going during the days. Not only am I working the hustle and attending joyful holiday festivities which I LOVE, I am also busy prepping for Christmas with family and friends – think all things Christmas presents (from buying to wrapping), cooking dishes for gatherings, and baking cookies. My story is nonetheless like most Americans during this time of year. If you have seen A Bad Moms Christmas movie, then you PROBABLY know what I am talking about! The holidays can be a CRAZZZYYY time for everyone. Not to mention the fact that I am a LITERAL sucker for ALLLL things Christmas meaning that I go out most nights to enjoy it in my wonderful city, too!

I HAVE to say that I am oh so excited for the upcoming events and ongoings within my own life this holiday season. This 2023 year has been such a special year for me. 2023 has been filled with lots of self love, growth, and much more both personally and professionally. I feel so grateful for 2023 and what lessons this year has taught me, too. I am ALSO thankful to have incredible friends and family members and coworkers who support and empower me regularly, each of them are incredible human beings that I am lucky to have as apart of my life and support system (you all know who you are <3). And, guess what?! CRAZY ENOUGH, meal prep has helped me practice giving myself grace and to be more thankful for what I currently have.

Furthermore, I am OH SO GRATEFUL, THANKFUL, and BLESSED to have discovered the joys of meal prepping during this 2023 year. Meal prep allows me to focus on a healthy eating lifestyle that works for me. Personally, I am someone that believes that healthy eating is a lifestyle choice and NOT a diet and, rather, should be something that works for every individual person as opposed to a collective group of people (enough to be said here for today!). And, meal prepping allows me to simply get away from my always flashy phone and simply focus on the joys of cooking and be one within my own kitchen. I live for the hustle, *just* in case you haven’t noticed (!!!!), and find myself getting into the hustle more often than not. Especially during the holidays, I find myself with plans and/or commitments more often than not, SO meal prep allows me to cook on my OWN schedule and enjoy a delicious, healthy, and home-cooked meal while hustling.

Meal prep is something that I am thankful, grateful, and blessed to have found joy in this year. Specifically this holiday season, meal prep is literally a LIFESAVER. Some of the many dishes I plan to make this holiday season include: skillet gnocchi in Trader Joe’s Vodka sauce (aka my FAVORITE!), breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs and black beans and MORE, honey chipotle shrimp salad, and a Caprese salad wreath!!! There’s SO much to be thankful for this time of year (and every time of year for that matter!) and meal prep is just one of those things!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: January 17-21

I haven’t done a weekly menu in a while, so I feel that it is time for another! Coincidentally, this is the first time that I am crafting a weekly menu based off of the meals that I get via Hello Fresh. Just last week, I had my first week of Hello Fresh (I get my box every Monday and order 4 meals for 2 people/week in case you’re wondering!) and for the foreseen future will continue to keep my subscription going strong. This week’s menu includes mostly Hello Fresh meals with menu items curated surrounding them. Now, let’s get our taste buds craving something yummy!!

Meal 1: Frijoles Fresca Bowls with Tomato and Pepper Jack. I am REALLY excited about this meal! It is noted as a Hall of Fame recipe on Hello Fresh, and I am super excited to try it. Essentially, to me, it feels like a healthier version of a Chipotle’s vegetarian version of their burrito bowls aka my staple order there. Along with my vegetarian burrito bowl, I ALWAYS order chips at Chipotle to use the bowl as its dip. So, I am doing the same with this recipe using Wegman’s-branded tortilla chips.

Meal 2: Blackened Salmon Penne with Charred Poblano and Monterey Jack Cheese. This is a recipe that I would have NEVER thought to have made this on my own and even think of such a delicious sounding meal! So, when I saw this magnificent creation, I knew that I needed to try it. I will probably serve this pasta on its own or with some leftover tortilla chips.

Meal 3: Creamy Ricotta Tomato Ravioli with Kale and Lemony Tuscan Sauce. I have always LOVED pasta, so whenever I see a vegetarian pasta recipe pop up as a potential meal for me on Hello Fresh, then I WILL 9 times out of 10 add it to my meal plan. What I LOVE about this recipe is that I get ALLLL the benefits of a delicious pasta dish, but with NONE of the health-wise guilt that typical pasta dishes bring me. I plan to serve this dish with a side salad, too!

Meal 4: Mustard Soy Salmon with Pickled Scallions, Ginger Rice, and Zesty Carrots. Personally, salmon has always been one of my all-time favorite fishes. I am, in fact, a HUGE fish fan, but salmon is a very very dear favorite of mine. So, this recipe was a must-try for me. It added that Asian cuisine feel to me, but with all of the benefits of a healthy meal.

Meal 5: Pesto Caprese Sandwiches with Almond-Studded Green Salad. Ever since I studied abroad in Tuscany, Italy, I have missed enjoying Caprese sandwiches in general, as it was indeed a staple of my diet then. I LOVE that this recipe gives all of the healthy benefits with a simple taste of Italy right here in Northern Virginia, especially with the side salad that it comes with.

Meal 6: Grilled Cheese with Truffle Butter and Wegman’s’ freshly made Chicken Noodle Soup or Tomato Bisque. A comfort food at its finest – enough said!

This week’s menu has me super uber-excited. Here’s to eating healthy AND enjoying what I eat, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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