Prep Ahead for Healthier Meals

By Stacy SimonEating healthy meals and snacks throughout the week is easier when you plan them out and even prepare them ahead of time. Preparation can include making whole meals on the weekend and freezing in individual or family-size portions. Or it can mean cooking, mixing, or chopping parts of meals so they are easy to grab for recipes as you need them.Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, managing director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society, says eating well is one of the most important steps any of us can take to stay healthy and lower cancer risk. To prep ahead for meals, Doyle recommends:Pre-cooking chicken breasts. Depending on what you plan to make, you can keep your chicken breasts whole, chopped, or shredded.Washing and chopping vegetables. Depending on the recipe, you can also roast them in advance.Precooking pasta, rice, couscous, and other grains. Store them in individual bags or containers for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. If you plan to use them later in the week, freeze them.Hard-boiling eggsMaking pizza doughCooking beans (or rinsing and draining canned versions) and lentilsBagging up smoothie ingredients to throw in the blender laterStacking salad in a mason jar for a brown-bag lunch. To keep salad from getting soggy, put the dressing on the bottom, then layer with carrots, cucumbers, and other hardy vegetables, and top with leafy greens.Use your pre-cooked chicken breast and pre-washed veggies in our recipe for Greens with Chicken, Apple,...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Diet/Exercise/Weight Source Type: news