Not surprisingly, many folks want ways to maintain a healthy diet. It can be struggle for all of us, right?
Today I wanted to focus on one area of your kitchen you can set up for your success.
Your freezer.
If I were to ask you to open your freezer right now, what would I see?
- Pints of ice cream (guilty as charged)
- Freezer burned meats from who knows how long ago
- Ready-made frozen dinners
- Who knows? It’s too crowded to even see what is in there!
If the above sounds like you, read on….
Step 1: Get it all out!
It has to get worse before it gets better. Pull everything out of your freezer and take an inventory of what you actually have in there.
Are there items that have been in there for years. Let them go.
Are there items that are not in alignment with your vision of a healthier lifestyle? Toss them or donate them to someone else.
Step 2: Assess what’s left
Group together your remaining items by category. Put all meats together, veggies together, smoothie ingredients together. You get the idea. Jot down some items that you want to use up in the next month and place the list on your fridge.
Step 3: Containerize
To keep your inventory manageable going forward, you need to create specific zones in your freezer using containers and don’t purchase items until there is room in the container to do so. For my pull-out freezer drawer, I have 4 tall plastic containers – one for meats, one for veggies, one for smoothie ingredients and breakfast items, and one for seafood. I am also very fortunate to have a second refrigerator in the garage and keep that freezer filled with additional items I use less frequently or the temptations from Costco that somehow ended up in my cart. Boba Tea, I’m talking about you.
Need inspiration? Pinterest has lots of gorgeous looking freezers to look at.
Step 4: Plan for your future
If your fridge is now looking a bit bare after the frozen waffles and freezer burned items have been removed, it is time to start thinking about how to stock your freezer to make it easier to eat a healthy diet.
Is breakfast time tripping you up? Make it a snap by prepping ahead. I suggest taking things one step at a time. Try one or both of these items to start.
In your breakfast zone, make sure to include items like frozen bananas and frozen berries to make a quick smoothie. Just dump into the blender with your favorite milk or juice. I also love to add some fresh mint if I have it on hand and a dash of cinnamon.
Create some breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, black beans, rice, and cheese. Wrap tightly in foil and store in a freezer bag. To reheat, unwrap one burrito and place it on a small plate. Microwave for 90 seconds, turning over every 30 seconds.
Step 5: Create a habit
Now that you have one or more items you want to have available each week, it’s time to create a repeatable process for getting there.
Pick a day of the week as your freezer stocking day. Head to the store to gather your ingredients and then take 30-60 minutes to prep your ingredients and load them into the freezer.
Put a note on your freezer door to remind you and your family that breakfast is ready, including some simple prep/reheat instructions since we all are a bit groggy in the morning, right?
That’s it. One meal for the day done. Stay tuned for some additional ways to help you prepare for lunch and dinner too.
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