One of the things with which my clients struggle is that they want to cook more, because they know it will help them feel better and think better and keep their stress levels in check. But they don’t always know how to prepare for the week because their schedule can be so up in the air. They might not know if they’ll need to travel that week (or not) or which nights they’re going to be home. As a result, they:

• Can’t plan their grocery store trips ahead of time

• Don’t want to buy perishable things (like produce) only for it to go bad before they can use it

• End up buying unhealthy processed items because they’re shelf-stable so they won’t go bad

These are very real concerns, and I’ve definitely been there. Cooking food at home more frequently is a hugely important way to increase energy, lower stress, heal your gut, etc. But often it’s easier said than done.

Here are 3 ways to actually have the ability to cook when you find the time (so you can avoid hitting Seamless yet again):

1: Stock your freezer

Shop when you can, and buy frozen or freezable foods that can be easily defrosted and cooked when you actually have the time. You can do this with meats, veggies and even sauces.

2: Create a stock grocery list of fresh items that you can order for delivery

This might sound obvious, but if you don’t have a good-for-you grocery list ready to go, you can find yourself in the store or on InstaCart in a panic. Having a tried and true list of items you know how to cook (and you know do great things for your body and brain) will help when you find you’ll actually be home to prepare a healthy dinner.

3: Go big and stay home

When you do find that you have some time to cook - cook a LOT! This goes back to your freezer tip. Cook extra proteins (i.e., two packages of chicken instead of one), extra veggies (i.e., two heads of broccoli or a few different kinds of veggies) and extra grains (double or triple that rice or farro recipe.) Eat from that batch while you’re home, bring some with you to the office or your on site and freeze the rest for the next time you need a fast healthy meal.

Save and share this post if you found this helpful and follow for more tips on how to make cooking with a busy schedule attainable (and maybe even enjoyable!)