"What's for dinner, Mom?"

This simple question can be enough to send you into a panic and make a frantic phone call for pizza delivery. It's not that you don't care about preparing a balanced meal. It's just that you're tired, overwhelmed, and the last thing you want to think about is what to cook. 


​I get it - because it wasn't too long ago I was in your shoes. With two children running in different directions, a career, and a husband that traveled, by the end of the day I had nothing left to give anyone, and cereal for dinner sounded pretty good.

The game changer? I started to plan our weekly dinners ahead of time and prepped what I could in advance. My family started eating more nutritious meals, we rarely resorted to packaged foods or take-out, and dinner time became more enjoyable. 

Sounds like a better approach, right?
 
The key is to practice planning and preparing in advance…not when you are rushed or hangry!

Tips to simplify your meal prep routine:

• Grocery shop. Sounds easy, but how often have you reached into the fridge only to find condiments, a half empty container of milk, and wilted veggies. Make shopping part of the weekly routine to ensure healthy options are available. Simplify even further by shopping at a warehouse store for bulk items or have groceries delivered to save time.
• Plan a menu for the week. Start with just dinner and keep the recipes simple and quick. Remember to include leftover nights or take out.
• Wash and cut veggies. Take a few minutes to chop up veggies for salads and snacks. You and your family will reach for these foods first, instead of chips or cookies.
• Precook/grill chicken. This eliminates the 5pm realization that the chicken is frozen! A great source of protein for salads, fajitas, or sandwiches ready to go.
• Cook once, eat multiple times. Minimize the amount of time you spend in the kitchen by doubling recipes or using leftovers for lunches. Freeze what you won’t use for a quick busy night dinner.
• Pre-bag smoothie ingredients. Combine veggies and fruit in individual freezer bags to grab and go.
• Portion out snacks. Purchase snack bags and measure out a serving of each snack into the bags. This will minimize overeating and make lunch preparation a snap!

 
Dinnertime sanity can be yours - and I've made it even easier for you. The 6-Day Meal Plan for Moms in Survival Mode is filled with simple, real, quick dinners to get you in and out of the kitchen and on to what's really important. In it, I give you some of my family's most-loved recipes, plus tips for prepping ahead and using leftovers, as well as a complete shopping list.

Let's make dinner a time to nourish our bodies and connect with our families. Let's banish the stress. And let's make it all so much easier. Are you in?

Download your FREE 6-Day Meal Plan for Moms in Survival Mode here.

GOALS: why are we so fixated on them?

Are they even necessary? The answer is a definite YES! Unfortunately, the anxiety of actually getting started can get in the way of our success.

Are you tired of hearing everyone talk about their lofty goals, but you have no idea what yours really are? Does the thought of adding one more task to your to-do list send you into a state of panic?

Let’s be real: laundry, dishes, homework and a never-ending to-do list doesn’t inspire anyone to dream big. I don’t know about you, but the days when I have only mundane things on my to-do list leaves me completely uninspired.
 
-What lights you up when you talk about it?
-What inspires you or immediately boosts your mood?
-What is something you wish you could do that seems unreachable?
 
The MOST important thing to remember is to choose YOUR own goal, not your best friend’s or spouse’s. This is for you and what will continue to inspire you to reach for the next goal.

Now that you know what you want to accomplish, how do work to achieve your goal?
 
Tips to CRUSH your goals:
 
-Be realistic! You need to choose a goal that is attainable. If you can only walk around the block, choosing to run a marathon in eight weeks is not attainable. Or, if you currently don’t eat any vegetables, but decide to go on a plant-based diet starting tomorrow, you will fail. Take that larger reach goal and break it down into small attainable steps that fit into the parameters of your life.

-Stop making excuses! There, I said it. Was that a hard one for you to hear? I know it is! It’s very easy to blame our lack of success on others or circumstances. I have heard it all from my clients – they work long hours, they have three children under the age of five, their family will only eat macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets. Do you know who were the most successful at achieving their goals? The people who didn’t let those circumstances get in their way, that’s who! If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to fit the work into your schedule. Do.The.Work.

-Have a plan! Do you know what the hardest part of reaching any goal is? It’s the journey! Sit down once a week and schedule the time into your calendar, and commit to do the work. We don’t skip taking the kids to the doctors or vacation, so why would we skip the things that help us be our best selves?

-Enjoy the ride! Are you feeling deprived during meals or dreading lacing up your sneakers? If every step of the way is torture, maybe you need to take a different approach. Hard work is not always fun, but the result of knowing you achieved your goal is priceless. Evaluate every few weeks and adjust if your current approach is leaving you feeling less than inspired.

Success will not be overnight, and there is no quick fix to any goal. Take your time and honestly put the work into your plan. Know there will be setbacks along the way and just get right back to it.
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Want support along your journey? Join the Balanced Healthy Self Village private Facebook group, and be surrounded by a great group of mamas who are navigating through motherhood, while committing to be healthy and balanced themselves!