How to Use This BookThis book is here to make life easier. We’ve got enough going on, but we do
need to eat. Every day. Multiple times a day. I want food to feel like an exciting
yet grounding part of your day, whether it’s sitting down for a moment to
yourself in the middle of the day, or re-centering at the end with those you
love most.
There are two main components to this book: 1) guidance on how to meal
plan and prep with ease (including four weeks of meal plans to get you
started), and 2) the recipes themselves.
The Meal PlansThe meal plans are where this book really shines. Now, I didn’t just slap
together a calendar with five random recipes from the book for each week;
every ingredient, cooking method, and meal prep opportunity was specifically
considered to give you the smoothest week possible. Complete with organized
grocery lists, meal calendars, and streamlined prep instructions to carry you
through the week with energy and ease, these meal plans will also help reduce
food waste and save money on your grocery bill!
If you’re looking to take the guesswork out of mealtimes, I suggest starting
off with the premade weekly meal plans, beginning on page 36. They provide
dinner for four people and lunches for two. I’ve found that this gives flexibility
(in case anyone’s not too keen on leftovers, you’re not stuck with servings that
go uneaten) and takes care of the more challenging and time-consuming
meals of the day while being mindful of food waste and fridge storage space.
As you master the meal plans and gain confidence with meal prep, you may
choose to build on them by adding a batch-prep breakfast to the week or a
snack or two to fill the gaps. You’ll find a ton of meal prep–friendly recipes
in every chapter, and a couple of suggestions from me that are best suited
to each plan.
Alternatively, if you’re just dipping your toes into meal prep and the idea of
doing a full week feels overwhelming, start where you’re at! Ask yourself,
“What feels like the easiest win or most impactful meal to begin with?”
Maybe pick one to three foundational recipes, so you know you’ll always have
a delicious and nutritious base, or batch prep a few meals for the week and
go from there. You’ll find what works for your life.
Copyright © 2024 by Lindsay Pleskot. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
