There’s a lot of possible planning you can do after WLS. There’s meal planning, food prep, scheduling in exercise, and grocery shopping. How do you fit it all in? Do you set aside a few hours each week to, say, cook and freeze a few multi-portion recipes? Do you sit down each night to plan your meal for the next day?

Which tasks do you do daily? Which do you do weekly? Do you have any tips for being more efficient?

Would love to hear some responses on this subject. I definitely need help meal planning with my busy schedule.

Edited September 20, 201510 yr by tcon

I just eat pretty much the same thing every day. No planning needed. My only variations are minor -- will I put asparagus with my chopped chicken for lunch, or artichoke hearts? Will I use tuna or sardines when making my nightly fish/egg/veggie bake for dinner? Stuff like that.

Its just my husband and myself, kids are moved out and hubbys pretty happy with a protein, starch and veggie, but if I had to meal plan with kids and a busy schedule i would do it differently. 1- I like the idea of cooking double amounts of something, and freezing half for later. 2- Also I like using 1 item for 2-3meals, like a large roasted chicken., 1st meal chicken, later in the week, chicken fajitas, last of the chicken for soup or stock. Try googling "freezer meals " "Fix it and forget it cooking" and "crockpot meals ". Good luck !

Also, , google "Hobo meals" or "Hobo packets for quick meals or " Campfire hobo dinners " Cooked in foil means easy cleanup !

I tend to cook on Sundays and freeze several portions for lunches/dinners through the week. I have done it 3 weeks in a row now and have about 15 meals frozen at a given point in time. It really helps grab a couple to throw into the lunch box and off to work I go!

I work from home so I cook all my meals fresh before I eat them. I like cooking each meal because it helps keep me mindful about what I am eating and I love fresh foods. I don't meal prep because I would be freaked out about bacteria and just end up tossing it.

I buy my fresh Protein usually fish or crab by the week. I default buy veggies by the week because they last me so long with so little. I usually defrost my fish for the next day by putting it in the fridge before I head to bed.

I buy protein powders by the month. I try to keep 3 flavors so I have a variety. I also buy my Snacks since I order them online by the month.

I'm in a rut. I am like many and eat pretty much the same thing, because I know it doesn't make me sick. I have gotten some recipe books and I try to get ideas online, and in the forums here, but I just can't find the time to cook. The stuff I eat now is healthy, it's just always the same thing. I think that's why I gained weight to begin with, because I have no imagination to cook up recipes, so I ate stuff that was loaded with carbs. Oh and I can't eat seafood. But I am watching this topic for ideas.

I know what I want to eat for a two week stretch when I go grocery shopping and then plan accordingly. Plus we pretty much eat the same things weekly.