Like everything else, eating can be scheduled. Yeah, I know some people say to only eat when you’re hungry. That’s true! But you should know what you’re going to eat BEFORE you’re hungry.
You know why they say you shouldn’t shop on an empty stomach? Because we don’t make good decisions when we’re really hungry. That’s why stores keep the candy right next to the register. Because by the time you’re done all your errands, you’re feeling hungry enough to buy all the chocolate and candy they sell, even though you vowed to stop eating sugar.
My reasons for meal planning are:
1. So I can make one trip to the store and get everything I need for the week
2. To prepare meals when I have time on the weekend so I will always have healthy food available
3. To cover my nutritional needs so I can ensure I am eating all I need and less of the bad things that I tend to turn to for snacks when I’m hungry. Bugles, Cheetos, Doritos, I’m looking at you!
I started meal planning because I was doing a lot of mindless eating – I’d eat whenever I was close to the kitchen (not a good thing for someone who was working from home) Biologically, our hunger may be sated after just a couple of bites but mentally, we aren’t satisfied until our brains have been convinced that we’ve eaten enough – not just for now but for later. Meal planning is one way to convince your brain that there’s another satisfying meal coming later so you can relax. Security. Our brains crave security. Meal planning is like a guarantee of another meal.
That being said, we should embrace hunger. Hunger is a good thing.
Hunger is how our bodies tells us that they’re working. Okay, I’ve used up the fuel you gave me; I’m ready for more fuel so I can do more work.
G-BOMBS is the acronym I adopted from Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book, The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life.
Since reading the book, it’s been my goal to eat G-BOMBS every day – even when I don’t limit my meals to just those foods, I try to include these 6 things in my diet.
G Greens
B Beans
O Onions
M Mushrooms
B Berries
S Seeds
Click for more G-Bombs ideas:
Meal Planning for Week 1
Sunday
Breakfast: Poached Egg on Whole Wheat bread, Hot Chocolate
Lunch: Black Bean Burger
Dinner: Grilled Salmon, Rice, a Vegetable stir fry – mushrooms, onions, greens, pumpkin seeds
Dessert : Frozen Yoghurt with Berries
Snack 1: Apple slices
Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal, Berries, Banana, Peanut Butter, Sunflower Seeds, Almond Milk
Lunch: Tuna salad sandwich (with red onion slices) lettuce, tomato, wheat bread.
Dinner: Curried lentils, roasted sweet potato chunks, green salad with mushroom and seeds
Snack 1: Apple slices with peanut butter
Snack 2: Baby Carrots
Tuesday
Breakfast: Poached Egg on Whole Wheat bread, Orange Halves
Lunch: Vegetable sauté with kidney beans
Dinner: Leftover Salmon and Rice
Snack 1: Nuts and berries
Snack 2: Baby Carrots
Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal, Berries, Banana, Peanut Butter, Chia Seeds, Almond Milk
Lunch: Tuna salad sandwich (with red onion slices) lettuce, tomato, wheat bread.
Dinner: Red Peas Soup and Salad, Garlic Bread.
Dessert: Frozen Yoghurt with Berries
Snack 1: Baby Carrots
Thursday
Breakfast: Hardboiled Egg on Whole Wheat bread, Almond Milk
Lunch: Black Bean Burger and Green Salad
Dinner: Red Peas Soup and Veg Sauté, Tortilla Chips
Snack 1: Apple slices
Snack 2: Nuts and berries
Friday
Breakfast: Oatmeal, Berries, Banana, Peanut Butter, Chia Seeds, Almond Milk
Lunch: Veggie Burger, Sweet Potato Chunks
Dinner: Vegetable Stir Fry with Kidney Beans
Snack 1: Orange Slices
Snack 2: Nuts and Berries
Saturday
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Sandwich with banana slices, Almond Milk
Lunch: Veggie Stir Fry with Kidney beans
Dinner: Leftover Burgers or Salmon, Salad
Dessert: Dark Chocolate and Berries
Snack 1: Apple
Please follow me on Bloglovin Instagram Twitter so we can stay in touch.
I wish I meal planned! It really is an awesome idea!
LikeLike
Thanks. It’s never too late to start.
LikeLike
Sounds pretty yummy.
I love meal planning because it SAVES ME SO MUCH MONEY. Having to go to the store more than once a week to pick up odds and ends is a waste of time and gas, and you never get just what you need. Plus, I eat a lot healthier when I have a plan in hand. Go you!
LikeLike
Thanks for the support. Multiple shopping trips just means multiple opportunities for impulse purchases. Better to get it all out in one shopping trip.
LikeLike
I try so hard to meal plan. I usually can only think of two recipes I know that I cook on repeat. I might steal some of your ideas, thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thanks. I am not going too fancy to start. These are the things I’d normally cook when I grocery shop. Feel free to use whatever I post that inspires you. And let me know how it turns out.
LikeLike
My doctor has advised me to do g bomb diet and in addition avoid meat, eggs and milk. My cholesterol is 237 and must come down. My doctor does not prescribe statins like drinking water. Hense the strict diet. My lipid panel says high normal. Previously I was following the Mediterranean diet to no change. Heart disease definately in my family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you are able to follow the diet and turn your health issues around. Let me know if you need any further advice on meal planning.
LikeLike
Excellent health food variety are shaped a Great “Body at Work” Salute😇
LikeLike
not my words anywaygreat eating!
LikeLike