Hey there! So, a common question I get is “Can I still meal plan/prep as an intuitive eater?” And my answer is: Of course!!
The beauty of intuitive eating is that there are LESS RULES about what you “should” and “shouldn’t do” with food. Intuitive eating opens so many doors when you are planning out meals for the week. It no longer needs to be these “perfect” meals, but instead is focused around what SOUNDS and TASTES good.
Expand Your Options
A good rule of thumb when it comes to planning out meals for the week on a busy schedule is to start with giving yourself options to choose from. For example, let’s say you need to bring breakfast, lunch, and snacks to work to last you until dinner. You could meal prep a few different options of proteins, carbs, and fats to keep in your fridge and choose what to bring the day of or the night before. This way you are not stuck on eating the same meals every single day. A good rule of thumb for meals is to make sure you have a source of protein, carbs and fats, which you may know I like to call ‘The Gang’!
Not feeling like meal prepping? Take leftovers for lunch the next day! Maybe you like to cook extras for dinner and don’t want to dedicate a day to making a ton of food. This is a great way to change things up every day.
Giving Up The Control
Stressing about what to take for breakfast? Could getting breakfast out with a friend before work or swinging by a coffee shop for a breakfast sandwich be an option every now and then? I bring up these ideas to you because it’s nice a nice reminder that we do not need to be perfect with our prepped meals all the time. Sometimes you get stuck in eating the same things over and over that you have no idea how to change things up. Allow yourself to be more spontaneous with meals until you find yourself beginning to enjoy less rigidity around food.
Take Extra Snacks
Bringing a few snack options to work or school is really helpful when you are intuitively eating. This way you can pick and choose what sounds good in the moment to allow yourself to be more intuitive.
Understand That Plans Change!
A huge part of intuitive eating is being more flexible with eating and eating occasions. There will be times where someone wants to take you out to lunch or you decide you no longer want what you planned and crave something else, be prepared to wing it! There is no way of eating that is 100% perfect (being perfection does not exist no matter how much you think it does!). Plans change and it’s up to you to be willing to let go of perfectionism to make memories and stronger relationships.
Meal planning is part of what I teach you how to do in my 1:1 nutrition coaching program! I teach you the principles of intuitive eating, explain how to navigate physical and mental hunger, and provide meal ideas and recipes monthly!
You can book a FREE discovery call with me here to learn more about how my coaching program can help you on your journey to food freedom!
