And so the new week begins!
Mondays are so bittersweet—you have to get back to the real world after having the weekend to yourself, but it’s the perfect way to start fresh on your goals. Although waking up early on Monday mornings is always 10x more difficult than any other day of the week, I find that I often feel refreshed and ready to tackle the daily grind.
In my post of ways to use Sunday for a more productive week, I talk about making a meal plan and doing a bit of healthy food prep. Today’s post branches from these two concepts. I haven’t been putting a lot of effort into this pre-week food prep lately, but I’ve noticed that even when I slack, there are still a few items I make sure to prepare because they make such a difference in how healthy I eat.
If my healthy habits for lazy people post spoke to you, then you might like today’s tips as well. I’m sharing a list of five foods that I try to prepare every Sunday to help give myself a little boost as I figure out my snacks and meals throughout the week. 
1. Hard boiled eggs. They require minimal effort and work well to throw in your lunch for a protein-packed snack. I like mine with a bit of sriracha to mix things up.
2. Fruit. I cut up fruit a lot more in the summer because of melons and berries being in season, but even now, fruits like pomegranate can be peeled for later (or sliced apples using the apple puzzle technique).
3. Raw vegetables. Whether you want diced for mason jar salads or sliced for finger food, raw veggies are much more appealing if they’re already cut up and ready to eat! (My go-to’s are carrots, celery, cucumber, and green pepper.)
4. Chicken. Shred it, cube it, leave it whole, whatever—if you know you’ll have a busy week, having pre-cooked chicken is super convenient. I use it for salads, throw-together tacos, on sandwiches, and quick dishes like my quinoa protein bowl.
5. Quinoa. Like chicken, this is a good one to have on deck if you want quick, healthy food. Use it as a side dish, mix it into soup, add it on a salad, or even make for breakfast using my strawberry vanilla almond breakfast quinoa. The possibilities are endless.
Bonus: Ingredients for the week’s recipes. When I have some extra motivation, it really helps to get started on recipes for the week by making things like my taco seasoning, shredding cheese, mixing sauces together, and so on. Every little bit helps cut some time off the total amount you’ll spend when you’re inevitably busier and care less!
What foods would you add to this list?
What other ways to you make sure you eat healthier during the busy week?
