Sunday Prep
My Sunday afternoon was quite busy– cleaning, organizing, and planning for the upcoming work week. I almost always do some “prep work” on Sundays, which has become an end-of-the-week ritual for me, but I thought you guys might want to see how I make my life a little bit easier… or at least try to!
- Fruit and veggie chopping. For example, if I buy a big watermelon or cantaloup, I chop-up the entire thing and store it in a Tupperware container in the fridge. Over the course of the week, I portion-it-out and pack for breakfast/lunch as needed. For veggies that I like to eat raw (e.g. carrots, celery, peppers, broccoli), I cut them on Sunday, so I can just grab and go for the rest of the week.
- Make iced coffee. I brew a hot pot of coffee, pour it into a huge thermos, and chill in the fridge overnight, so it’s ready to go in the morning. Just add chocolate soy milk!
- Pack oatmeal and cereal. With my oatmeal, I include all of my “mix-ins,” like ground flaxseed meal, wheat bran, nuts, seeds, etc. I also pack grab-n-go cereal for yogurt, trail mix, etc. It makes packing breakfast and lunch so much easier!
- Make a batch of wheatberries. Wheatberries take a good 45 minutes to cook, so I make a huge batch on Sunday and store them in the fridge for the week. I help myself to them as needed.
I also packed my breakfast, lunch, and gym bag for tomorrow morning. My gym bag included a complete, accessorized outfit as well as my workout clothes and other “essentials.” 
Wahoo! For some reason, packing my gym bag is the toughest part of my evening routine!
Dinner
Mal had the best idea for dinner tonight: Tomato-Basil-Mozzarella Paninis. He’s a genius! 
I made my panini on an Arnold Sandwich Thin with a little crushed garlic and olive oil. Yuuum!
With a side salad topped with ground pepper and balsamic vinegar…
Despite having my act together for Monday morning, I sort of have a case of the Sunday Blues. 
They better go away ASAP! Meh.
Rachel — May 17, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
I do Sunday prep too! Usually planning and also chopping veggies – but wheatberries are a great thing to prepare and something I keep forgetting to do, so thanks for the reminder.
Shelby — May 17, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
I do this too on Sundays! I actually just made a huge batch of wheatberries for oatmeal and salad toppings =)
Rebecca — May 17, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
Wow! That Panini looks SO good. I love caprese salad and it looks like it might taste very similar. I’ve never tried wheatberries, but always wanted to. Do you just cook them and eat them plain?
Sarah Mila @ A Day in the Life — May 17, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
Mmm that panini looks awesome, esp with the addition of crushed garlic!
Danielle — May 17, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
Hope you can enjoy the rest of your weekend Tina! Don’t worry… be happy
Brandi — May 17, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
beautiful dinner! i do a lot of prep work on Sundays, too. that’s ALL I’ve been doing, besides laundry and trying to rest my aching body
Anne K. — May 17, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
I’m sure that prep work makes the week so much smoother. That reminds me, I need to cook up some wheatberries. I haven’t had them in a while!
I hope the rest of your sunday goes well– the sunday blues are no fun
That panini looks delicious!
Graze With Me — May 17, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
Wow that panini looks amazing, I just wish they sold those Sandwich Thins in my area.
Meredith (Pursuing Balance) — May 17, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
Dinner looks good! Sunday afternoon definitely seems busy for you, but maybe a nice way to ease yourself into the week?
Jordan — May 17, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
Wow, that panini looks amazing.
Megan — May 17, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
I do the same things on Sundays! It just always feels like the week flew by and I had just done it the day before
I agree with the case of the blues! Hope yours goes away!! ;-D
Meg — May 17, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
I love your iced coffee idea with the chocolate soy milk! I will have to try that!
Alison — May 17, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
I love prepping food for the week ahead. I dno’t do that nearly often enough. And I love your panini!
Katrina (gluten free gidget) — May 17, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
Forget salad dressing! Balsamic Vinegar and Peach and Mango Salsa are the best salad toppers EVER!
There is something so therapeutic about prepping vegetables, etc…. It just makes you feel so organized and accomplished, like a little Martha Stewart!
Help Meghan Run — May 17, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
That panini really does look amazing. And prepping food is an awesome way to stay organized. Good tips!
www. HelpMeghanRun .com
Menden (Skinny Menny) — May 17, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
I used to be so good about “prepping” for the week on Sundays…thanks for inspiring me to get back on track
Makes the week so much easier!
Ali — May 17, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
It was really helpful to see how you prep for the week. Thanks for the post!
Jocelyn — May 17, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
great ideas! Very organized! I love the iced coffee..I will DEFINITLY be trying that with some soy milk
REBECCA P — May 17, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
Dinner looks Yummy! I am going to make that one night this week!
Maria — May 17, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
I always pack our lunches the night before.
Amy — May 17, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
All great ideas! I have a question. When you make the oatmeal do you then rrmove the mixins so they do not get mushy? Thanks!
Christina — May 17, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
I’ll have to start doing Sunday prep. The cut up veggies would definitely be a huge time saver!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) — May 18, 2009 @ 1:08 am
yummy sandwich idea
Caroline — May 18, 2009 @ 1:12 am
My, you’re such an organized food diva! I need to have a prep day too.
N — May 18, 2009 @ 3:20 am
what balsamic vinaigrette do you use? i’ve tried a few store brands and they were gross. why is it that the best ones are from restaurants and salad bars?
thanks!
Tina — May 18, 2009 @ 5:55 am
I’m very organized myself so I definitely can relate to your planning and organizing skills!
Megan — May 18, 2009 @ 6:45 am
Just wanted to comment that of all the blogs out there, I admire your realistic approach to eating and exercise. Your posts are well-written, your advice is sound, you don’t eat crazy mix-ups of stuff and you’re consistent–not vegan one week and eating roast beef the next. I feel like as a working mom, I can actually follow your approach. Well done!
Nicole (dishin') — May 18, 2009 @ 8:31 am
Your prep looks very organized, a great way to start the week. I do the same thing so I can get a little extra sleep in the morning!
Tina — May 18, 2009 @ 9:19 am
@Amy: I just throw them all in together and cook them in the oats.
Tina — May 18, 2009 @ 9:23 am
@N: Monari Balsamic Vinegar Green Label Vinegar
jenna — May 18, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
sunday blues are NO FUN!! I h*te that feeling. Your panini looks so good.
Lindsey (fiteats) — May 18, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
I am a “stay at home” mom so I am here to prep my own meals if I have to, but I think my life would be a lot easier if I did a weekly prep routine. I’m going to work on this. I love the idea!
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