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Daily Eats, Intuitive Eating, Life, Weekly Eats

How To Meal Plan and Eat Intuitively

February 2, 2018 By Robyn 55 Comments

I’ve been in a somewhat rhythm with cooking meals, grocery shopping and stocking a pantry/fridge for almost 7 years now since graduating college. I say that because I think it can feel defeating when you’re beginning to do some meal planning and cooking and it feels hard. It still feels hard for me sometimes! And my definition of cooking has continually changed depending on how crazy life feels.

Intuitive Eating and Meal Planning | Eat Satisfying Foods All Week! By The Real Life RD

The first few years post college that meant cooking really simple stuff every night because I hated leftovers. My nursing school definition was often scrambling eggs or heating up a frozen meals. And now post grad school and into what I feel like is finally my attempt at adulting…cooking right now means making one big recipe for dinners and lunches throughout the week. Although I still don’t love leftovers, I’ve come to accept they make my life infinitely easier. Learning to meal plan for two after getting married was another learning curve as well. I am lucky that I can cook anything and Nick will eat it, so he’s not really that involved in the grocery shopping and meal planning. He’s really good at doing dishes, being handy and doing the laundry šŸ™‚

As I’veĀ moved further along into this journey of intuitive eating, it’s been a lot of trial and error to figure out what works well for my schedule, wallet, and taste buds. Ideally, I’d eat every dinner out or at least pick up Whole Foods hot bar. That would be awesome for my taste buds and schedule, but not financially sustainable. I also don’t have time to cook a new dinner recipe every night of the week. Hi, stress. That would also be good for my taste buds and better for wallet but not my schedule and sanity.

So what I’ve landed on is a mixture of all the above. And what I’ve learned is that intuitive eating and some loose meal planning can go hand and hand. Intuitive eating doesn’t necessarily mean always having the most satisfying, craving worthy food at every meal. I think it’s a journey in discovering what foods you enjoy and then making meals that include those foods and flavors. I’ve found this way I can satisfy 70-80% of my cravings with meals and then snacks are where I feel most intuitive with choosing foods I’m hungry for and craving.

MY LOOSE GUIDE FOR MEAL PLANNING + INTUITIVE EATING

Intuitive Eating and Meal Planning | Eat Satisfying Foods All Week! By The Real Life RD

1. I’ll peruse some cookbooks and Pinterest if I’m looking for new recipe inspiration. Or if it’s a busy week then I think about what I’m craving and just pick something I’ve cooked before that’s easy and familiar. Some usuals are enchiladas, burrito bowls, “unstuffed” cabbage rolls, green curry, and stir fry. Then I write down what I need to buy for that recipe, doubling all the ingredients. I almost always freeze 1/3 to 1/2 half of a dinner recipe when I make it. It only takes a few weeks to have three different dinners frozen in the freezer. Last week I made sweet potato, spinach and chickpea curry and froze half. Then I cooked up a few nights worth of brown rice to eat with it.

So then in weeks to come you’ll either 1) have dinner in the freezer when life gets nuts and you don’t have time to cook or 2) you’ll have 3 different meals to choose from in addition to the recipe you cook at the beginning of the week so you’re not eating the same thing all week. We might eat what I made on Sunday for the first 2-3 nights of the week, then a dinner out of the freezer for a couple nights so we aren’t eating the same dinner 5 nights in a row. Or we eat what I made for the week and then mix it up by grabbing Chipotle or grabbing dinner with friends during the week.

2. Again, I look on Pinterest or in cookbooks or dig into the lunch archives in my brain based on whatever I’m craving. I rotate between some sort of salad, sandwich or grain bowl. In the winter salads mean a veggie soup or a bowl of roasted veggies because I don’t really crave cold salad in the winter. Salads, sandwiches and grain bowls are super customizable so you can switch up the sauces and add-ins throughout the week to keep it interesting and satisfy your cravings. Use pesto or hummus or mayo on wraps/sandwiches or switch up the dressings or toppings on grain bowls and salads – nuts, dried fruit, cheeses etc.

Last week I made grain bowls based on an idea in my own head. I bought a few winter veggies – delicata squash (or use butternut), sweet potatoes, broccoli and brussel sprouts. I roasted all those up with oil at 350 degrees, picked two dressings, and then cooked up chicken and some lentils for two different proteins. Dressings = hummus thinned with lemon juice and olive oil and sriracha + olive oil + sea salt. Or just buy two dressings! I threw the veggies over kale and picked lentils or chicken, heated it up in the microwave and added on one of the “dressings.” I’ll usually always add a handful or crackers, piece of fruit or a larabar to mix it up based on what I’m craving and how hungry I am.

3. I like to make a snack/dessert type thing every week. Mainly because I love baked goods and stuff like that and I get really bored of packaged snacks. At least 75% of the time I’m making banana bread of some variety, but other times I make some energy balls or snack-y cookies. This week I made Alexis’s no bake sea salt peanut butter balls. If you wanted to make these simpler, I would just mix the chocolate chips into the ball mixture instead of melting it and drizzling on top.

4. Figure out what your weekly essentials are and stock up on them every time you go to the grocery.

Breakfast is always a rotation of oatmeal, toast with pb or avocado, toast and eggs, yogurt bowls with fruit/granola/nuts and sometimes pancakes if I have time but usually that’s for the weekend. I can make any of these things with our essentials.

I use almond milk in smoothies because I use about 1-2 cups of milk in smoothies and have found that much cow’s milk makes me nauseous. I also use almond milk in oatmeal for the same reason. I use whole milk in my coffee and for cooking/baking. Frozen spinach, blueberries and bananas are for breakfast and smoothies. Peanut butter (or almond butter or sun butter) is for anything and everything. Eggs are for breakfast or a quick and easy dinner. In a pinch I fry or scramble eggs, bake a sweet potato and steam up some kale for a quick lunch or dinner. Sweet potatoes keep for months in a dark, cool place. Apples are for lunches and snacks and also keep for several weeks in your fridge. Nick snacks on baby carrots like a horse šŸ™‚ I eat them sometimes with hummus. Nuts and trail mix are for snacks and breakfast. And ice cream + coffee are vital to sustaining life and sanity.

A FEW THINGS I’VE FOUND HELPFUL..

I usually do my grocery shopping on Saturday after making a list. Picking recipes/meal ideas and making a list takes about 20-30 minutes. Then grocery shopping start to finish is about an hour. I find shopping and cooking in one day is just too much for me. I don’t want to be doing cooking/meal planning for more than an hour-ish at a time or it becomes a burden and then I start getting frustrated because I want to be doing something else.

Sunday afternoon or evening I cook. I turn on a podcast or talk to a friend or my mom and cook up the dinner recipe, prep whatever I need to for lunches (roast or chop veggies, cook some grains etc) and make a snack recipe. This usually takes about an hour-ish or 90 minutes. Sometimes 2 hours but that’s rare.

I only shop at one store. In both New York and Boston I’ve found the the most affordable store aside from Trader Joes to be Whole Foods because we don’t have Krogers which I find the most affordable back home in Indiana. Ā Trader Joe’s doesn’t usually have everything I need and their produce can sometimes be hit or miss. I make one TJs trip a month to stock up on dry goods and oils and nut butters but I’ve found shopping Whole Foods 365 brand and the bulk bins affordable. And now that Amazon has bought Whole Foods, prices are way lower on every day things like potatoes, avocado, bananas etc. It’s less stressful for me to just pick one store and maybe pay 10% more overall vs going to a few different stores. Although coming from a single mom of five, I am thankful to even have a choice in that. I know budgeting is so so personal and some people allocate more money towards some things and less money towards other things. For us, I try to keep groceries under $140/week for two people with pretty big appetites. Most weeks, we eat out about 2 times a week when we spend this much – usually one nicer meal and then something casual like takeout.

Be flexible.Ā Life is messy. And sometimes shiz happens and you don’t grocery shop or cook or meal plan. That is okay. Life goes on. Those weeks we eat a lot of eggs and potatoes. Or boil up some pasta with olive oil and sautĆ©ed greens. Or we order takeout or grab Dig Inn and readjust the budget in other places. Life happens.

I hope this is helpful. I by no means have this all figured out so share your tips and things that work for you in the comments! And of course, any questions…ask away!

 


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Filed Under: Daily Eats, Intuitive Eating, Life, Weekly Eats

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Comments

  1. Jamie says

    February 2, 2018 at 11:48 am

    This is so helpful, thanks for all the details šŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. Shana says

    February 2, 2018 at 11:54 am

    My meal planning looks very similar to yours. Since having kids, I’ve had to streamline even further so I now also:
    1. Write down a weekly menu and post it on the fridge (otherwise I seriously forget)
    2. Write down the recipes on the back of the menu page (now I don’t have to flip through the cookbook again!)
    3. Meal prep (mostly chopping, making sauces, and cooking soups/casseroles)
    4. Writing down about how much time the prep took (so I can pull the same menu for weeks that I know I don’t have a lot of time)
    5. Save the menus in a folder so that I can spend less time overall meal planning in the future!

    Reply
    • Amber @ Bloom Nutrition Therapy says

      February 2, 2018 at 12:33 pm

      I love this idea about recording how much time it took to make for further use and saving menus based on your week. So helpful!

      Reply
  3. Megan says

    February 2, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Robyn, this is great! I also feel like I have spent most of my 20’s trying to get into a good rhythm with meal planning when life seems to be constantly changing. I’m still trying to get a good handle on meal planning/cooking for two after so many years of it just being me and just having to take my preferences into account. Thankfully, I also have a significant other who is (usually) not picky.

    What I’ve found works best for us in this season of life (living in a NYC walkup apartment!) is do a rough meal plan for an entire month of about 7-8 dinners. I find that meal planning for a month doesn’t take much longer than it takes me to do it for a week, and I make sure to have a good variety of types of meals. Then, every month or so we do a hugeeeeee Trader Joe’s trip where we stock up on what is needed for all of those meals, plus our lunch and breakfast staples, and get it all delivered (totally worth the money when you don’t have a car!). We just supplement with smaller trips every week or so for staples we run out of (milk, eggs, etc) and fresh produce, as well as anything we might be craving.

    Since starting to do this a few months ago, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. has been so much less stressful! I’m still working to fine tune everything, but it’s a start. šŸ™‚ We also usually eat out 2x a week (and budget accordingly) so that helps mix it up.

    Reply
    • Amber @ Bloom Nutrition Therapy says

      February 2, 2018 at 12:35 pm

      Yes! I second this going to the grocery store less! We shop every other week, or twice a month and I absolutely refuse to step foot in a store in between unless it’s absolutely needed. I believe I have saved so much more money being able to cut down on trips to the store where I’m tempted to buy things I don’t need. Great tips!

      Reply
  4. Amber @ Bloom Nutrition Therapy says

    February 2, 2018 at 12:31 pm

    I love this an I have to say, I actually LOVE meal planning and learning others’ strategies. Mine is very similar to yours in that I try my best to make weekly nights as simple as possible. We also utilize freezing meals, though most of the time I use these for my lunches at work. I also make use of the cook once, eat twice method, which has me only couple a couple of nights throughout the week. We almost always have things like sandwich meat/bread, eggs, cereal, oatmeal and things like that on hand in case life gets crazy. We’re not so pick that we can’t make a bowl of cereal be dinner sometimes if that makes life less stressful. One thing I also do is use Kroger’s Clicklist program and I only grocery shop every 2 weeks. I plan most things that can be frozen in the freezer for the second week. Steamable bags of veggies are a lifesaver. We have fresh foods, too, but I just make sure and plan to do something with them the first week before they begin to go bad. We eat out approximately once a week to give us a break and a date night together. Loved reading this, so interesting!

    Reply
  5. Melissa says

    February 2, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    I love these posts! Getting inside other people’s kitchens is always nice inspiration for my own meal planning (well, usually). Is it weird that I like to check out other people’s carts in the grocery store for this very reason? Like, what do you have that I might want to try??

    Meal planning has been stressful lately– I’m 16 weeks pregnant and NOTHING sounds good EVER. I’d love to hear how Cody managed this during her pregnancy and if it’s something that ever gets better! I usually ate like you (like, exactly– eggs as a catch-all meal, cook a big batch on Sundays, roast up veggies, a grain, and a protein for lunch, etc.) but MAN are we struggling with this lately. Playing it completely by ear by having some basics in the house that we know work (eggs, very basic stir-fry materials, oatmeal, etc.) has been the only way to get some food in me these days. Life = curveballs and seasons, as you said!

    Reply
    • Shana says

      February 2, 2018 at 7:22 pm

      Food will be good again! When I was pregnant, my only goal was to get the hungry people fed. My regular appetite and desire to cook came back in the second trimester. HAng in there mama!

      Reply
  6. Livi says

    February 2, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    Love these tips & the practicality! I feel like so many bloggers live in a false reality of time/money spent on eating healthy. It’s refreshing and helpful to hear a realistic approach!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:32 pm

      In theory, buying all those specialty foods sounds great but when I do add kombucha, goji berries, juices, dried beet chips etc to my cart my grocery bills FLIES through the roof…gotta stick with good old veg, proteins and some grains..the basics work well too šŸ™‚ glad you found it helpful!

      Reply
  7. Emily Swanson says

    February 2, 2018 at 6:46 pm

    I know exactly what you mean by picking one store to shop at; I love that idea. For our family it doesn’t quite work to do that, but if I were living by myself or married with just two people to feed, I think I would do that! šŸ™‚ And I also love how you’re both planning and flexible in the way that you do your meals; you don’t seem to be obsessed over having certain kinds of meals, but you have structure and planning so you don’t end up with nothing to eat. I probably don’t plan well enough, as certain loved ones have told me, and this is reminding me that planning with spontaneity and flexibility is a good thing!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      My mom shopped at several stores with a family of six so I’m sure that will change when our family grows! I’m grateful for now this working for us. Glad you found it helpful!

      Reply
  8. Jen says

    February 2, 2018 at 7:48 pm

    Love these posts for a little glimps into your life!! I can’t do leftovers, I eat a lot of the same foods for breakfast & lunch but need my dinners to be less repetitive (: I’ll cook something like chicken though & just plan dinners around that, mix it with black beans, guacomole, cilantro rice, & cheese, or teriyaki, steamed veggies & rice, or with wing sauce & blue cheese on a bun, or with BBQ & put it on a pizza. I’ve realized I may not always be able to have what I most want, but I can usually at least have enough options to have something I really like (;

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:29 pm

      I love the idea of mixing up protein with other stuff to create different meals!

      Reply
  9. Meghan says

    February 2, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    This is something I’ve been struggling with lately – wanting to be more intuitive, but also knowing I have to plan ahead if I want to eat something other than cereal/scrambled eggs every night. To your point, I find that prepping a grain each week (rice, quinoa), roasting a lot of veggies, and picking a dinner meal (usually something in the crockpot with a protein) works well for us. Between all of these things, I can mix/match. Snacks is where I’m looking for inspiration – I’ve been buying 2-3 macrobars a week and rationing them, or I do an apple/PB at work. I’m always looking to cut down our shopping budget each week – we haven’t been going out to eat lately, so I think it’s kind of high at first glance, but maybe not so much because we aren’t eating out. Loved this post!

    http://www.musingsbymeghan.com

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:29 pm

      Thanks for your comment Meghan! Yea I thought our grocery bill was so high every week when I started shopping for two but when you break it down per meal (which I find helpful to wrap my mind around it) ..so 19 meals/person/week if you eat out twice it seems digestible. No pun intended šŸ™‚

      For snacks I love yogurt + granola, popcorn, dark chocolate and homemade trail mix with nuts, dried fruit and cereal. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  10. Megan King says

    February 2, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Like you, I always grab our staples which is just Greek yogurt, carrots, and bananas. Throughout the week I add to the list based on the Hy-Vee sale ad. I also jot down random meals that sound good based on what’s on the list and what I know we already have in the pantry, fridge and freezer. It works for us! I also have the good fortune to get free lunch at work which is extremely helpful!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:25 pm

      I wish we had a Hy-Vee close, I’ve heard people rave about that! Ohhh free lunch – WINNING.

      Reply
  11. Sarah says

    February 3, 2018 at 12:08 am

    Talia over at Work Wekk Lunch just wrote several posts about intuitive eating and meal prep. I also found Cody’s post about “Meal Planning When Life Feels ‘Messy'” helpful.

    As always, thanks for the great content you post.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      February 3, 2018 at 12:08 am

      *Week

      Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      thanks for pointing out that resource – helpful! and glad you’ve enjoyed the posts šŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. emily vardy says

    February 3, 2018 at 7:40 am

    I also hate leftovers, but it’s so hard to cook for one! When I’m on my own for dinners I usually end up eating a lot of stirfry.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      still cook stir fry a lot when it’s just me!

      Reply
  13. Megan @ A Continual Feast says

    February 3, 2018 at 8:20 am

    Totally into the “loose meal planning” as well! It definitely makes life less stressful for me. Lately I have been making a big batch of crockpot chili and freezing half for the next week. I also use our rice cooker a lot which saves so much time!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      chili freezes so well! I’ve been cooking grains in the instant pot and loving that too – I’ve heard people rave about rice cookers!

      Reply
  14. Suzanne says

    February 3, 2018 at 10:37 am

    Love this post! I have been trying to streamline my meal planning as well….I tend to stock up on staples/dry goods so my weekly shopping is mostly dairy, breads and produce. I end up shopping at various stores bc different stores carry certain items we eat -plus my cart is so full I would need more than 1 if I only went to 1 store and that is hard to manage. Feeding 5 active people (including 3 teen boyz) 3 meals a day is a very time consuming job even when we eat simply. We almost never eat out and all bring lunch to work/school daily. I plan based on the sports schedule mostly – simple quick meals on game/race nights and something that takes more prep on the other nights. We typically have a couple nights with grain (quinoa/rice or farro) with tofu or tempeh….a potato night with seitan or just baked potato bar…a breakfast night….a mexican night (casserole or quesadillas/tacos….maybe a pasta night….My favorite night is Friday bc it is always homemade pizza so I don’t have to think about it and I know everyone will be happy šŸ™‚ (of course everyone gets their own/different kind of pizza!). Hubby takes leftovers for lunch and the rest of us have sandwiches usually….and I bake something (or a few things) weekly for lunches. I make ice cream on weekends – we usually have that Saturday and Sunday nights:)

    This post inspires me to prep more though- have time this weekend so I think I will do that – thanks:)

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:23 pm

      Wow Suzanne I admire you!! I don’t have kids yet but can only imagine this is quite the job!

      Reply
  15. Annie says

    February 3, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    What is your approach regarding evening snacks? I know you have a bed snack every night and was just wondering. Do you buy 1/2 tubs of ice-cream each week for that purpose and then decide? i’m currently recovering from BED with IE and snacks are a grey area I am not sure how to dal with!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:22 pm

      Meaning buying a few different flavors of ice cream? If so then yes! We usually have a few tubs on hand for variety and as an option for a night snack to be ice cream. Sometimes it’s other things but ice cream is always in the fridge. having it always there and available was a huge step for me to not feel so out of control around it. hope that helps and I’m thinking of you in your recovery!

      Reply
      • Annie says

        February 6, 2018 at 7:33 am

        Thank you! That is exactly what I meant. I am ok with a lot of foods now but ice-cream gives me a hard time still

        Reply
        • Robyn says

          February 6, 2018 at 7:58 am

          I think ice cream is hard for a lot of people so know you are not alone! give yourself a lot of time and grace and you will get there, I know it <3

          Reply
          • Annie says

            February 7, 2018 at 8:41 am

            Time and grace šŸ™‚ Thanks!
            Having a little bit every day seems to be helping so will be continuing with that!

            Reply
  16. Angie says

    February 3, 2018 at 10:52 pm

    As someone who lives in Boston it’s hard to believe Whole Foods is the most affordable option for you. 140$ for two people per week is a lot of money especially if you’re going out twice a week. Clearly you don’t have to worry about budgeting

    Reply
    • Cat says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:11 am

      On the contrary, if Robyn can walk away from WF with enough food to feed two hungry people for 7 days and 5 nights for $140 I find that a testament to her budgeting, As someone with a big appetite who eats out 1x per week and spends $70 on groceries per week I absolutely believe this could be her most affordable option. I also believe it because…she told us it is…

      Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:20 pm

      In my experience, I’ve found that to be the case to get everything we need in one swoop. Money is personal so do what works for you – and of course if you have ideas share them!

      Reply
  17. Miley says

    February 4, 2018 at 10:02 am

    I love these tips! I love to cook (and eat!) yummy recipes throughout the week, but I’m a single lady so I have found that cooking a different meal every night isn’t feasible for my budget or sanity. I usually ā€œcook once and eat twiceā€ that way I still have some variety, but also don’t have to stress about cooking every night!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:17 pm

      Agreed with cooking for one – love that philosophy Miley!

      Reply
  18. Ally says

    February 5, 2018 at 1:08 am

    This was a great piece, thanks Robyn! Currently in grad school right now, so trying to manage to save money and time by meal prepping while also trying not to restrict my diet too much- great tips and reminders.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:17 pm

      Glad you found it helpful Ally!

      Reply
  19. HIllary says

    February 5, 2018 at 5:50 pm

    This was an awesome post Robin!! Part II – go-to recipes??

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:02 pm

      love that idea!

      Reply
  20. Linnea says

    February 6, 2018 at 2:37 am

    I love this post so much! I have 3 small kids and have really had to hone in on my meal planning/prepping/budgeting skills in the past few months. I like to base my meals around simplicity and don’t really use recipes. Soups are my go-to’s in the winter and they’ve been super easy for my 8 month old twins to eat as they ease into foods (I try to keep it simple by feeding everyone the same things). I always have ingredients on hand for me to whip up: lentil soup, black bean soup, chicken sausages or tofu w/ rice + veggies (like a stirfry), sheetpan roasted veggies + chicken, some kind of bowl with beans + grain + veggies. For breakfast, I make a huge batch of steel cut oats on Sunday and we heat that up throughout the week. My lunch go-to is either leftovers or something like quesadillas, boiled eggs + rice cake + steamed veggies, mish mosh of whatever we’ve got in the fridge. I try to keep it interesting for my toddler. Anything with minimal prep or that I can prepare incrementally throughout the day is my jam.

    I shop from 3 stores all within a close radius and I buy on sale always (I usually go once a week on Sundays). I stay flexible for that reason. I don’t commit to different veggies for a specific recipe, I just do what I can with what is on sale. I love finding bargains and stocking up when prices are good. I use the Ibotta app and it’s earned me so much money back.

    The more I pay attention to prices, the easier it gets to learn where/when to buy what. It makes a huge difference in our budget.

    Thank you for the beautiful post, Robyn. I always enjoy what you share. Thank you for inspiring and leading.

    Reply
  21. Laura says

    February 6, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    Love this post. Great to see how you apply intuitive eating with meal prep. I often have clients that have a heard time grasping that the two can actually coincide. My weekly staples are very similar to yours. I like the idea of freezing part of the meal for later. We usually cook dinner meals 4 nights a week and each have leftovers for lunch the next day in some way but your way breaks it up a little.

    Reply
  22. Nicole @ Laughing My Abs Off says

    February 6, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    SO HELPFUL! It would be awesome if you could also write a post with a more detailed description of how you budget out your groceries, specifically at WF? Somehow, no matter what, I always spend WAY too much money every week even though it seems I didn’t even buy that much…

    Reply
  23. Courtney says

    February 16, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    Hey, Robyn! I love this post so much. Thank you!
    Question: What is your favorite way to freeze meals? Do you have good plastic containers or do you buy the metal ones, etc.?

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      February 16, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      I use glass pyrex bought off Amazon! Lasts YEARS

      Reply
  24. Bridget says

    February 21, 2018 at 3:35 am

    I’m excited to try this out next week as I realized that I have not been eating well for me these last few months. I have been losing balance and my blood sugars (I have type 1 diabetes) have been on a roller coaster. Thank you for this valuable resource so I can bring back in meal planning in a more healthful (not obsessive) and satisfying way.

    Reply
  25. Alaina Burran says

    March 16, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    Thank you for this inspiring post! I am curious, however, do you still marathon run/endurance run? I know way back when you were and wondering if your intuitive eating still keeps Aunt Flow around while partaking in this exercise. I love to be active due to the rush of endorphins but sometimes feel even with shoveling food, my body is sensitive to stress. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      March 19, 2018 at 12:03 pm

      I don’t right now in this season of life. I have ran some half marathons and 1 marathon in the past 3 years and IE has kept my period still regular – but part of IE is having the head knowledge and skill of knowing how to support your body with enough energy and carbs when your activity is high. but YESS everyone has a different exercise threshold that is healthy for THEIR body and it depends on other factors in life. Hope that helps!!

      Reply
      • Alaina D. Burran says

        March 19, 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks for your input Robyn!

        Reply

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A non-diet dietitian and nurse practitioner helping women find peace with food, accept their natural body size and heal from hormonal issues and period problems.

More On Lady Hormones

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women's reproductive health

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I have yet to experience postpartum myself, but I've had many clients and readers that have been through that season of life. Or perhaps you are currently living through the postpartum period. Every woman's body is different, therefore every woman's experience after giving birth will be different. What works for one woman, might not work for the next. While one woman might go through postpartum and adjust to newborn life quiet seamlessly, another woman might find it much more difficult. She might need the support of medication, therapy, extra help and many other things. One way is not better than the other - they are simply two different ways of navigating the postpartum period. I hope this post helps you better care for yourself, whatever that means for you. There's no right or wrong way to care for yourself as a mom or your new baby.

Postpartum Hormones: what’s happening in your body and how to care for yourself

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I talk a lot about moving, eating, and living intuitively so you can be well hormonally and live a fulfilling life in line with your values

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A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years o A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years of getting to spend so much time with my kids: aka another way I’m discovering some pockets of peace so my heart & mind & soul don’t crumble under the reality of dependent & emotionally dysregulated tiny humans.  About once a week we go somewhere for baked goods. We drive or walk, buy something buttery & then find a beautiful, relatively quiet outdoor spot where the boys can romp and I can sit and think my thoughts while I watch them play. This past week we were found ourselves at the Wool Factory where the boys threw rocks & whatever else off the bridge while I ate 90% of this almond 🄐 from @coucourachou that will blow your mind. Boys ate the other 10% bc they were busy playing and didn’t ask for more quickly enough 😜  I’m finding *for me* playgrounds have a time & place but they aren’t where I enjoy motherhood & my two toddlers the most. Baked goods & a pretty outdoor spot without high drops my 15 month old could launch himself off of…I’m here for it.
I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the boys to hike out at one of our favorite spots last week and when I ripped it open I was regretting my choice to share them with my kids. @baresnacks randomly sent me a box of snacks and I usually eat free food we receive or give it to a friend/neighbor and move on. But I felt it my duty to tell you about these bc they are THAT GOOD. I’m not getting paid and this isn’t sponsored - I was just shocked at how tasty these were and felt you needed to know. We ate them with some buttery roasted nuts and the combo was šŸ‘ŒšŸ» but they are good just on their own.  The boys climbed rocks and swam in the reservoir - leave it to my almost 3 year old to want to strip down naked and fully submerge himself in chilly water on a sixty degree morning. ā€œMama can I get super nakey?ā€ Sure baby. Sure. This is your childhood.
It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of extended alone time away from the babies to just be. And that isn’t something that’s best for me, it’s an area I gotta grow in. So this afternoon when Nick pushed me out the door and was like - get out of here plzzzz - I walked to my favorite cafe and ordered a thick pastrami sandwich and sat there for a good LONG while before taking a long, peaceful walk in the rain to wrap up the afternoon. Note to self: stop being such a control freak and go be by yourself sometimes.
a girlfriend brought me a šŸŖ the size of my face a girlfriend brought me a šŸŖ the size of my face from @mariebettecafe this morning when she came to get her toddler who played with us all morning and it is v good. even better when paired with an iced latte šŸ˜
#AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing a #AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing about how taking @alignprobiotic regularly has improved my digestive regularity.  And I’m still taking them! I’ve permanently added Align 24/7 Digestive Support* into the roundup of supplements I take before bed (prenatal, vitamin D, choline & DHA - all which help keep me healthy while breastfeeding) so I can keep seeing the benefits.  Just because you see benefits, doesn’t mean you should stop taking your probiotic. Keep taking Align daily (under the supervision and recommendation of your health care provider of course) to keep seeing the benefits!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of my favorite parts of Align probiotics is that they don’t need refrigeration AND they come in a convenient little blister pack that has the days labeled. It’s the little things people! #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoo I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoon (91 and muggy in MAY 🤯) when a toddler nap was refused and a baby nap was cut wildly short ....so my tired mom brain pulled out two plastic storage bins, filled them up with soap & hose water and striped ā€˜em down naked in the yard. Two hours later, it was almost time for an early dinner and I had magically been able to sit for most of that time and we already had baths checked off the list. šŸ‘šŸ» I’m archiving this idea for my future self, hope it helps another tired mama out.
#AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about #AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about getting better at doing the basics to care for myself which included taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic regularly.  Probiotics take time to work so I wanted to give it a full month to see the full effects of @alignprobiotic. So here are my honest thoughts: it took a few weeks to notice any differences, but near the end of the month I did notice some changes in my digestive balance - even while traveling! I’m not someone who experiences occasional gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort frequently enough to notice a difference, so I don’t feel like I can comment on how well Align works for those benefits.  All in all though, taking @alignprobiotic was a positive experience and I really appreciated how the capsules don’t need to be stored in the fridge, making it convenient to take them with me anywhere #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Because the swampy VA summer has already begun (it’s in the low 90s today 🄵 lord help) and creeks are our retreat - not only from the heat but also from the noisy world. I need this just (if not more) than they do! We’ll be at the splash pads and pools too, but the quietness of the creek...my mental health is so about it. And it’s hours of play for them! Win win.  A couple things to note: this scene also included a few toddler reminders on finding another direction to throw rocks instead of at his brother - so not all is serene 🤪 and also, yes I am now that mom who buys the same clothing for both kids bc it keeps things simple & i think i kinda like it too šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø
Things I love about midwifery among many: the appo Things I love about midwifery among many: the appointments, no matter how long, feel so unhurried. 
Just walked in from an appointment with my midwife because I was due for a Pap test + an overall wellness visit. My last pap was during my first trimester with Cal which feels like a jillion years ago, but it’s only actually been three years. Life changes so fast! Pre-baby life feels like a whole other life.  I’m wayyyy overdue for a visit to my PCP bc I’ve been under OBGYN or midwifery care for the majority of the past three years while having babies, but I am pretty good with keeping up with my paps. It seems women often think they need pap and/or HPV testing way more frequently than they do (and providers sometimes perform these tests more frequently than necessary - remember more testing doesn’t always mean better outcomes!)  So if you need it, here’s a quick little reminder on this chilly spring Friday afternoon on how often you need this testing (these are the recommendations from ACOG)  Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.  Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (aka co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.  If you get abnormal results, this testing frequency could change - but for healthy women with normal results, you actually don’t need testing as frequently as you might think. Which is great news for those of you who hate the speculum.  Ok, off to finish up some things on the to-do list (including cleaning this kitchen) during nap time and then come 5 o’clock, crack an IPA with our neighbors šŸ»
#AlignPartner Over the past seven months since bec #AlignPartner Over the past seven months since becoming a mom of two, caring for myself has gotten shoved to the back burner. And it's been a challenge to make it a priority. My routine-resistant personality has upsides and downsides when it comes to motherhood. So I'm starting small this year with a consistent bedtime routine that includes taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic and hoping as that becomes consistent, my mornings will naturally shift too.  In short my bedtime currently goes like this….jammies & face care when putting the babies to bed. Before I go to bed (anytime between 9pm and 12am...) I’ll pump, take my supplements and fill my water. Then I go upstairs and brush my teeth. And then get in bed. The kicker: 70% of the time I find myself finishing up tasks on my phone IN BED. I hate this habit.  Back to supplements. This is something I have been able to stick with. On top of fish oil, my prenatal, choline and vitamin D, I recently added @AlignProbiotic 24/7 Digestive Support*§ to see if it helps with abdominal discomfort and regularity because when I don’t drink coffee or am traveling that can get thrown off.  I’ll be taking it every day for the next 28 days since it takes TIME for our bodies to adjust to probiotics - and I'll be taking you guys along with me as I share my honest thoughts. Many people think if they don’t see changes within the first 7-10 days then the probiotic isn’t working, but that’s not the case. I’m giving myself more than just a week or two and instead a full month to see the full benefits. I’ll keep you posted over the next month. Check out my stories to learn more! #MyAlignGutJourney #guthealth
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care f We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care for a nap. Putting baby down was harder than I wanted it to be. Miraculously, I had a moment of clarity as I was covered in tiny humans and decided I wasn’t doing the nap battle thing a on 60 degree, gorgeous, sunny spring day šŸ™…šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø so I piled both babies into the car half naked, opened the sun roof, put on white noise for them and an audio book for me and drank a kombucha as I drove a meal to a postpartum mama. Thirty five minutes later we had a sleeping baby and a toddler who at least had a rest. Baby transferred without waking HALLELUJAH and although my toddler didn’t nap today (lord help) at least we got soaked in breezy sunshine šŸ˜ŽšŸ¤˜šŸ»šŸ’†šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø
We veered from our usual Friday night homemade piz We veered from our usual Friday night homemade pizza (minus the dough, we leave that to @albemarlebakingco) because we are eating pizza tomorrow with some friends - instead I called my mom and asked her how she makes her chicken fingers and we fried up a big ole batch of chicken nugs šŸ™ŒšŸ»šŸ¤¤ along with a sheet pan full of sweet potato fries and a simple arugula salad dressed with parmesean, olive oil and s&p. Oh and my moms honey mustard recipe for dipping. It’s SO DANG GOOD.  Over the past 6ish months we’ve been practicing (and practicing and practicing bc it doesn’t come naturally) unplugging from technology and slowing down and resting and just being for one day a week. Some call it Shabbat. Some call it Sabbath. Maybe you call it something different. All I know is IT IS SO GOOD FOR MY WEARY SOUL and the day I look forward to ALL WEEK. Sundown on Friday to sundown Saturday. Nothing but rest. For us that means hiking (or something outside) and napping and reading and being with friends and eating really good food. And drinking some really good wine or craft beer. Sometimes whiskey. šŸ˜›  And because I know I’ll get asked about the chicken finger recipe and also because it’s too good not to share and Momma Coale said I could, here ya go:  Cut chicken breast into thin strips or small pieces (I prefer nug size bc the breading to chicken ratio is perfection). Salt and pepper those babies really well. Then dredge them in all purpose flour, then egg, then panko - just like you would bread anything else. Then fry them up in a light oil - I use avocado oil because that’s our everyday oil. You could also use canola or peanut oil. Just fill a pan with an inch or so of oil on medium high heat. They only take 2-3 minutes per side. You can always temp them to make sure they are at least 165 degrees F to really make sure they are done. Dunk in all the sauces and enjoy!  Happy weekend!

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