During my insanely busy university years and work schedule, I would often fall off the “healthy wagon” for a couple to a few weeks and eat horribly. I don’t eat takeout (except sushi…guilty!), but I wouldn’t make good choices at the store and I would sometimes get sushi takeout up to 5 nights a week. (Sushi is usually healthy, but I would also get a couple of naughty sides with it.) This was because I felt like I was so busy and needed to place all my time and energy into school and work. Aside from that, even if I did have the time, sometimes I just don’t feel like making a meal from scratch every night.

This is probably something that loads of people do already, but I really didn’t think about it or utilize it until about a year ago. I started to double/triple/quadruple recipes and then freeze single servings of it in the fridge. I have done this with burritos, soups, pattys/veggie burgers and granola/protein bars so far and all have worked out. I could just grab a burrito and head out the door.

This can be especially useful if you are trying to stick to a health diet/lifestyle and don't want to be caught out with no food in the house, or tempted by fast food or grabbing a less-than-ideal meal or snack. Try to give yourself at least a couple of hours each month to prepare a bunch of food and freeze it.

- - T I P S - -

• When freezing soup, I use freezable jam containers and freeze single serving amounts in each of the containers. I usually remove serving the night before and place it in the fridge so it doesn’t take as long to heat up the next day.

• Remember: Not everything freezes well (aka, some things taste nasty and never really recover after being frozen). See the list later in this post for ideas.

• Here is a Vegetable Freezing Chart

• Make sure to store things well so that they don't get freezer burn.

 Things that don't freeze well

• Raw Onions, Cucumber, Potatoes, Fruit (*some berries however, freeze really well when prepped properly: look into blueberries and raspberries!), Tomatoes, Celery, Lettuce, Nondairy Milk (in my experience, it has separated and gets lumpy.)

 Things that generally freeze well

• Soups/Chili/Broth

• Burgers

• Jams

• Nuts

• Coffee

• Breads

Some freezable recipes (most are vegan. the ones I comment on are ones that just need to be substituted with the vegan alternative)

1. Sweet Potato Burritos (just use vegan cheese)

2. Spicy Lentil Soup

3. “Meaty” Vegetable Chili

4. Spicy Chickpea Burgers

5. Veggie Shepherd’s Pie (easy to veganize)

6. Veggie Jambalaya