Linda Cusmano Fitness Figure: Meal Plan Monday Mains

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Feta Hazelnut Crumble image

Hoisin Chile Shrimp with Green Beans & Walnuts image

Lean main dishes will usually consist of poultry or fish unless you are vegan. I am often asked about how to make these dishes in new, fun, delicious ways that are not too expensive or time consuming.

Even though there is a plethora of information available at your fingertips to find what you need, many people express that is can be overwhelming.

A few things that you can take from the bodybuilding lifestyle especially if you find you do not have the time to prep and cook fresh on a daily basis:

Pick a Prep Day

I would usually do 2 per week, if I was on contest prep but this is about your life schedule so you decide if you need one or 2 prep days per week then make some lean foods on those designated days. Prep maybe not cooking but just cleaning chopping and prepping to cook for the few days ahead.

You will see with some of the recipes below all you need is the protein pre grilled to put together the dish, but many of these are short prep and cook that can be done on the fly. How much of the recipe you prep ahead is up to you, many times you can have things pre chopped and in a container, be creative. Just avoid doing it without using lemon or proper storage as needed to avoid problems with things you are going to prep fresh and leave fresh in the fridge. Many times you do get 2-4 days grace on most items nicely, some more.

Storage

Another key is to make enough for a few days of each main, and freeze it. You can use single serving storage containers making it a no brainer, defrost, warm and eat. You don't have to eat the same thing each day. If you pick one prep day, do it all then, pick a few dishes to prep and store you then have some variety to pull out of your freezer at a moment's notice. The fact that these can be used for lunch or dinner and some even use these for breakfast if they are not particular about specific breakfast foods makes this handy. Another idea is to pack some mains into snack size for those middle of the meal snacks.

Find your GO TO dishes

Once you have done this for a few weeks you will find the dishes that work best for you, will try more new ones along the way but will develop a repertoire of mains that will help you stay on track with nutrition, fitness and your daily schedule. You will get your flow in organization and will love trying new dishes. Once you start cooking your own food, if you are one who has not, you find that you will always crave certain things only YOU can make just how you like.

Pretty easy right? Try it, you will find you will get into a lifestyle pattern that fits nicely.

Here is my suggestion for a selection of mains you may want to try that are available at cleaneating.com with many more, from meats to vegan choices plus sauce and dip ideas that can help add clean flavor to your dishes ;))