Spicy Rice with Mixed Veggies

“I don’t have time to cook everyday.”

This is a statement I hear all the time. And it’s true- most working people are so busy that they do not have time to cook everyday. So a typical lunch consists of something easy to get at a restaurant within a 2-block radius of work: pizza, a sandwich from Subway, Chinese lunch special, a couple of items from 7-eleven, a burrito or taco, a to-go carton filled with a variety of dishes from a 7.99/lb buffet, or a number 6 meal from Burger King. And if you have a little more money, you can be fancier, and actually go to a sit-down restaurant, but that takes time, and for many people, time during the work week is as precious as fine wine.

Is there a problem with this routine? For some, maybe not. They are happy to eat different meals every day, and may not be too concerned with any health implications. But let’s put health implications to the side for a minute. Let’s talk about time and money.

Broccoli and Salmon

“What should I eat for lunch?” This is a common question I hear ALL the time. You’re at work and start to feel hungry. You look at the time and see that it’s half past noon. “Good,” you say to yourself, “time to get lunch.” You begin to think about places in the vicinity to eat. If you’re on a budget, you take the prices of the lunch options into consideration and make mental options. You quickly leave your work building and walk to the eatery of choice, wait in line, order your lunch, wait some more, and get your food. You walk back to your office building, arrive at your desk, and eat your $8 meal. This process is repeated 5 days a week and by Friday, your wallet is about $40 lighter than it was on Monday and you have spent close to 2 hours just buying lunch. Add these figures up over a year and we are talking about serious money and serious amounts of time.

For the past few years, we have developed a “5-day Grub Plan.” We wanted to save money, time, and unnecessary  thinking about “what to eat for lunch.” Meals are planned, cooked, and portioned on the weekend (we typically do all our cooking on Sunday afternoons) and ready to eat during the whole work week. The key to being successful at this plan is to block out an hour or two on a Saturday or Sunday, pick out healthy recipes that can easily be re-heated, have ingredients in your kitchen for preparing these meals, and a good number of  microwave-safe containers. It may sound daunting at first, but trust me, this plan is a time and money saver.

Basil & Spinach Pesto with Bow Tie Pasta, Baked Pork, and Stir-Fried Veggies

A typical 5-Day Grub Plan for us consists of veggies (stir fry peppers, green beans, etc), protein (baked chicken/pork or beans) , and grains (small portions of rice, pasta, or potatoes). The goal is to cook at least 4 servings of meals you enjoy to eat and to always include lots of veggies and protein. 5-Day Grub Plan allows you to lay out your portions in advance. Additionally, you have the option of switching your meals up during the week if you have time to cook more than one grain or protein item.

The 5-Day Grub Plan is great for busy people like ourselves who have no time during the week to cook meals, but can set aside some time during the weekend to cook. It is also great for people who want to eat healthy and save money at the same time. Once you get into the habit of cooking your work day meals like this, it turns out to be a piece of cake.

Baked Breaded Chicken with Mac & Cheese