Home late, stores closed
Mere's quick prep list for being out of town (plus a recipe!)
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The amount of times I have come home from being out of town around 9 at night with stores closed, no good healthy-ish fast food options open, AND no items to prep coffee the next morning is…too many.
So I’ve taken a cue from my friend and queen of preparedness, Lizanne, on how to come home after being out of town and have at least SOMETHING to set yourself up for success.
She tends to have groceries delivered so they’re ready to unload by the time she gets home which I think is brilliant.
I haven’t hopped on the grocery delivery train just yet, so here’s what I do (as with anything we say at GMR, take what’s helpful and leave the rest):
I make sure to have coffee necessities ready to prep. I use Nutpods in my coffee so I can buy them shelf-stable so I always have creamer (a non-negotiable for my coffee). If you’re a half and half girlie and you’ll be gone for more than a few days, stick yours in the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge overnight when you get home.
Prep or buy some kind of breakfast option for the next morning so you have something to get you through the next morning. We tend to always keep smoothie ingredients on hand, but recently I’ve been making protein muffins and keeping some frozen. Or some Trader Joe’s breakfast item (their breakfast tortilla comes to mind).
Before you go, prep an easy meal (or buy one) that you can stick in the freezer and re-heat when you’re home, starving, and nothing is open. I’ve done anything from soups from Whole Foods to seasoned ground meat and roasted veggies. Think of a quick meal that’s easy to put together, then freeze it.
If you’re out of town plans include being at family’s, and you have a cooler, you can always prep food there to bring home (I make my protein sheetpan pancakes to have for the drive home and breakfast the next day. Recipe below)
I have to add the self-depractaing caveat (because I am who I am) and say that I know for many of you, this is not rocket science. But if you’re anything like me, and in your late 30’s you’re finally figuring out how to not shoot-from-the-hip at every turn, I hope this is helpful.
MM’s High-Protein Cottage Cheese Pancakes
(I pour into my cast iron or a medium-sized sheetpan- 9x13- and bake at 350 for about 22 minutes):
1 1/4 cups oats
1 1/4 cups cottage cheese
5 eggs
1 1/4 bananas (could also use applesauce, pears or pumpkin. Potentially add a bit of honey or maple syrup for sweetness to your liking)
Splash + a half of vanilla
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
Generous shakes of cinnamon
1-2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder if you’d like
A couple pinches of salt
Blend everything together and pour into a greased pan of choice. Bake at 350 for 22ish minutes.
For more easy-to-do-and-still-good-for-you recipes, follow our friend Jennifer Sise over on IG. You can listen to her BRILLIANT episode on GMR on Apple, Spotify, or watch it on GetMomReady.com
Episodes drop every Sunday night!
Until next time,
