Simplifying Period Meal Prep
Confession: I'm something of a serial self-help junkie. Throughout the years I've read so so many books and experimented with all kinds of practices and routines in an attempt to feel happier and healthier.
But what I've found is that it's often the smallest, unglamorous changes that have the biggest impact on creating more flow and ease in my life, and increasing my energy.
Case in point? Period meal prep.
For myself and so many of the clients that I work with, our periods are a time when we deeply desire to retreat from the world and reflect on our inner world. Our energy naturally lowers and we may feel like we have less to offer our families. Having a fully stocked freezer of meals I can easily heat up and simple, nutrient dense snacks and foods on hand to nourish myself during this natural time of regeneration is a simple way that I can reduce the amount of energy I need to expend and create a bit of extra space for myself during the day.
But I know many parents struggle with all of the meal prep and snack creation they already have to do (it's never ending, right?), so how can we find the time to do any extra?
That's where a few simple habits and rhythms can create a big impact without expending much extra energy.
If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to download my cycle synced weekly meal planner.
The basic strategy is simple: each week when I plan out our family's meals, I make sure I plan for a couple that will freeze well (think stews, curries, soups, chillis, sauces, etc.). That way I can simply make a big batch of those recipes, freezing half so that we have it on hand for my bleed or for any time when we need an easy meal (I swear by the IKEA 360 containers that can go straight from the freezer into the oven).
I'm bleeding right now, so this week we've been enjoying:
🔻 a hearty beef stew with lots of root veggies
🔻 chilli that I made on bonfire night
🔻 arugula pesto
🔻 a roasted veggie pasta sauce
I also get a little burst of energy in the week before my bleed (thanks pre-bleed estrogen boost!) that I call “pre-menstrual nesting energy.” I always make sure to funnel some of this energy into creating a few nutrient dense foods that will help provide easy, comforting nourishment throughout my period. I'll take 15 minutes while dinner is in the oven or after I've cleared up the breakfast dishes to pull together a snack, dessert, or condiment.
This week we've been enjoying:
🔻 ghee (this method for making it in the oven is so easy)
🔻 chicken broth
🔻 banana muffins
🔻 a hormone balancing tea
🔻 a simple golden milk mix
🔻 the best chocolate ice cream
🔻 chocolate PB fudge
🔻 chicken liver pate
(If you want any of these recipes, send me an e-mail and let me know).
I know what it feels like to be drowning in family life and for adding anything to your plate to seem downright impossible so if this seems at all overwhelming, I'd encourage you to start really small. What's the highest energy point in your cycle? And what's one recipe that you're already confident making that you could plan for that week, so that you'll have one meal in the freezer during your next period?
Slowly building these habits over time will pay huge dividends in increased energy and nourishment throughout your entire cycle. And if it's something you'd like support with, just reply to this e-mail and we can talk about what that could look like.
