Glory (bowls), Cauliflower Crispies and Preseason Training
For me, preseason training is geared around preparing my mental and physical state for what’s to come in the next 4-5months. I focus on short, frequent bouts of training and small but nutritious meals to keep me going. Before my longer bouts of training ramp up mid-April, I spend 4-6 weeks reminding myself what it’s like to train 6 days a week.
In order to ensure I’m getting adequate nutrition each week, I cook for about 2-3 hours on Sunday nights. Here’s what I’ve got prepped for week 1 of spring training.
1) Glory Bowl – this recipe allows you to incorporate lots of fresh vegetables of your choice as well as healthy fats. I typically use quinoa, and I’ll only consume 1/4-1/2C of quiona in a serving to keep the carbohydrates slightly lower. If you’re not vegetarian, you can sub in chicken for the tofu/tempeh, but I encourage you to give the meatless option a try. I make lots of sauce ahead of time and store the individual components of this dish in the fridge until I’m ready to eat or pack my lunch. Get the recipe here.
2) Snacks! You’re going to need them to keep you going whether you’re training, studying or working. Last week, I made a big batch of my Chocolate MACAroons to get me through the week. This week, I’m testing out this Berry Macaroon recipe from tujawellness.com. I eased up on the maple syrup (only used 1/4C) and used vanilla instead of almond extract.
3) Easy additions – I like to make up batches of add-ons that I can throw into meals as part of a salad or side. Not sure what I mean? Behold! I bring you ‘Cheesy Cauliflower Crispies’
Ingredients
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4C Avocado or Olive Oil
1/4C Water
2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp ‘buffalo’ or hot sauce (Sriracha works too)
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 Head Cauliflower, chopped into florets
In a medium-large bowl, mix first 4 ingredients together. Add cauliflower florets and toss until coated. Bake at 400F for 20mins. Store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days and add to meals as part of your salad, side or as a snack all on their own!
Prepping a bunch of food in advance helps me stay on top of my goals. If I come home and there’s nothing ready to eat, I’m more likely to eat a bunch of what I call “health junk food” – aka carrots/crackers and hummus. I’ll end up full before I get the nutrition I need AND I’ll be hungry 20 minutes later. As an added bonus, there’s more time to spend on school work or with my family and friends when I’ve got enough cooking out of the way for at least a couple days.
How do you prepare for a busy week?