If you think I am always prepared with a perfectly stocked pantry, cellar, fridge, and freezer, and have a car tote filled with snacks, think again. Although a girl can plan and dream, right?
In my heart of hearts, I am thoroughly on top of everything. I have a bullet journal and a shared Google calendar with Dennis, and my mind constantly adjusts schedules as life wiggles its way in.
The reality is that preparation is hard work. It takes thought. Planning. And money. It also takes balance because I can stock a pantry full of quick-and-easy-and-ready-to-grab snacks that would take care of every whim and fancy. The real work comes when we try to balance healthy and speed.
How do we actually prepare?
As an adjective, being prepared means “made ready for use” or “ready to do or deal with something.” It also means “to be willing and able to do something.”
As a transitive verb, a good description is “to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity.”
Okay, so let’s recap the primary attributes: make ready, do, deal with, be willing, and be able.
Therefore, “being prepared” is a state of mind AND an action.
Why is this important?
Now, let’s talk about being prepared when it comes to food.
Our bodies need quality water and nutrients. Yes, we have all heard of incredible stories where someone has survived living in their car in a snowstorm because they had a bag of Doritos, soda pop, and whatever stashed. The sheer calories sustained them, and they made it. They lived!
You and I? We want to live, yet we want to live well, healthy, and vigorous lives. If we only ate Doritos and soda pop, would we live? Sure, for a while. Our bodies would eventually break down. Now, swap out those Doritos and soda pops and substitute them with fast food, empty processed bags of ready-to-eat snacks, and junk. Our bodies still would eventually break down.
So, being prepared with meal planning, a well-stocked pantry of healthy foods, and even planning how to pack snacks for travel and hotel rooms are WORTH IT for the short and long run!
It takes HARD WORK to make ready, do, deal with, be willing, and be able to prepare snacks for on-the-go, healthy meals at home and for the long run.
My hope for you is that you embrace the hard. I’m working on it too.
It’s worth it.
Eat well, my friend.
Lyndi
