If your aim is to eat healthier, trying out some simple meal prep ideas is a great place to start. That’s because for many stylists, the biggest healthy-eating challenge has to do with making last-minute decisions about food. When you’re hungry and exhausted from a busy day spent standing on your feet, you’re less likely to make choices that nourish your body.

Here, Katrina Beede Nguyen shares her quick-tips for mastering the meal-prep game, in a snap, so you can keep going strong in the salon – all week long.   

Ingredients:

Chicken with Marinade

• 3 organic chicken breasts
• Minced garlic
• Lemon
• Avocado oil
• 1 Tbsp. raw honey
•  Himalayan sea salt
• Coconut amino acids

Mixed Green Salad

• Organic sliced cucumber
• Chopped red onion
• Frozen spiralized zucchini, thawed
• Frozen spiralized carrots, thawed 
• Pre-riced cauliflower

Dressing

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. tarragon
• Pink Himalayan salt

Tip 1: Place the chicken in a shallow bowl + coat it with salt, pepper and quick-marinade. Set aside for at least 30 minutes and up-to to 24 hours.

Tip 2: Heat a large pan over medium heat, and coat evenly with 1-Tbsp. coconut oil. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and allow them to Brown on both sides, cooking thoroughly (about 4 to 5 min each side). Turn the burner off and allow the chicken to rest.

Tip 3: Using a separate pan, heat 1-Tbsp. coconut oil over medium to high heat. Add the riced cauliflower, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until slightly browned about 5-6 minutes; move into a bowl.

Tip 4: Cook spiralized zucchini over medium high heat for 1 -2 minutes (until just-tender). Transfer to a bowl, and repeat, cooking the spiralized carrots for 5 minutes.

Tip 5: Using bento boxes, build your lunches using the prepped items from tips 2-4. You can create a variety of flavor combinations, using chicken as your anchor-protein.

Some possible combinations are:

• Chicken + cauliflower rice + mixed greens with red onions + cucumber and dressing
• Chicken + carrot and zucchini spirals + cauliflower rice + raspberries and blueberries
• Chicken + spiralized carrots + cauliflower rice + banana

“Have fun with your flavor combinations, and it will help to keep your in-salon meals fresh and satisfying, plus will keep you fueled with wholesome energy.”
~ Katrina

For daily fitness and nutrition related tips, plus inspiration, follow Katrina on Hairbrained, Facebook and Instagram @ DVLPMNT_LIFESTYLE