This episode of food freedom and fertility is the 3rd installment of TCC friendly swaps! This week we jump into snack and fridge swaps and while we have some good ideas we want the listeners to know that you will need to expand your horizons for snacks because there isn’t always a 1 for 1 swap, but to remember it’s all about balance.

It is ok to remember that if you love a snack… make room for it but also keep in mind how much you indulge on this treat. If it something you have daily make sure to see if you can make a more fertility friendly choice. If you need a little snack inspiration  you can try organic grapes and sharp cheddar, berries, fruit with sunflower or other nut butter, you can also create your own trail mix with dark chocolate almonds and other nuts.

Being prepared always help you make the best choices so having something prepared is always the goal however sometimes you just need that quick grab and go option and there are healthy items such as Beanie Bops that come in a variety of different flavored and spiced beans or a grass fed, low sugar jerky and the new wisps crackers are a great alternative to a chip!

Having something you’ve thought about ahead of time and just having it ready

It is also ok to indulge every so often during a period or other situation but remember to make sure you are making choices that fill your cup vs fill a void.

When looking in your fridge condiments take up a lot of space and there is plenty of room to make better choices in this area. If you love a sweet salad, instead of choosing a creamy sweet dressing opt to use oil and or vinegar as the dressing but add fruit to your salad for the sweet craving. If you need more flavor options Primal Kitchen offers a healthy and clean option with a line full of different flavors. Eggs are a great snack option and the best version of an egg would be a pasteurized egg so that the chickens are getting all of those rich and healthy vitamins from the earth. Also remember to store those veggies and fruits where you can see them so you don’t waste them! The best place for a fruit or veggie is front and center!  

Freezer foods that Sophia and Caitlin keep stocked are frozen meets, organic berries, liver cubes (to drop into sauces) frozen soups, frozen veggies and a favorite Costco Bare Chicken nuggets which are a great Chick-Fil-A dupe!

A tip for listeners is instead of focusing on a meal plan thing about your week more broadly and estimate for your life! Some days are busier than others, some days you feel more creative, and some days you just don’t want to cook at all! That’s why host, Sophia suggests to plan your week as follows:

• 2-3 days of the week with have NO ENERGY quick fix meals available. Such as a rotisseries chicken and bag salad.
• 2-3 nights that are your all-Star night menu nights, which is a night you are ready to roll out  your best recipes!
• 2-3 nights for a normal day and that is where you make a meal you’ve made a dozen times and your family likes it. Usually requires medium effort.  
• 1 Night where you try something new!
• 1 Left over night
• 1 Take out night

Remember that you don’t have to be perfect and it is a process so allow yourself the grace to start transforming your healthy, fertility friendly lifestyle!