Meal Prep Monday Podcast™

In episode 184, Prep Dish founder and meal prep expert, Allison Schaaf, continues this summer miniseries on ice with a focus on two things she’s loving this summer. 1. Ice dunks I’m loving dunking my face in a big bowl of ice water both in the morning and at night every day. It’s supposed to help with inflammation and puffiness but it also just feels amazing when it’s hot outside! 2. Cold Showers I’ve been taking a cold shower every day. I’ve tried it in the past but because it’s so hot in Texas right now, this actually feels amazing. I just jump into the shower right when it turns on instead of letting the water warm up first. This works out to about a minute and a half of cold water. I love doing this in the morning after my morning walk. I feel like it prepares my brain to do hard things the rest of the day. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans!

In episode 183, Prep Dish founder and iced tea enthusiast, Allison Schaaf, shares her tips on making the BEST homemade iced tea. 1. Find the perfect tea for you. For me, I’m loving red raspberry iced tea. It’s caffeine free, healthy and tastes a little bit more like traditional iced tea. Quick caveat - it has a lot of health benefits but you shouldn’t drink it to excess. I also love iced hibiscus tea, which is another naturally caffeine free herbal tea option. 2. Buy in bulk. If you can find a tea you love that you can buy in bulk, or at least buy loose leaf, you’ll enjoy considerable cost savings. 3. Consider how to store the tea. Once you find a tea you love, make a big enough batch for a few days or a week. I actually like storing in a Cotes de Roses rose bottle because it has a beautiful bottle that works well to store in the fridge. I brew a very concentrated cup of tea and then add water to it, which is easier than brewing a huge batch. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Siply Teas:[https://sipsiply.com/](https://sipsiply.com/ "‌") Cotes de Roses Wine: https://www.wine.com/product/cote-des-roses-rose-2022/1255260?state=CA&s=GoogleBase_CSE_1255260MA_FIREWORKS_type_Wine_RosWine_Ros&showpromo=true&promo=FIREWORKS&region_id=000010&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=DEPT_SHP_Google_Performance%20Max_All_Core_NAMER_US_Wine_ROAS_BAU_19.99under_-_-&gclid=Cj0KCQjwho-lBhC_ARIsAMpgMoe2w0AmcA5SsT_NanDOGxHwv6hr7G27MZ75jevEAMDPK98GzteZfLUaAjrIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares details about an open position here at Prep Dish. We’re looking for a Marketing Assistant and Content Creator. The position includes: Writing show notes for this podcast Content creation - this includes graphics in Canva for both Prep Dish customers and marketing materials Assisting in managing the affiliate program and marketing, including writing newsletters and putting together sales copy Helping with the Prep Dish Instagram account, including creating graphics and writing captions Updating content on the website - this includes knowledge of Wordpress Learning new software as needed Testing recipes on occasion 8-12 hours per week We’re a small but mighty team here at Prep Dish. We all work independently and offer a lot of flexibility in terms of hours. This is the kind of job you can feel passionate about but that will still allow you plenty of time to prioritize family. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Details about the position: https://prepdish.com/about/hiring/

In episode 181, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares 3 kitchen gadgets that are worth it, and which ones she does not find worth it. Kitchen Gadgets that are Worth it 1. A Great Peeler Little gadgets like this can make a big difference in your day to day cooking. The best one will depend on your preferences but find one that’s easy to use that you love. 2. Hand-held Citrus Squeezer While I generally don’t love gadgets that only serve one purpose, I do squeeze a lot of citrus and find this useful. 3. A Quality Grater / Microplane These are great for zesting citrus, grating ginger, grating garlic, fresh nutmeg, etc. The smallest bit of fresh nutmeg can be so delicious in pureed soups! Kitchen Gadgets I Don’t Think are Worth it I really steer clear of gadgets that do only one thing like egg slicers, avocado slicers, etc. Instead, I recommend Googling the best way to chop various items. (Or, check out my YouTube channel where I share things like how to slice watermelon!) Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! 5 Tips on How to Simplify Life and Actively Fight Complexity: prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep179/ How to Chop Watermelon: https://youtu.be/0jUsBcopRdY My YouTube Playlist on How to Chop Various Items: https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLZFbto5QrmmjJxk57t9G11lr1YahPZTea/edit Choosing Quality Kitchen Knives: https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep160/

In episode 180, meal prep expert Allison Schaaf discusses the importance of lab work in maintaining your health. One of the best ways to determine where you may have some deficiencies is lab work. If you find someone who specializes in functional medicine, they are more likely to offer more lab work and more specific information about your results. You can fund nurse practitioners or dietitians who specialize in functional medicine. The specific things you should get checked will vary based on your personal health history. You may want to get things like vitamin D, hormones, lipid panels, etc. tested. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Find a Functional Medicine Provider:[https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/](https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/ "‌")

In episode 179, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf discusses an idea mentioned in the podcast, I will Teach You to Be Rich. The concept is actively fighting complexity and embracing simplicity. This episode includes 5 tangible tips on how to simplify life. 1. Finances When it comes to something like credit cards, I do a lot of initial research but then commit to it and stick with it. I use this same strategy for investing. I don’t continually research once I’ve made a decision. This saves so much brain space! 2. Food & Meals As you likely know, I’m a big fan of having a meal plan and figuring out the food for the week upfront. That way I don’t have to continually revisit and start from scratch. 3. What I Drink I’ve determined that what I usually want to drink at a restaurant is a white French wine. I don’t have to go through a complicated decision making process each time. This applies to other things like what I order for breakfast out, etc. Knowing your preferences simplifies things. 4. Clothing With our house renovations, we have a new closet. I’m trying to be very intentional about only keeping items I really love and having many things I can mix and match so I don’t have an overwhelming volume of clothes. 5. Scheduling I try with both the kids’ schedules and my schedule, to keep things simple. I try to avoid having too many meetings and calls. Instead, we have regular calls at Prep Dish with the same order and process each time. This keeps things simple and efficient. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! I Will Teach You to Be Rich podcast: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/podcast/ Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/The-Simple-Path-to-Wealth-audiobook/dp/B0725RFDPY/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=410026134426&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3141049689044845714&hvtargid=kwd-242242542487&hydadcr=21937_11243204&keywords=the+simple+path+to+wealth+jl+collins&qid=1687464084&sr=8-1 The Curated Closet: https://www.amazon.com/Curated-Closet-Discovering-Personal-Building/dp/1607749483/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=241895256400&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12682220489114390089&hvtargid=kwd-196831307824&keywords=the+curated+closet&qid=1687464254&sr=8-1

In episode 178, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares 3 ways you can incorporate seasonal items into your weekly meal planning. Visit a Farmer’s Market Farmers markets are a great way to support local farmers and to also keep in touch with what’s in season. Go on an In-Person Grocery Trip If you’re like me and do most of your grocery shopping online these days, take an in-person trip to the grocery store to see which produce is in season at the moment. Be on the lookout for local items as well! Grow Your Own Fruits & Veggies If you’re growing anything edible, talk to a friend or neighbor about doing a swap. For instance, you may be able to swap some of your tomatoes for some of their zucchini so you can enjoy more local, seasonal produce without growing many different items. Bonus - Use Prep Dish meal plans! Our Prep Dish meal plans take advantage of seasonal produce items so you don’t have to think about it. Whether it’s cherries in the summer or delicata squash in the fall, we’ll help you tap into those seasonal items. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! My Experience with Lettuce Grow: https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep97/

In episode #177, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares what happened when she gave up TV, podcasts and reading for a week based on Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. ‌Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 ‌ Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans!

Episode #176 is inspired by Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. It’s a morning workbook so it is a bit of a commitment. One aspect of the program is daily journaling, first thing in the morning. I really look at mealtime as a sacred time I want to be present for. I find practices like daily journaling can help me achieve that presence. ‌ Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 ‌ Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! The Artist’s Way: https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Spiritual-Higher-Creativity/dp/1585421472/ref=sr_1_4?hvadid=616863381057&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16098706020834368236&hvtargid=kwd-468317885&hydadcr=24659_13611768&keywords=the+artists%27+way&qid=1685528325&sr=8-4

In this episode, host Allison Schaaf shares 8 simple ways to avoid toxins in your home. 1. Removing Shoes in the House This is such an easy one that keeps dirt and other things your shoes have picked up out of the house. 2. Reduce Exposure to Cell Phones, Wifi, etc. You can set your wifi on a timer or simply unplug it. We also try to keep our phones away from our bodies, and especially away from our kids. We also have a kill switch that switches off the electricity in our house. The exposure is so constant, I like having some breaks. 3. Cleaning Products I love the brand Force of Nature for household cleaning. You receive a little pouch and make the cleaning solution fresh every week or so. 4. Laundry Detergent We love the Molly’s Suds laundry detergent in our home. 5. Cloth Diapers We used cloth diapers for both of our boys and found that it really wasn’t that time-intensive. 6. Using Microfiber for Cleaning Microfiber picks up a lot of germs even just with water. 7. Use Cloth Napkins This is more environmental than about avoiding toxins but it is a nice habit that also elevates our meals a bit. 8. Opening the Windows Letting in some fresh air can help clean the air in your home, especially if you use a gas stove, a fireplace, have just cleaned a lot or have recently painted. Even if you have air filters, opening the windows is helpful as well. ‌ Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 ‌ Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Force of Nature Cleaner: https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/ Laundry Detergent: https://mollyssuds.com/collections/powder-laundry-detergent?tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19509948361&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4NujBhC5ARIsAF4Iv6f2snGzT6EdGlNgqM0w922kKGQCAqiFjG8cnuqAZYr5Ofl0GnOi3q8aAo9hEALw_wcB