Dear Ralfi Pagan, I hope this note finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my deep feelings of love towards you. Since the day we met, you have captured my heart in a way that I never thought possible. Your kind and gentle nature, coupled with your infectious smile, have made a lasting impression on me. I find myself constantly thinking about you, longing for the moments we spend together. Your presence in my life has brought me immense joy and happiness.
Catherine McCord: It started with Covid and feeling and being trapped. I could barely go to the grocery store. I needed to see what I had in the kitchen and utilize ingredients to their potential.
With Catherine McCord s step-by-step process, your kitchen will be beautifully organized and fast, healthy family meals will be at your fingertips starting with 100 of her favorite recipes. Here are the goals I set for myself for my last meal-prep, to give you an idea Make nine ready-to-eat meals, including five lunches and four dinners for 60 or less.
Your presence in my life has brought me immense joy and happiness. Each day feels brighter and more meaningful because of you. Your love and support have given me the strength and courage to overcome any obstacles that come my way.
A Beginner’s Guide to Meal Prep Magic
Do you remember before the pandemic hit and life seemed more organized and predictable? You know, that mythical time when your pants still fit and you had your morning routine on lock? Time to get that back with some meal prep magic.
Not to brag, but we’re sort of experts in this department. Before TGK was TGK, our founder Amber Lewis was the neighborhood meal-prepper. It started with a simple desire to make good eating a no-brainer by preparing ready-to-eat meals with responsibly sourced ingredients. After tasting her recipes, friends and family started to put in orders. Eventually, local gyms started stocking up on Amber’s meals to help people optimize their nutrition. Before too long, she was on a mission to provide delicious and nutritious meals to everyone far and wide.
RIP sad desk lunches and pizza-binges for dinner. Hello effortless eating.
Ready to try it out for yourself? Here’s the quickest way to get started with no-fuss meal prepping!
1. Set Your Goals
Meal prepping is a strategy to help you achieve all your food goals. For it to be effective, those goals have to be specific. Get granular about what you want to accomplish with meal prepping and what you want out of your diet more generally, beyond just saving time and eliminating decision fatigue. Are you looking to build muscle, maintain, or lean out? Do you want to incorporate more local produce into your diet? Are you optimizing for a certain nutrient (like protein) or micronutrient (like magnesium)? This is a good time to assess other ambitions for your eating life too. For instance, maybe there’s a culinary skill you want to master or a CSA you’ve been thinking about joining.
If you’re like us, there are about a million things that could qualify as food goals (Eat seasonally! Nail that tricky sauce recipe! Use an InstaPot without fear of blowing up your kitchen!). Once you’ve brainstormed –– or put it all on a vision board, if that’s your thing –– start simplifying and bring it back to reality . Remember that you won’t be a completely different person when you start meal prepping, and take note of your current habits and preferences to set yourself up for success. If you already know you hate the texture of cooked vegetables after they’ve spent a few days in the fridge, don’t expect that to change. Instead, prepare and pre-portion vegetables to steam on-demand at mealtime. If you’re someone who seeks a lot of variety, lean into that instead of bulk-cooking 20 chicken-and-broccoli meals.
Here are the goals I set for myself for my last meal-prep, to give you an idea: Make nine ready-to-eat meals, including five lunches and four dinners for $60 or less. Include at least two seasonal vegetables and at least 18 grams of fiber between lunch and dinner. Throw calorie-counting out the window, but make smaller portions by slightly underfilling containers to avoid post-meal energy slumps.
Okay, have your goals in hand? Time for step two:
2. Build Your Toolkit
You have a goal, now you need the tools. While any containers will do, choosing a set that’s custom-designed for the job can be tremendously helpful for planning your meals. Buying the right gear can also be motivating: If your containers are just sitting there ready to be filled, who are you to put off the work for another week? We recommend getting pre-portioned glass or ceramic containers with a high-quality seal and a vent for reheating.
Other essential tools for meal prepping include baking pans (multiple), a large soup pot (preferably an InstaPot), a sauté pan, a good knife (Amber gives her recommendations here ), and a large cutting board. If you plan on going deep and prepping for multiple weeks at a time, you could also consider investing in a vacuum sealer.
Now it’s time for the real work.
3. Cook Strategically
Over the years, we’ve learned a few things that can streamline your experience in the grocery store and in the kitchen. We hope they help you as much as they’ve helped us!
COOK FROM A TEMPLATE
To keep things simple and organized, use a template like the one below when creating meals from scratch.
Basic Meal Components:
- Protein [tempeh, eggs, ground beef]
- Complex Carbohydrates [quinoa, sweet potato, chickpeas]
- Leafy Greens [kale, spinach, collards y’all]
- Veggies [cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts]
- Nuts/Seeds/Fats [walnuts, hemp seeds, avocado]
- Dressing/Sauce [chimichurri, tahini, green curry sauce]
An Example Meal:
- Ground Beef
- Spaghetti Squash
- Sauteed Spinach
- Broccoli
- Walnut Pesto
CHOOSE A THEME
Sticking to one cuisine can be a good way to shorten your grocery list. For instance, you may decide on a Meditteranean theme for the week, prepping baked falafel salads for lunch and halibut for dinner, both with olives, tomatoes, and artichokes. By choosing recipes with overlapping ingredients but unique flavors, you save time and money without sacrificing variety.
EXPLORE ONE-POT AND SHEET-PAN RECIPES
They slash cleaning time. They save you oven space. They’re single-dish recipes, and they’re the MVPs of meal prep. Here are a few that we love, gathered from around the internet:
Ready to go for it? Post your meal-prep pics on Instagram and tag us @eatTGK ! And if the idea of meal prep just makes you feel tired, you know we’re always here to do the work for you. Head over to this week’s menu and do your “prep” by just clicking a few buttons.
Happy Eating,
~The Team at TGK
COOK FROM A TEMPLATE
When I look into your eyes, I see a future filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities. You have become my best friend, my confidant, and my partner in crime. I cherish the moments we share, whether it's a simple walk in the park or a romantic candlelit dinner. Being with you feels like coming home. Your warmth and understanding make me feel safe and loved. I am grateful for every second we spend together, and I cannot imagine my life without you. I want you to know that my love for you is unconditional. It knows no bounds and grows stronger with each passing day. You have become the center of my universe, the love of my life. Ralfi Pagan, I am forever grateful for the love we share. You have brought so much light into my life, and for that, I will be eternally thankful. I promise to love you unconditionally, support you in your dreams, and be by your side through thick and thin. With all my love, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Ralfi Pagan's Music: A Gift of Love to the World"
1. John - 2 stars
I have to admit, I was quite disappointed with "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Feelings of Love Towards You". The album lacked variety and was quite repetitive. The songs all had a similar sound and rhythm, making them blend together after a while. Additionally, the lyrics were overly cheesy and lacked depth. I expected more from Ralfi Pagan, but unfortunately, this album fell short of my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I found "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Feelings of Love Towards You" to be incredibly forgettable. The songs were dull and lacked any originality. The melodies were generic and offered nothing new or exciting. Moreover, Pagan's voice was unremarkable and did not capture my attention. Overall, this album was a letdown, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable musical experience.
3. Michael - 2 stars
Although I typically enjoy Ralfi Pagan's music, "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Feelings of Love Towards You" did not resonate with me. The album felt formulaic, as if Pagan was trying to replicate his previous successes without offering anything fresh. The songs lacked innovation and failed to make a lasting impact. Furthermore, the production quality was subpar, making it difficult to fully appreciate Pagan's vocals. I hope that his future releases will showcase his true talent rather than relying on tired tropes.
4. Emily - 1 star
"Ralfi Pagan to Express My Feelings of Love Towards You" was a disappointment, to say the least. The album lacked any memorable tracks or standout moments. Pagan's voice was overshadowed by the monotonous and unremarkable instrumentals, making it difficult to connect with the songs. The lyrics were cliché and superficial, failing to evoke any genuine emotion. Overall, this album felt like a missed opportunity for Pagan to showcase his true potential as an artist.