Do you know what you are eating today? No, uh oh!

Team,
As we all know, a key component needed to get the body you want is a clean diet and a regimented eating schedule. 4-6 small nutrient packed clean meals a day about 2.5-3 hours apart is a key to a fat burning, lean body. To be as clean as you can with each of your meals takes planning and preparation. As a kid my father would drill into us the 6 Ps; Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Never has this be more applicable.
If you do not know what you are going to eat for your next meal right now, you are not effectively "meal planning". The key to staying on track with your dietary plan is to plan at least each days meals in advance, or know that where and when you will eat next will offer the correct foods you need to stay on plan.
Example: My post workout meal does not vary much from day to day, but I always make sure before heading to the gym that I have a lean, easy digestible protein and a complex carbohydrate ready to go as soon as I get home. Meal 1 planned! For meal 2 I know I will be at my desk or in a meeting at work, so everyday I put a piece of fruit and some nuts (or protein shake) in my bag and have it at the ready 3 hours later. Meal 2, in the bag! Now meal 3 is where I "wing it" (sort of) each day, but with little risk that I am going to blow my clean eating habits. The cafeteria at work has a great salad bar that I know will provide healthy choices of proteins, vegetables, fruits, etc. and I can easily control my portion sizes. Provided I have good insight into how food items are prepared, I can make good choices and avoid the crappy stuff that is of course always available. Funny how the longest lines seem to always be for the crappy stuff.... Meal 4 is easy too cause I usually split up my salad from the cafeteria in half, eat half at lunch, then the other half a few hours later. So, as long as I make good choices at lunch I am good for meal 4. Meal 5 & 6 are dinner and a light snack before bed time always with the same protein carbohydrate balance.
So what's the point? The point is, if you get in the habit of always having good foods with you are available when you need to eat, it makes it easier to stay on track. Not having food or a plan for what you are going to eat next leads to making bad choices or settling for foods that will sabotage your plans to reach your goals.
Planning effectively starts at the grocery store. Do your best to stay in the outside aisle of the store where the fruits, veggies and proteins are and away from the inner aisles that are jam packed with endless shelves of processed foods. Get yourself a good lunch bag that can keep your food fresh and ready to eat when you need it. Start a fruit bowl in your area at work and get others involved to keep healthy choices around you at all times.
You have made the commitment to planning your workouts, now do the same for your diet. Remember the 6Ps and that exercise is only half (or maybe less) the battle.
Happy Eating!
Main Line Beach Body