Our friend and Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Chelsea LeBlanc, has all the tools you need when it comes to getting ahead of meal preparation and planning. Although it may seem intimidating, Chelsea is sure to give you a boost of confidence to tackle next week’s meals!

As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I always look for quick and easy recipes to help make meal planning and prep a little easier. I love to cook, but after a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. Spending a little time at the start of each week to meal plan can be such a time saver and has a whole slew of other benefits.

Simple Sheet Pan Salmon –

This parmesan-crusted Sheet Pan Salmon with Roasted Balsamic Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes and Asparagus is the easiest one-pan meal. It’s full of flavor and colors but the best part is it only takes about 35 minutes to cook and clean-up is a breeze – making it perfect for weekly meal prep. Get the ingredients ready ahead of time so all you have to do is season everything and pop the pan in the oven. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and enjoy for multiple meals. To reheat, simply place the salmon on a baking sheet, tent it with foil, and warm it in the oven at 300°F until just heated through.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes
  • Asparagus
  • Salmon Filets
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • Panko Breadcrumbs
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Garlic Powder
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Honey-Dijon Mustard
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Balsamic Vinegar

What Are the Benefits of Meal Planning?

Save time and reduce stress: Planning meals in advance can save you time as you can prepare ingredients and cook meals ahead of time. It can make mealtime more enjoyable, too, since you don’t have to worry about what to make for dinner at the last minute.

Save money: Planning meals in advance can help you save money by reducing food waste and avoiding impulse purchases at the grocery store. Research shows that the total annual cost of wasted food was estimated to be $240 billion or $1,866 per household. That’s $155.50 of wasted food EACH MONTH! Meal planning and using a grocery list can help you assess what food you already have and can help prevent over-purchasing at the store.

Improve nutrition: Meal planning allows you to make healthier food choices by ensuring that you have a variety of nutrient-dense foods on hand. It helps you plan meals and snacks centered around nourishing fruits and veggies, which we often fall short on.

Tips to Include More Fruit and Veggies –

Planning snacks that include a fruit or veggie: Having simple grab-and-go snacks on hand is key! I love having fruit like Sweet Blooms® Strawberries + Greek yogurt, Uno Bites™ Nano Cucumbers + hummus, and Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes + cheese for balanced and nourishing snacks.

Fill half your plate with veggies: Including a variety of veggies with your meals and snacks will help you nourish your body with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Sometimes, our favorite fruits and veggies aren’t in season. This often means less flavorful produce and decreased consumption of these important foods.

Luckily, you can still enjoy your favorite fruits and vegetables year-round thanks to the latest innovative greenhouse technology that allows Pure Flavor® to grow the highest quality produce in every season. Like tomatoes!

Their Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Tomatoes are just as healthy as they are sweet! Making them the perfect addition to our sheet pan salmon. Each tomato is packed with vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin C, lycopene, and iron to help create a nutrient-packed dinner.

~ Chelsea