Personal Health Checklist For Busy Home Cooks And Gardeners

Self-care may seem like an extravagant indulgence (think spa visits and retreats, healthy juices or wellness supplements), but in truth it consists primarily of small habits that help protect and preserve health. With this checklist as your guide, self-care should become part of your everyday routine!

Meal planning, seasonal home maintenance and water hydration are just a few strategies included in this self-care checklist.

Meal Planning

Meal planning is more than a passing fad; it can help you eat healthily, save money and decrease stress around mealtime. Meal planning requires choosing recipes, making a grocery list, cooking ahead or washing any necessary ingredients as needed and sometimes prepping ahead to reduce temptation to fast food or takeout dining options. Creating a meal plan encourages more cooking at home instead of fast food or take out.

Before embarking on meal planning, take some time to assess your own needs and goals. Consider how many meals per week you hope to cook as well as preferred times and times of day for dining and your preferred dishes and recipes. Also take into consideration any dietary restrictions or allergies in order to include foods that support your health goals.

Sketch out your weekly meal plan using either paper or an erasable whiteboard, noting any days where your busy schedule might prevent you from cooking – these would make great days to use crock pot recipes or plan leftover night.

Once you have your weekly meal plan complete, make a list of all of the ingredients and products needed. Compare it with what is already in your kitchen and pantry (e.g. spices, dried fruit, quinoa or canned beans) and add any items that may be running low or missing – don’t forget perishable items that could go to waste; store prepared ingredients or cooked meals in the fridge/freezer and label with dates so you can track expiration dates.

Hydration

Hydration is essential in every season, but experts emphasize its significance during summer heat waves. Dehydration can quickly lead to heat exhaustion and serious health problems among older adults. Experts advise drinking at least eight glasses of water daily as well as eating foods like leafy greens, tomatoes, melons and cucumbers that contain naturally high amounts of hydrating fluids such as leafy greens. Furthermore, cutting back on highly processed foods low in fiber with excess sugar and calories that contribute to weight gain or chronic diseases such as heart disease diabetes or depression is another great way of staying hydrated!

Sleep

Self-care may seem like an extravagant luxury (spa treatments, retreats and getaways), but it can actually be achieved through daily habits that you create within yourself. For instance, pairing healthy choices with sleeping can make sleep feel natural rather than forced; perhaps taking a quick nap when feeling fatigued or trying out a new recipe are two great examples. Make them automatic choices to improve overall well-being.