You’ll probably quickly realize that I am a data and numbers person. I’m also the type of person that needs to write things down, or put them on my calendar–or, they don’t happen!

I’ve been following a nutrition program called Ultimate Portion Fix. The methodology uses containers to portion out meals, putting you in control of what types of food you select for each of those container calories. Whether it’s vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, protein, or carbohydrates, YOU are in control of what and when you eat. Guidance is provided, but I see this as a fun puzzle that lets you get creative.

Enter my crazy Excel file!

Nerd alert here: I love to use formulas in Excel. In my daily work life (I work at a B2B software company) the ability to cross-compare files and quickly process data is critical. So why would calculating nutrition be any different for me, right? Note: this is my own personal style–I don’t expect that most people do this type of meticulous process.

As you can see from above, I have a lot of leftovers and recycle meal ideas throughout the week. Healthy, portioned meal planning doesn’t have to be totally overwhelming. You can start with a few staples that you know you like, and then build from there. Just make sure you introduce new recipes (or rotate enough) each week to keep yourself from having food fatigue. You also want to make sure you have a variety of fruits and vegetables. But, more on that in a future post!