One of my favorite meal prep lunch staples is the good, old fashioned, grocery store Rotisserie Chicken. Sure it’s easy to throw chicken in a crockpot or on a grill, but there are some weekends I don’t have the time or don’t feel like cooking. In this case, I’ll make sure a pre-cooked chicken is at the top of my grocery list.
There are absolutely a ton of convenience foods that are great, nutritious options for gymnasts and their families. I love rotisserie chickens because they are inexpensive (often less than any raw chicken, whole or parts), versatile, and taste great!
After getting home from the store, I take a few minutes to prep my chicken to make future meals super simple! I remove the skin and shred all of the pieces together. Then it's time to put meals together!
1. Salad
This might be the most obvious way to use a rotisserie chicken.
Top a big bowl of leafy greens with your chicken, your favorite fruits and veggies, a whole grain and top with your favorite dressing.
Try:
2. Chicken Salad
Chicken salad has gotten a nutritious makeover!
Make your gymnast's chicken salad with non-fat plain Greek yogurt and/or ripe mashed avocado for a creamy, nutritious swap. Make it your own by adding your favorite fruits, veggies, herbs, and spices! Enjoy it as a wrap, in a pita, or with crackers!
Try:
3. Chicken Wrap
Wrap your lunchtime favorites in a perfect little package to make an easy meal everyone will love! Be sure to pair the chicken with veggies and add a nice piece of fruit on the side!
Try:
4. Chicken Power Bowl
A power bowl is a great way to incorporate your rotisserie chicken into a hearty, healthy, fueling lunch. Be sure to choose a leafy green base like spinach, kale, chard, or arugula.
Add high-fiber carbs like quinoa, farrow, butternut squash, or chickpea pasta. Pack on the produce - anything from sweet berries and red onion to carrots, cucumbers, or shredded brussel sprouts! And finish with healthy fats like avocado, cheese, nuts, seeds, or olive oil + vinegar.
Try:
5. DIY Fajitas
Prep some sauteed peppers & onions, a scoop of black beans and grab a whole wheat tortilla or brown rice + a single serve guacamole and voila! Fajita bowls ready for lunch box assembly!
Wow that’s a lot of option for just one Rotisserie chicken!
Think about it, a $6 Rotisserie chicken can provide a week’s worth of lunches or dinners! Not only does it make meal prep easy but it’s cost effective too! Bonus!
I know using a Rotisserie chicken for meal prep isn’t a new or groundbreaking, but fueling gymnasts doesn't have to be fancy - it just has to WORK! Many families that I work with ask me for time-saving meal prep tips just like this!
Are you looking for support and guidance when it comes to planning nutritious meals for your gymnast? As a gymnast RD, I can help you with that! Apply to work with me today!
Comments