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In the middle of a performance season or intense rehearsal schedules, cooking dinner seems like a daunting task after long days. A lot of people take the easy route and pop something into the microwave, which isn’t necessarily the best thing to fuel your body. I personally love to cook, but not after a long day!

The way I fit my cooking schedule into my ballet schedule is actually quite simple and rewarding. I have a few easy things I like to cook, such as chicken or salmon. On my off days, I go grocery shopping and stock up on my week’s worth of food, including my meats and fish. That evening, I cook a feast sometimes including five chicken breasts and two salmon fillets. I like searing off each breast and filet in a pan with a little olive oil and seasoning, then I wrap it in parchment paper with a little lemon and sliced onion, then stick it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. After it’s all cooked, I individually package them in Tupperware and store them in the fridge.

Another thing I like cooking in bulk is quinoa, which is a hearty grain that is easy to prepare and store. I usually boil up a batch and add some veggies or dried fruit with a bit of balsamic vinegar and EVOO. Like the chicken, I portion it out and store in Tupperware.

The whole process turns out to be a win-win. I get my cooking fix, as well as taking care of my meals for my busy week! Investing in a good set of Tupperware turned out to be a great purchase, and made meals on the go possible as well.  I don’t necessarily have the same dinner every night, but on the days I feel especially wiped out, I can just warm up my prepared meal and eat within a few minutes. Not to mention the easy clean up!