Gut Action Week: Your 7-Day Simple Meal Prep Plan (Beginner-Friendly)
You're doing Gut Action Week. You're showing up. You're ready to feel better.
But here's the thing: nobody wants to spend their entire Sunday in the kitchen just to eat well for a few days.
Good news: you don't have to.
This 7-day meal prep plan is built for real life. We're talking simple ingredients, mix-and-match meals, and one 60-minute prep session that sets you up for the whole week.
No weird ingredients. No complicated recipes. Just gut-friendly food that actually tastes good.
Let's do this.
Why Meal Prepping Matters for Your Gut Health
Here's the truth about your wellness journey: consistency beats perfection every single time.
When you have gut-friendly meals ready to grab, you're way more likely to actually eat them. No more standing in front of the fridge at 6 PM wondering what to make. No more grabbing takeout because you're too tired to think.
Meal prepping removes the daily decision fatigue. And when your gut gets consistent, nourishing food? It starts to calm down, balance out, and actually work with you instead of against you.
Plus, when you prep at home, you control what goes into your food. No hidden sugars, no inflammatory oils, no mystery ingredients.
The Mix-and-Match System
Instead of giving you a rigid "eat this exact thing on Tuesday" plan, we're keeping it flexible.
Here's how it works:
2 breakfast options (rotate however you want)
2 lunch options (mix and match all week)
2 dinner options (swap based on your mood)
2 snack options (grab and go)
This way, you're not bored eating the same thing every day, but you're also not prepping 21 different meals. Smart, right?
Your Gut-Friendly Meal Options
Breakfasts
Option 1: Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds
In a jar, combine:
½ cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon chia seeds
¾ cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk you like)
A drizzle of honey
Sliced banana or berries on top
Make 3-4 jars on prep day. Grab one each morning. Done.
Option 2: Veggie Scramble with Avocado
2 eggs scrambled with a handful of spinach
¼ avocado on the side
Optional: a spoonful of sauerkraut for extra probiotics
The spinach and eggs cook in under 5 minutes. The avocado adds healthy fats that keep you full.
Lunches
Option 1: Quinoa Power Bowl
1 cup cooked quinoa
½ cup roasted chickpeas
Roasted veggies (sweet potato, zucchini, broccoli: whatever you prepped)
Drizzle of tahini or olive oil
Squeeze of lemon
Option 2: Simple Chicken Salad
Mixed greens
Grilled chicken (sliced from your prep session)
Cherry tomatoes and cucumber
Olive oil and lemon dressing
Both of these assemble in under 3 minutes when you've prepped the components ahead of time.
Dinners
Option 1: Baked Salmon with Roasted Veggies
1 salmon fillet (baked at 400°F for 12-15 minutes)
Roasted sweet potato
Steamed or roasted broccoli
Season simply: olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic
Salmon is packed with omega-3s, which are amazing for reducing gut inflammation.
Option 2: Turkey and Veggie Stir-Fry
Ground turkey browned with garlic and ginger
Mixed vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas)
Served over brown rice or cauliflower rice
Splash of coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
This one comes together in about 15 minutes if your rice is already cooked.
Snacks
Option 1: Greek Yogurt with Berries
Plain Greek yogurt is a probiotic powerhouse. Top with blueberries or raspberries and a sprinkle of ground flaxseed for extra fiber.
Option 2: Veggies and Hummus
Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper strips with a couple tablespoons of hummus. Simple. Crunchy. Satisfying.
Your Basic Grocery List
Print this. Screenshot it. Whatever works for you.
Proteins:
1 lb chicken breast
1 lb ground turkey
4 salmon fillets
1 dozen eggs
1 can chickpeas
Vegetables:
2 sweet potatoes
2 heads broccoli
1 zucchini
1 bag mixed greens
1 container cherry tomatoes
2 cucumbers
1 bag baby carrots
1 bunch spinach
1 bag snap peas or bell peppers
Grains:
1 container rolled oats
1 bag quinoa
1 bag brown rice
Dairy & Fermented Foods:
Plain Greek yogurt
Small jar sauerkraut (refrigerated section: look for "raw" or "unpasteurized")
Pantry Staples:
Chia seeds
Ground flaxseed
Tahini or hummus
Olive oil
Coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
Honey
Garlic (fresh or minced)
Fresh ginger
Lemons
Salt and pepper
Fruit:
3-4 bananas
1 container blueberries or mixed berries
2 avocados
Your 60-Minute Prep Session
Here's exactly how to knock this out in one hour. Put on a podcast, turn on some music, and let's go.
Minutes 0-5: Set Up
Preheat oven to 400°F
Get out all your ingredients
Fill a big pot with water for quinoa/rice
Minutes 5-20: Roast the Veggies
Cube sweet potatoes
Chop broccoli and zucchini
Toss everything with olive oil, salt, and pepper
Spread on 2 baking sheets and put in the oven
Minutes 20-35: Cook Grains + Protein
Start quinoa and brown rice on the stove
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic
Add chicken to a hot skillet and cook 6-7 minutes per side
Minutes 35-50: Prep Fresh Items
Slice cucumbers and carrots for snacks
Wash and dry mixed greens
Rinse chickpeas and pat dry (you can roast these with the veggies if you have room)
Make 3-4 overnight oats jars
Minutes 50-60: Store Everything
Let chicken cool, then slice and store
Divide roasted veggies into containers
Store grains in separate containers
Put everything in the fridge
That's it. You just set yourself up for an entire week of gut-friendly eating.
Quick Tips for Success
Stay hydrated. Your gut needs water to do its job. Aim for at least 8 glasses a day.
Don't stress about perfection. If you swap broccoli for green beans or skip the sauerkraut one day, that's fine. Progress over perfection.
Listen to your body. If something doesn't sit well with you, note it and adjust. Everyone's gut is different.
Add fermented foods gradually. If you're new to sauerkraut, kimchi, or kefir, start small. A spoonful here and there. Your gut will adapt.
What If You Need More Support?
This plan is a great starting point. But here's the thing: gut health isn't one-size-fits-all.
Maybe you have food sensitivities you're not sure about. Maybe you've got IBS, bloating, or other symptoms that make "general" advice feel frustrating. Maybe you just want someone to build a plan specifically for your body, your schedule, and your goals.
That's exactly what personalized wellness coaching is for.
If you're doing Gut Action Week and thinking, "This is great, but I need something tailored to me," let's talk.
Schedule a Consultation and we'll figure out the best next step for your wellness journey: together.
You've got this. One meal at a time.