Comcast NBCUniversal Donates $75,000 to Support Winter Storm Fern Relief Efforts in Nashville

Comcast NBCUniversal announced it will provide a $75,000 cash contribution to the Winter Storm Recovery Fund, a unified fund of United Way of Greater Nashville, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and Mayor O’Connell, and administered by United Way. The donation will support Nashville’s recovery from Winter Storm Fern, which brought prolonged power outages and widespread hardship across Tennessee.

“Storm Fern has had a real impact on neighborhoods across Nashville, and support like Comcast’s helps ensure local families get the resources they need,” said Erica Mitchell, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Nashville. “We’re grateful for partners who stand with us to strengthen our community and help our neighbors recover.”

Comcast’s Ongoing Commitment to Nashville

Comcast continues coordinating with city officials and emergency responders to identify and support evolving needs throughout the recovery period.

To support restoration efforts, Comcast deployed nearly double its normal staffing in the region and opened more than 31,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots across Nashville for free for anyone to use, including non‑customers, through 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 4.

“When severe weather hits, our priority is keeping our customers connected and standing with the communities where we live and serve,” said Mike McArdle, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast. “Winter Storm Fern caused widespread, historically significant damage across Tennessee, creating real and immediate challenges for families. These contributions to the United Way of Nashville are intended to support local recovery efforts, and we’re committed to showing up, staying engaged, and supporting our communities through moments like this.”

Restoring Connectivity

At the height of the storm, 230,000 customers were without power. Comcast reminds customers that Xfinity and Comcast Business services can only be restored once local power returns.

Even if a home’s electricity has been restored, power may not yet be fully restored to the Comcast network equipment that serves the neighborhood. In those cases, service may return shortly after utility repairs are completed.

To help confirm service restoration, Comcast encourages customers to:

  • Restart gateways, modems, routers, and TV boxes once power is restored.
  • Check the Xfinity App or Xfinity.com/myaccount for outage updates.
  • Register a mobile number to receive real‑time text alerts when service is restored.
  • Contact Comcast via chat or phone at 1‑800‑XFINITY, or visit Xfinity.com/response for troubleshooting and updates.

These efforts are part of the company’s ongoing commitment to providing resources and support to communities during times of unexpected need.

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Crafting Change: The Team Behind Gore Fabrics’ Responsible Progress

With deep roots in W. L. Gore & Associates culture and a commitment to science-based innovation, the sustainability team within Gore’s Fabrics business is translating ambition into action. Their work centers on improving life through tangible progress focused on reducing carbon emissions, managing chemical impacts, and strengthening human rights practices across a complex global supply chain.

In this Q&A, Global Sustainability Leader Silke Kemmerling introduces the people driving this transformation. United by a culture of integrity, collaboration, and accountability, the team is embedding sustainability into daily decisions and long-term strategy. By aligning environmental and social goals with individual performance, they are driving measurable progress and helping shape a more responsible future for technical apparel.

Dive into the full Q&A to meet the team and see how they’re shaping the future of technical apparel.

Silke Kemmerling

Q: What is the overarching sustainability vision and aspiration for Gore’s Fabrics business?

A: Our vision for sustainability is deeply intertwined with our brand promise: Together, Improving Life. As a product leadership company, we understand the interplay between product, profits, and purpose. Our mission compels us to create high-performing, most durable products, which in turn drive our profits and support our purpose.

Guided by our Responsible Performance platform, we aim to harmonize sustainability with product excellence and process, making tangible progress on multifaceted challenges. Our goal is to achieve new heights of performance and sustainability across our operations and products, with a positive impact on both people and the planet, all while upholding our standards of quality, protection, and comfort.

Q: What are the biggest challenges currently facing our Fabrics sustainability teams?

A: One of our primary challenges lies in managing the complexity and scale of our global supply chain while effecting meaningful change. With hundreds of apparel and footwear facilities spanning 37 countries, evaluating and enhancing workplace and labor conditions necessitates robust systems, ongoing engagement, and innovative tools, like leveraging artificial intelligence for social due diligence and compliance.

We acknowledge the heightened expectations we’ve placed on ourselves by once more increasing our scope 1 and 2 carbon reduction targets for FY2031 while also growing our business, continuing our materials transformation, and helping create transparency across all operations. Additionally, we have observed changing performance, market, and regulatory expectations, all of which increase the demand for science-based and holistic solutions. As leaders guided by science, this is beneficial for us, but it can also complicate our journey. Nevertheless, our teams remain fully committed to pushing boundaries in the products we create that can drive positive impacts for people and the planet.

Q: What is next on the horizon for Fabrics sustainability efforts?

A: While the complexity of our supply chain is both a challenge and also one of our greatest opportunities. By adopting advanced technologies and collaborating with industry leaders, NGOs, and academic institutions, we can pioneer cutting-edge solutions for circularity, decarbonization, and responsible product stewardship. Our capacity to pilot, test, and scale these innovations via our unique position within the broader high-performance technical apparel industry helps enable us to spearhead industry-wide change, achieve measurable outcomes for people and the planet, and establish new standards for sustainability in technical apparel. This culture of collaboration and relentless improvement empowers us to convert challenges into positive solutions that drive impact and elevate our contributions to improving life.

Q: You’ve held your role for three years now. How have the sustainability efforts for the Fabrics business evolved under your leadership?

A: Since taking on the role of Global Sustainability Leader, my focus has been on integrating sustainability across all facets of our business strategy and operations. I am really proud that we expanded our sustainability team by establishing a dedicated Climate team, a first for the Enterprise, to propel carbon reduction and climate action throughout our organization and supply chain.

Our strategy now emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making. Initiatives like Project Bookkeeper will enhance the clarity and consistency of our sustainability claims, and our Grassroots Sustainability Action Network empowers Associates to spearhead local initiatives. By embedding sustainability goals within individual performance plans and enhancing training on vital skills, we’ve cultivated a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, positioning our Fabrics business as a catalyst for change, within our business, our communities and beyond.

 

For a broader look at the progress behind these efforts, explore the full Responsibility Update to see how Gore Fabrics is advancing responsible performance:https://www.gore.com/resources/enterprise/fabrics-responsibility-update

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With Significant Progress Toward Its Sustainability Goals, Sysco Shares Its 2025 Sustainability Report

We're proud of what we have achieved: 4,300+ One Planet One Table products, 3,100 ranchers engaged from FY2021-FY2025, 159M meals donated through Global Good since FY2018, 2.25M electric vehicle (EV) miles driven in FY2025

Originally published on January 20, 2026 on LinkedIn.

Food is our passion, and food is our mission. As we celebrate our progress toward our sustainability goals, we’re also focused on what comes next by building resiliency from farm to fork through stronger local supply chains and support for the growers, producers and communities we serve. This work brings our local commitment to life and advances our Purpose of Connecting the World to Share Food and Care for One Another.

Check out our 2025 Sustainability Report, here.

View original content here.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended June 29, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.

 For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoFoods. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

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Beyond the End Zone: Jerry Rice on Winning in Life and Business

Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League. His meticulous preparation, relentless work ethic, and commitment to excellence during his 20-year NFL career became legendary. Jerry built his success through disciplined daily habits, used setbacks as motivation and developed the mindset required for sustained high performance. During this event, Jerry will share insights on leadership, teamwork, and achieving peak performance. He’ll offer practical, actionable takeaways and share stories about iconic moments from his career, both on and off the football field.

Register Now!

Speaker

Jerry Rice

Three-Time Super Bowl Champion, Pro Football Hall of Famer

Jerry Rice is a Hall of Fame wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion, widely regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League, and arguably the greatest player of all time. During his 15-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, Rice won three Super Bowls (Super Bowl XXIII (’88), Super Bowl XXIV (’89) and SB XXIX (’94)) and one Super Bowl MVP. He enjoyed three seasons with the Oakland Raiders, including a Super Bowl appearance and one season with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2005. Rice was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in January 2010, his first year of eligibility.

Rice holds 36 NFL records – a record in itself. Has scored the most touchdowns in NFL history (208) and holds virtually every significant career receiving record, including receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895), all-purpose yards (23,546), touchdown receptions (197) and consecutive games with at least one catch (274).

After his retirement, Rice’s celebrity grew beyond the football field. He finished second in the second season of Dancing with the Stars, led his team to victory on the golf course against other NFL legends on Big Break NFL Puerto Rico and has extensive broadcasting experience including as an analyst for ESPN, NBC and is a contributor on 95.7 The Game FM radio in the Bay Area. He co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, Super Bowl 50: 50 years 50 Moments as well as, America’s Game: The NFL at 100 with Randy O. Williams and published by Harper Collins.

This success off the field and renowned work ethic has appealed Rice to numerous corporations, including NIKE, Mitchell & Ness and Panini. He is also an Honorary Chairman for the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, whose mission is to educate and empower Bay Area youth.

In 2019, Rice and his family launched G.O.A.T. Fuel, a privately held lifestyle brand that empowers individual and collective greatness. G.O.A.T. Fuel promotes the unstoppable strength of a hopeful mindset through energy infused products, content and experiences.

Rice is married, resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and has four children.

Register

The Seminar and/or Webinar and materials that you will view were prepared for general information purposes only by the speaker and are not intended as legal, tax or accounting advice or as recommendations to engage in any specific transaction, including with respect to any securities of PNC, and do not purport to be comprehensive. Under no circumstances should any information contained in the presentation, the webinar, or the materials presented be used or considered as an offer or commitment, or a solicitation of an offer or commitment, to participate in any particular transaction or strategy. Any reliance upon any such information is solely and exclusively at your own risk. Please consult your own counsel, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation. Neither PNC Bank nor any other subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will be responsible for any consequences of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained here, or any omission. The opinions expressed in these materials or videos are not necessarily the opinions of PNC Bank or any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees.

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Antea Group USA Announces Strategic Partnership With Gridify To Streamline Renewable Energy Credit Procurement and Accelerate Corporate Decarbonization

ST. PAUL, Minn., February 4, 2026 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA, a leading global environmental consulting firm, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Gridify, a premier digital infrastructure firm that specializes in making the procurement of renewable energy credits (RECs) faster, more transparent, and scalable. This alliance enhances Antea Group’s ability to help clients achieve their renewable energy goals by simplifying the complex process of sourcing and retiring high-quality RECs.

Streamlining REC Procurement through Digital Innovation

Through this partnership, Antea Group leverages Gridify’s technology to transform how organizations access clean energy markets. The Gridify platform streamlines the procurement process through a four-step digital workflow:

  • Request Entry: Antea Group identifies client needs—such as specific fuel types, locations, or budget targets—and enters them directly into the platform.
  • Instant Quote Comparison: The platform provides access to over 150 vetted clean energy suppliers, allowing for immediate price transparency and the ability to compare multiple competitive offers in one place.
  • Simplified Selection: Once the best fit is identified, quotes are shared with clients via a one-click review process.
  • End-to-End Management: Gridify automates the remaining hurdles, including standardized contracting and secure, simplified payment processing.

This centralized transaction hub provides clients with a secure portal to access all contracts, invoices, and retirement certificates, eliminating the administrative burden typically associated with REC purchases.

Strengthening Climate Advisory and Decarbonization Services

The partnership with Gridify significantly bolsters Antea Group’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Climate Change Advisory services. By integrating direct REC procurement into the broader decarbonization journey, Antea Group provides a more comprehensive suite of tools for clients to meet their sustainability commitments.

Key benefits to Antea Group’s climate change advisory services include:

  • Enhanced Target Setting: The ability to secure vetted RECs supports clients in establishing and meeting Science-Based or other emission reduction targets based on accurate company benchmarking.
  • Actionable Decarbonization Planning: RECs serve as an implementable element of a client’s decarbonization roadmap, providing a clear path to reduce GHG emissions alongside operational changes and capital investments.
  • Robust Annual Reporting: The Gridify platform ensures that RECs are properly retired in tracking systems, providing the necessary documentation for voluntary and required disclosures.
  • Verified Quality and Integrity: Gridify reviews all suppliers for registry certifications and track records of delivery, ensuring that credits meet high standards for additionality, verification, and transparency.

“Our partnership with Gridify allows us to offer our clients a more transparent and efficient way to manage their renewable energy purchases,” said Dr. Susan Lewis, Climate and Carbon Accounting Services Lead at Antea Group USA. “By removing the administrative challenges of REC procurement, we can focus on helping our clients accelerate their decarbonization plans and reach their climate targets with greater confidence.”

For more information on Antea Group’s climate change and carbon management services, please visit Antea Group Climate Services. To learn more about the Gridify platform, visit Gridify.ai.

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international environmental consulting firm that specializes in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning, and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future.

About Gridify

Gridify is a digital infrastructure firm focused on building transparent clean energy markets where every organization can power its impact with integrity. With over 1 TWh of RECs procured to date and a network of 150+ vetted suppliers, Gridify simplifies the clean energy transaction process for consultants and their clients worldwide.

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Antea Group USA Announces Strategic Partnership With Gridify To Streamline Renewable Energy Credit Procurement and Accelerate Corporate Decarbonization

ST. PAUL, Minn., February 4, 2026 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA, a leading global environmental consulting firm, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Gridify, a premier digital infrastructure firm that specializes in making the procurement of renewable energy credits (RECs) faster, more transparent, and scalable. This alliance enhances Antea Group’s ability to help clients achieve their renewable energy goals by simplifying the complex process of sourcing and retiring high-quality RECs.

Streamlining REC Procurement through Digital Innovation

Through this partnership, Antea Group leverages Gridify’s technology to transform how organizations access clean energy markets. The Gridify platform streamlines the procurement process through a four-step digital workflow:

  • Request Entry: Antea Group identifies client needs—such as specific fuel types, locations, or budget targets—and enters them directly into the platform.
  • Instant Quote Comparison: The platform provides access to over 150 vetted clean energy suppliers, allowing for immediate price transparency and the ability to compare multiple competitive offers in one place.
  • Simplified Selection: Once the best fit is identified, quotes are shared with clients via a one-click review process.
  • End-to-End Management: Gridify automates the remaining hurdles, including standardized contracting and secure, simplified payment processing.

This centralized transaction hub provides clients with a secure portal to access all contracts, invoices, and retirement certificates, eliminating the administrative burden typically associated with REC purchases.

Strengthening Climate Advisory and Decarbonization Services

The partnership with Gridify significantly bolsters Antea Group’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Climate Change Advisory services. By integrating direct REC procurement into the broader decarbonization journey, Antea Group provides a more comprehensive suite of tools for clients to meet their sustainability commitments.

Key benefits to Antea Group’s climate change advisory services include:

  • Enhanced Target Setting: The ability to secure vetted RECs supports clients in establishing and meeting Science-Based or other emission reduction targets based on accurate company benchmarking.
  • Actionable Decarbonization Planning: RECs serve as an implementable element of a client’s decarbonization roadmap, providing a clear path to reduce GHG emissions alongside operational changes and capital investments.
  • Robust Annual Reporting: The Gridify platform ensures that RECs are properly retired in tracking systems, providing the necessary documentation for voluntary and required disclosures.
  • Verified Quality and Integrity: Gridify reviews all suppliers for registry certifications and track records of delivery, ensuring that credits meet high standards for additionality, verification, and transparency.

“Our partnership with Gridify allows us to offer our clients a more transparent and efficient way to manage their renewable energy purchases,” said Dr. Susan Lewis, Climate and Carbon Accounting Services Lead at Antea Group USA. “By removing the administrative challenges of REC procurement, we can focus on helping our clients accelerate their decarbonization plans and reach their climate targets with greater confidence.”

For more information on Antea Group’s climate change and carbon management services, please visit Antea Group Climate Services. To learn more about the Gridify platform, visit Gridify.ai.

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international environmental consulting firm that specializes in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning, and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future.

About Gridify

Gridify is a digital infrastructure firm focused on building transparent clean energy markets where every organization can power its impact with integrity. With over 1 TWh of RECs procured to date and a network of 150+ vetted suppliers, Gridify simplifies the clean energy transaction process for consultants and their clients worldwide.

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Northern Trust’s Award-Winning Start to 2026

"2026 BEST PLACES I WORK" logo

A winning start to 2026 

We’re kicking off the new year with some great news: Built In has recognized Northern Trust across multiple 2026 Built In Best lists!

We’re honored to be named among the very best places to work in several of our key hubs:

  • Best Large Places to Work – Chicago
  • Best Places to Work – Chicago
  • Best Large Places to Work – San Francisco
  • Best Places to Work – Los Angeles
  • Best Large Places to Work – Boston
  • Best Places to Work – Boston
  • Best Large Places to Work – Los Angeles

These wins reflect the passion, talent, and dedication of every person on our teams who make our offices an incredible place to grow, innovate, and thrive

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Northern Trust’s Award-Winning Start to 2026

"2026 BEST PLACES I WORK" logo

A winning start to 2026 

We’re kicking off the new year with some great news: Built In has recognized Northern Trust across multiple 2026 Built In Best lists!

We’re honored to be named among the very best places to work in several of our key hubs:

  • Best Large Places to Work – Chicago
  • Best Places to Work – Chicago
  • Best Large Places to Work – San Francisco
  • Best Places to Work – Los Angeles
  • Best Large Places to Work – Boston
  • Best Places to Work – Boston
  • Best Large Places to Work – Los Angeles

These wins reflect the passion, talent, and dedication of every person on our teams who make our offices an incredible place to grow, innovate, and thrive

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Guiding Stars: A One-Trip Grocery Strategy for Multiple Easy Meals

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Kitty Broihier

I always find the topic of meal planning to be polarizing. You’re either a fan who finds it valuable or it’s your idea of monotonous drudgery. But I’m here to say there’s more than one way to meal plan. I’m sharing a simple process that relies on one well-planned grocery shopping trip and a handful of cook-once, eat-twice recipes. Follow the map and you’ll be set up for a week’s worth of balanced, Guiding Stars-earning meals.

Step 1: Look at the Week Ahead

This is one of my top tips for making sure you don’t end up ordering pizza or getting take-out (again). The idea here is to take away some of the burden of feeding yourself well by pre-planning the biggest or most complicated meal of the day ahead of time. For many of us, that meal is dinner, but if that’s not true for you, plan for whichever meal is typically the most time-consuming or difficult to prepare. And if you have social obligations or evening activities that include dinner out, you’ll have fewer main meals to plan and prep.

Step 2: Take an Inventory

Check your refrigerator and make a note of any foods that need to be used this week. While you’re there, start a grocery list and add any staple items that need replenishing. Do the same with your pantry staples, then move on to your freezer. What do you have on hand for frozen veggies, and protein items like meat, fish, and poultry? Get an idea of what you have to work with so you don’t over-buy while shopping.

Step 3: Choose What to Make: Focus on Double-Duty Recipes

One way to make a full week of meals feel easy is to cook foods that work in multiple meals. This saves time and effort, and decreases food waste. (And if you get the ingredients on sale, you’ll save money too.) For example, say you notice that you have a good supply of frozen chicken breasts on hand. So you decide to make a sheet-pan meal using chicken breasts as the protein along with a couple of vegetables. Not sure which veggies to cook? Look for another recipe (check the Guiding Stars recipe collection online) that could use leftover cooked chicken breast and pre-roasted vegetables. Perhaps something like this easy Chicken Mushroom Skillet (swap the frozen veggies for the pre-cooked ones from your sheet-pan meal).

The idea is not to necessarily follow every recipe to the letter, rather to let them inspire you and provide a framework from which to create multiple easy meals. Focus on these kinds of recipes to help make it happen (click on the links below for Guiding Stars-earning recipes):

Once you’ve got a few basic meals and ideas for the leftover ingredients, give your plan the once-over. Be sure to have extra veggies and fruit on hand to round out the meals with more fiber and nutrients.

Step 4: Cross-Check Your Meal Plan With the Store Sales

This step is optional, but one that I always employ because it saves me money. Once I have a basic idea for several meals to make during the week, I check the store flyer for sales on the primary ingredients I need. You can also start your meal selection process the other way around. First see what’s on sale, and then choose the meals you plan to make based on those items. And stock up on sale items that you tend to use often and keep well. (For me that’s ground turkey, quinoa, and canned beans.) Other multi-purpose staple items to consider purchasing if you find a good sale include:

  • Pasta, rice, and other grains
  • Lentils and beans
  • Fruits and vegetables of all kinds
  • Eggs, milk, and yogurt

As always, you can compare the nutrient density of many foods and beverages by checking their Guiding Stars. You’ll find them on the shelf tags, store signage, and store-brand packaging at participating grocery stores

Step 5: Make Your Final Grocery List

If you already started a grocery list when taking your inventory, you’re nearly done. All you need to add are those items you’re missing from the recipes you’ve chosen to prepare for the week. Check the recipes and finalize your list (don’t forget any crucial spices). Then feel good about using a list! For one, you’ll be less likely to forget things. And when you shop with a list, you make fewer impulse purchases—better for your health and your wallet.

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

Image: Chippy Chili – 2 Guiding Stars

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Guiding Stars: A One-Trip Grocery Strategy for Multiple Easy Meals

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Kitty Broihier

I always find the topic of meal planning to be polarizing. You’re either a fan who finds it valuable or it’s your idea of monotonous drudgery. But I’m here to say there’s more than one way to meal plan. I’m sharing a simple process that relies on one well-planned grocery shopping trip and a handful of cook-once, eat-twice recipes. Follow the map and you’ll be set up for a week’s worth of balanced, Guiding Stars-earning meals.

Step 1: Look at the Week Ahead

This is one of my top tips for making sure you don’t end up ordering pizza or getting take-out (again). The idea here is to take away some of the burden of feeding yourself well by pre-planning the biggest or most complicated meal of the day ahead of time. For many of us, that meal is dinner, but if that’s not true for you, plan for whichever meal is typically the most time-consuming or difficult to prepare. And if you have social obligations or evening activities that include dinner out, you’ll have fewer main meals to plan and prep.

Step 2: Take an Inventory

Check your refrigerator and make a note of any foods that need to be used this week. While you’re there, start a grocery list and add any staple items that need replenishing. Do the same with your pantry staples, then move on to your freezer. What do you have on hand for frozen veggies, and protein items like meat, fish, and poultry? Get an idea of what you have to work with so you don’t over-buy while shopping.

Step 3: Choose What to Make: Focus on Double-Duty Recipes

One way to make a full week of meals feel easy is to cook foods that work in multiple meals. This saves time and effort, and decreases food waste. (And if you get the ingredients on sale, you’ll save money too.) For example, say you notice that you have a good supply of frozen chicken breasts on hand. So you decide to make a sheet-pan meal using chicken breasts as the protein along with a couple of vegetables. Not sure which veggies to cook? Look for another recipe (check the Guiding Stars recipe collection online) that could use leftover cooked chicken breast and pre-roasted vegetables. Perhaps something like this easy Chicken Mushroom Skillet (swap the frozen veggies for the pre-cooked ones from your sheet-pan meal).

The idea is not to necessarily follow every recipe to the letter, rather to let them inspire you and provide a framework from which to create multiple easy meals. Focus on these kinds of recipes to help make it happen (click on the links below for Guiding Stars-earning recipes):

Once you’ve got a few basic meals and ideas for the leftover ingredients, give your plan the once-over. Be sure to have extra veggies and fruit on hand to round out the meals with more fiber and nutrients.

Step 4: Cross-Check Your Meal Plan With the Store Sales

This step is optional, but one that I always employ because it saves me money. Once I have a basic idea for several meals to make during the week, I check the store flyer for sales on the primary ingredients I need. You can also start your meal selection process the other way around. First see what’s on sale, and then choose the meals you plan to make based on those items. And stock up on sale items that you tend to use often and keep well. (For me that’s ground turkey, quinoa, and canned beans.) Other multi-purpose staple items to consider purchasing if you find a good sale include:

  • Pasta, rice, and other grains
  • Lentils and beans
  • Fruits and vegetables of all kinds
  • Eggs, milk, and yogurt

As always, you can compare the nutrient density of many foods and beverages by checking their Guiding Stars. You’ll find them on the shelf tags, store signage, and store-brand packaging at participating grocery stores

Step 5: Make Your Final Grocery List

If you already started a grocery list when taking your inventory, you’re nearly done. All you need to add are those items you’re missing from the recipes you’ve chosen to prepare for the week. Check the recipes and finalize your list (don’t forget any crucial spices). Then feel good about using a list! For one, you’ll be less likely to forget things. And when you shop with a list, you make fewer impulse purchases—better for your health and your wallet.

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

Image: Chippy Chili – 2 Guiding Stars

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