“I guess it’s takeout for dinner again” has become an all-too-familiar thought for most of us in this fast-paced world.
Though we’d all love healthy, nourishing, homemade meals more frequently, takeout is simply more convenient. After a long day, finding the time, energy, or motivation to cook a whole meal from scratch can be difficult.
But what if there was a way to have delicious, homemade meals every day without spending each day in the kitchen? What if you prepared, cooked, and stored everything in advance and only had to throw it all on a plate when you’re hungry throughout the week?
That’s the beauty of meal prepping.
By dedicating a few hours each week to prepping meals in advance, you can save time, reduce stress, and eat healthier. Indeed, meal prepping can transform how you eat and live, whether you’re a busy professional, a student on a tight budget, or a health-conscious foodie.
Benefits of Meal Prepping
Meal prep is a great way to simplify your mealtime routine and take control of your health and well-being. Plus, meal-prepping really isn’t that difficult; with the right knowledge, tools, and lots of creativity, anyone can become a meal-prepping pro!
If you’re still not sold, here are some more benefits of meal prepping you simply can’t ignore:
- Save Time
By preparing your meals in advance, you can save yourself valuable time and energy during the week. No more scrambling to come up with something to eat after a long day at school or a hectic morning before work.
- Eat Healthier
When you’re short on time, it’s easy to turn to convenience foods that are often high in calories, salt, and sugar. But with meal prepping, you’re in control of what goes into your meals. You can choose fresh, whole ingredients and avoid preservatives and artificial additives.
- Save Money
Eating out and ordering takeout can quickly add up, but meal prepping is a great way to save money. By buying ingredients in bulk and preparing meals at home, you can stretch your dollars further and avoid the high cost of eating out.
- Reduce Food Waste
How often do you buy fresh produce only to let it go bad in the fridge? With meal prepping, you can use up ingredients before they spoil, reducing food waste and saving money.
- Hit Your Fitness Goals
Whether you’re trying to lose weight, build muscle, or simply eat a more balanced diet, meal prepping can help you stay on track with your goals. By planning and preparing your meals in advance, you can ensure that you’re getting the nutrients you need to fuel your body and reach your health goals.
How to Get Started With Meal Prepping
Meal prepping is all about doing enough preparation in advance so that you spend minimal time whipping up a meal. You could either prepare fully cooked, ready-to-be-microwaved meals, or you could prepare components of a meal and assemble it when you want to eat. The latter option lets you add more variation to your meals, but you might have to do a little more thinking and experimenting before getting it right.
Here are some other essentials for meal prepping.
Set Aside Time
Choose a day or time each week to dedicate to meal prepping. Whether it’s Sunday afternoon or Wednesday evening, make sure it’s a time that works for your schedule in the long run.
Buy the Right Tools
Meal prepping has never been easier with the help of handy kitchen gadgets and modern appliances. With the help of the right tools, your meal-prepping days will be a breeze. Here are some of the essential equipment to help you get started:
- Food storage containers
- Food processor
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Kitchen scale
- Slow cooker or pressure cooker
Plan Your Meals and Make a Grocery List
Plan out your meals for the week by considering your schedule, dietary preferences, and any special events or occasions. You can use a meal planner or simply jot down your ideas in a notebook. Go for meals that are easy to assemble, taste good when reheated, and check off your nutritional requirements.
Next, make a grocery list of the ingredients you’ll need. Go for ingredients that are long-lasting. Buy in bulk but don’t buy more than you can chew, lest it goes bad and you waste your money.
Prepare and Store Food Properly
Once your ingredients are prepped, it’s time to assemble your meals. Divide your ingredients into individual containers, and store them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to eat.
5 Meal Prepping Tips and Tricks
Start Small — If you’re new to meal prepping, don’t try to prep an entire week’s worth of meals all at once. Start with one or two meals and work your way up as you become more comfortable with the process.
Mix it Up — Don’t fall into the common trap of eating the same meals every week. Experiment with different recipes, ingredients, and cooking and storing techniques to keep things interesting.
Use Frozen Ingredients — Frozen vegetables get a bad rap, but they can be just as nutritious as fresh vegetables. Plus, they’re often more affordable and convenient. Stock up on frozen ingredients to make meal prepping even easier.
Pre-chop your veggies — Chopping vegetables is often the most time-consuming process of cooking, so try prepping them ahead of time. You can chop them all at once and store them in the fridge so they’re ready to use when you need them.
Double Up — If you’re making a recipe that freezes well, consider doubling the recipe and freezing half for later. This can save you time and effort in the long run.
Conclusion
Meal prepping has become increasingly popular as people seek ways to save time, eat healthier, and stick to a budget. By preparing meals in advance, you can ensure that you always have something nutritious and delicious to eat, no matter how busy your schedule.
And the best part? Meal prepping doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a few simple tips and tricks, anyone can learn to meal prep like a pro. So if you’re ready to say goodbye to the daily dilemma of what to eat, give meal prepping a try!
