How To Start Meal Prepping
Meal prepping has become a popular trend in recent years, and for good reason. This practice involves planning and preparing meals in advance, usually for the week ahead, and has a number of benefits for those looking to eat healthy, save time, and reduce stress. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of meal prepping and provide tips for getting started.
Benefits of Meal Prep
Benefit 1: Healthier Eating
One of the biggest benefits of meal prepping is that it can help you eat healthier. By planning and preparing your meals in advance, you have more control over what you eat and can make healthier choices. You can choose fresh, whole ingredients, and avoid the temptation to grab fast food or unhealthy snacks when you're short on time. Additionally, meal prepping allows you to control portion sizes, which can be important for weight management. This is one of the reasons why meal prep for weight loss can be so effective.
Benefit 2: Time-Saving
Another benefit of meal prep meals is that it can save you time. Instead of spending time each day thinking about what to eat and preparing meals, you can do it all at once for the week. This means less time spent in the kitchen, more time for other activities, and less stress overall. Plus, you can prepare your meals in bulk, which can save money on groceries in the long run.
Benefit 3: Reduced Stress
Meal prepping can also help reduce stress. When you have a plan in place for what you're going to eat, you don't have to worry about making decisions at the last minute. This can be especially helpful if you're busy or have a lot on your plate. Keep reading for some yummy lunch meal prep ideas and breakfast meal prep options too!
Additionally, knowing that you have healthy meals ready to go can help reduce stress and anxiety related to food and eating.
Tips for Getting Started with Healthy Meal Prep
If you're new to meal prepping, here are some tips to help you get started:
Choose a day to prep: Pick a day of the week to plan and prepare your meals. This could be a weekend day or a weekday evening.
Plan your meals: Decide what you want to eat for the week and make a list of the ingredients you'll need.
Shop for ingredients: Buy all the ingredients you'll need for the week.
Prep your meals: Cook your meals in bulk and portion them out into containers. You can also chop veggies and prep other ingredients to save time during the week.
Store your meals: Store your prepped meals in the fridge or freezer, depending on when you plan to eat them.
Easy Meal Prep Ideas
If you're looking for easy healthy meal prep ideas, here are a few to get you started:
Overnight Oats: Overnight oats are a great option for a quick and easy breakfast. Simply mix rolled oats with milk or yogurt, and add your favorite toppings like fruit, nuts, or honey. Put it in the fridge overnight, and you'll have a ready-to-go breakfast in the morning.
Mason Jar Salads: Mason jar salads are a convenient way to have a healthy lunch on hand. Layer ingredients like lettuce, veggies, and protein in a jar, and add dressing to the bottom. When you're ready to eat, just shake the jar to mix everything together. Meal prep salads are a great way to get all your colors into your meals!
Slow Cooker Chicken: Cooking a batch of chicken in a slow cooker is an easy way to have protein on hand for meals throughout the week. Simply season the chicken with your favorite spices, and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken and use it in salads, wraps, or as a protein for a dinner dish.
Vegetable Stir-Fry: Stir-frying a mix of vegetables is a simple and healthy meal prep option. Cut up your favorite veggies, like broccoli, peppers, and onions, and cook in a wok or large pan with a little oil. You can add protein like chicken or tofu, and serve over rice or quinoa.
Roasted Vegetables: Roasting a batch of vegetables is an easy way to add a healthy side dish to any meal. Cut up vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts, and toss with oil and seasoning. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until tender.
These easy and cheap meal prep ideas can help you save time and eat healthier throughout the week. What’s more is that almost all of the savory options can be stored as freezer meal prep too. Experiment with different ingredients and recipes to find what works best for you.
Conclusion
Meal prepping is a great way to eat healthier, save time, and reduce stress. By planning and preparing your meals in advance, you can take control of your diet and make healthy choices. If you're new to meal prepping, start with simple meals and gradually build up to more complex dishes. With a little planning and preparation, you can set yourself up for success and make healthy eating a habit.
It’s recommended to start your week with a weekly meal prep menu so you have meal prep ideas for the week ready to go. It takes a lot of the intimidation out of this otherwise daunting task and makes it super easy! Eventually, when you start recording all your ideas weekly, you’ll end up creating your very own meal prep manual! Happy prepping!