Meal prep can be a game-changer for anyone who wants to cook healthy meals at home. When you prepare meals, your fridge is stocked with ready-to-toss-in-the-pan ingredients that can be turned into a delicious dinner at the end of an exhausting day
The best part is that, with a few tricks up your sleeve, you don’t even have to invest that much time and energy into prepping the ingredients. Sure, you may have to sacrifice a few hours on Saturday, but this means you’ll have access to healthy meals all throughout the week.
However, many beginners find it too cumbersome and give up after the first try. So, if you’re easing your way into meal prep, we put together a few steps to help keep things running smoothly.
Choose Your Recipes for the Week
Every meal prep session starts with you planning the meals for the week. Without a plan, you don’t know what ingredients to buy and, therefore, don’t have anything to prep.
Now, the secret to a well-planned weekly menu is variety. First, variety is essential for nutritional balance. Second, it keeps food boredom at bay.
Imagine eating chicken and broccoli every day – even the biggest fitness enthusiasts would tire quickly. A diverse menu ensures you're getting a wide range of nutrients while keeping your taste buds excited
If you feel stuck in the same routine, sprinkle some excitement onto your culinary selection by exploring food blogs and cookbooks. Look up popular foodie influencers online, and you’ll find a wide range of dishes from different cuisines and dietary preferences.
Extra tip: Don’t forget about seasonal ingredients. They’re often fresher, tastier, and cheaper. For instance, in spring, try incorporating fresh asparagus or strawberries into your meals. Fall might inspire pumpkin-based dishes or hearty root vegetables.
Shop Smart (Tips to Improve Efficiency)
Yes, we know grocery prices are through the roof right now (especially if you’re trying to buy organic). However, you can keep the cost down and buy fresh and healthy products at the same time.
You just need to know how to shop smart.
Smart shopping starts with an organized grocery list that only includes the ingredients you need for your selected recipes. You won’t solve anything if your plan of shopping is wandering aimlessly through the aisles. In fact, this is a perfect waste of time and often leads to impulse buys that don't fit into your meal prep.
Start your shopping list by grouping items by store section - produce, dairy, grains, etc. This simple strategy minimizes backtracking and keeps you focused. Next, leverage technology to streamline your shopping.
Apps like AnyList or Mealime sync across devices and allow you to categorize items easily. They can even integrate with recipe databases, so adding ingredients is a breeze.
Another tip? Stick to one primary grocery run per week, supplemented by quick trips if necessary for fresh items like greens or dairy products. This approach saves time and helps maintain focus on your pre-planned meals rather than falling prey to last-minute decisions.
Get Help
Sometimes, life gets hectic, and meal planning and prepping just isn't feasible. That's totally okay! You don’t need to abandon your healthy eating goals. In fact, we would argue that this is a time when you need nutrient-rich meals cooked with high-quality ingredients.
To avoid paying a fortune in restaurants, look for alternatives. For instance, there are plenty of meal kit delivery services that deliver almost ready-to-cook meals right at your door. Furthermore, these services offer recipes tailored to your dietary needs, like EveryPlate's low-calorie menu (for instance).
This way, without the hassle of planning or grocery shopping, you can still enjoy delicious and healthy meals. It’s like having a sous-chef who does the legwork so you can focus on the fun part, which is cooking.
If you don’t feel comfortable with a meal kit delivery service or don’t have one for your area, you should consider investing in kitchen gadgets like slow cookers or Instant Pots. They allow for hands-off cooking while you tackle other tasks.
Time-Saving Habits to Consider
You only need a few tricks up your sleeve to cut down the time it takes to meal prep for the week. And we have quite a few of them!
Start with batch cooking. Spend an hour on Saturday or Sunday chopping veggies and storing them in airtight containers, preferably glass Tupperware. This way, they’ll stay fresh throughout the week.
Extra tip: Invest in good-quality storage containers. They keep food fresh longer and are easier to organize in your fridge.
Cooking staples like grains or proteins in large quantities can also save you from daily hassle. Make a big pot of quinoa or roast several chicken breasts, then mix and match them into different meals.
Lastly, don’t forget about your leftovers! With a bit of culinary ingenuity, they can become tomorrow’s meal, saving you the 30 to 60 minutes you would have spent cooking a new dish. For example, leftover roasted veggies can turn into a delicious frittata for the next day’s breakfast.
Wrap Up
Meal prepping can transform your kitchen routine and health game, but like any new habit, it takes practice. Don’t worry if it feels overwhelming at first - stick with it!
Start small, use our tips, and soon enough, you’ll find a rhythm that works for you. Even if you stumble initially, the benefits are worth it: more time during the week and nutritious meals at your fingertips. Give meal prepping a chance - you might just discover it's your new favorite cooking strategy!