Meal prep is something that might scare people off at first. This is especially true if you are new to the whole ordeal. Well, we are here to tell you that there is nothing to worry about. Meal prepping should not be confusing or intimidating. You can prepare as much or as little as you want without the pressure of spending too much money or getting fancy equipment.
That being said, we are here to help you with meal prep tips so that you can spend less time making food while having well-balanced meals throughout the week. Now, if you have questions regarding meal prep ideas and what to do, we will answer your questions and more in this article so read on!
Beginning your meal prep journey might seem difficult at first. However, the more you do it the more comfortable you will get. Now, here are our 10 meal prep tips that you should know.
Having a plan is crucial. Try to take some time out of one day each week to figure out your meal prep plan for that week. Adding this to your schedule will help you not to forget. Creating a shopping list before you go shopping is simply a must. If you go to the grocery store without a plan, you will spend an unnecessarily long time thinking on the spot. A good plan will easily turn into a positive habit and you will need less and less time each week to think of a meal plan.
Keep a tidy pantry at home and always keep an inventory of what you have. A pantry that is a mess will only serve as a nuisance. You will waste time searching for something that you need without even knowing if you have it. Dedicate different shelves for different food groups. Also, a good way to keep track of how many items you have left is to have a simple list. As you use up those items, simply cross that item on the list and you will know that you ran out so that you can put it on the shopping list later.
Meal prep is a great thing until you prepare the same meals for weeks in a row. Doing so is a great way to get sick of a certain meal pretty quickly. Rotating menus and having a variety of meals will help you keep things interesting. Simply switch out the protein in a dish to change things up. For example, switching chicken for some kind of fish will make the dish look and taste like a completely new one.
Shopping for ingredients that are in season will help you with the necessary nutrient intake. Certain produce is only available during a specific season. For example, during summer, focus on things such as tomatoes. Not only will they be cheaper, but they will also taste so much better when they are ripe. Meal prep salads can be really delicious during summer.
The biggest mistake you can make is to buy unnecessary things such as unhealthy snacks and drinks. Additionally, sticking to your list will help you avoid additional costs for things that you probably do not need. If you properly plan out your meals for the week, only buy what is necessary for that. Avoid shopping for long and especially avoid snack aisles so as to not get tempted.
Using proper containers will help to make your meals taste better. A container that has separate compartments is almost a must for some meals. This way you can control your portions easier and keep different food types separated. Additionally, make sure that the containers are microwave safe for when it is time to reheat them.
There is nothing worse than a bland meal. When you are meal prepping, try different herbs and spices, even a little bit can go a long way. Creating boring meals will only deter you from continuing your meal prep journey. Create flavorful meals that you will want to eat, not dread when it is time for lunch.
When you get comfortable with meal prepping, you can try preparing larger batches with multiple servings and perhaps even using starter kits from SimplyThick if you have swallowing difficulties. This is a great way to save time; just make sure that whatever you cook can sit in the fridge without going bad after a few days. Try to avoid things that can spoil quickly like eggs or milk products.
There are many people that are on the same journey as you. With so many blogs and communities on the internet, you will easily find one that you want to join and share your journey with others.
One of the last tips we can give you is to simply ask for help if you need it. Asking for someone to help you can provide you with some great healthy meal prep ideas which you did not think about before. The only thing you need to remember is that you do not have to do this alone.
