Looking for tips to successfully meal prep and plan? This blog post is for you! A successful meal prep and plan method can help you stay on track with your health goals and reduce stress about what to eat. Meal prepping does not have to be difficult or confusing. In this blog post, I share 7 easy tips to meal prep and plan.
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What is Meal Prepping?
Meal prepping involves planning, preparing, and portioning meals in advance to enjoy throughout the week. It typically includes cooking large batches of various ingredients and assembling them into ready-to-eat meals. By dedicating a specific day to prepare your meals, you’ll save valuable time during busy weekdays and be less tempted to reach for unhealthy options when hunger strikes.
What are the Benefits of Meal Prepping?
- Time Efficiency: By setting aside a few hours for meal prepping on the weekends, you’ll free up valuable time during the week, allowing you to focus on other priorities.
- Healthier Food Choices: Planning your meals in advance enables you to make conscious and nutritious choices, reducing the temptation to indulge in fast food or unhealthy snacks.
- Portion Control: With pre-measured meals, you can better manage portion sizes, preventing overeating and promoting weight management.
- Save Money: Buying ingredients in bulk and cooking at home can help you save money on dining out and reduce food waste.
- Reduces Stress: Knowing that your meals are ready to go eliminates the stress of last-minute meal decisions, especially on busy workdays.
What is Meal Planning?
Meal planning is the process of organizing and preparing meals ahead of time to meet specific dietary needs or preferences. It involves deciding what to eat for each meal, creating a schedule, and often includes making a shopping list for the required ingredients. Meal planning can help individuals and families save time, money, and reduce food waste by ensuring they have the necessary ingredients on hand and can avoid last-minute, unhealthy food choices. It also allows for better portion control and helps in achieving health and nutrition goals by promoting balanced and well-rounded meals.
7 Easy Tips to Successfully Meal Prep and Plan
1. Follow a weekly routine – Try having “Taco Tuesday” or “Pizza Friday” on a routine basis. This will help take the guesswork away from what to make for dinner. It doesn’t have to be the same each week either. “Taco Tuesday” could be beef tacos one week, chicken tacos the next, etc. “Pizza Friday” switch it up make a pizza casserole, tortilla pizzas, pizza stuffed peppers, etc.
2. Schedule when to grocery shop & plan your list– Knowing when the right foods will be purchased and what you are making can reduce any anxiety about having ingredients for meals or what to make. Grab one of my free weekly meal planners here. I like to plan what I’m making, write out the ingredients I need, then I’m huge into using Instacart to grocery shop. It saves me time and money! By not “browsing” I don’t add unnecessary items to my cart and I can stay on track with what we need and planned for. Get $20 and free delivery from Instacart. Use my code DMORREY1DC or click here!
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3. Make meals ahead – Make healthy meals early in the week that can be “reinvented” into another meal. For example, throw chicken in the crockpot early in the week and use it for salads, wraps, casseroles for later on in the week.
4. Convenience is key- Use convenient kitchen gadgets like a crock pot or air fryer and let it do all the work for you!
5. Use instant veggies– Buy fresh, pre-chopped vegetables sold in ready-to-cook packaging. FROZEN works too! Aim for vegetables that the only ingredient is the vegetable itself. Toss the bag directly into the microwave and then season your self (olive oil, butter, spices, etc.). This has to be my favorite meal prep tip because it’s so easy and convenient. Cauliflower rice and broccoli are frozen staples in my house!
6. Double your recipe – When you make your favorite meal, double the recipe and freeze for another day or use leftovers for lunches over the next few days.
7. Use meal prep containers– Meal prep containers help you stay on track, save you time and money and keep food portioned and ready to eat for those busy days! I personally like to use meal prep containers that have different compartments. Check out these 2 compartment containers and 3 compartment containers.
Embrace a Healthier Lifestyle With Meal Prep & Planning
Meal prepping and planning can be a game-changer for anyone seeking to simplify their daily routines and improve their overall health and well-being. By implementing these seven easy tips, you can streamline your meal preparation process, save time, and ensure you always have nutritious and delicious meals ready to go. Remember to start small, stay organized, and be flexible in your approach. Consistency is key, and as you establish this beneficial habit, you’ll experience the rewards of enhanced productivity, better nutrition, and the satisfaction of taking control of your culinary journey. So, let’s embark on this journey of mindful meal prepping and planning, empowering ourselves to embrace a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Happy meal prepping!
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