‘Meal prepping’ is one of those buzzwords that’s been floating around for a few years now, but many people don’t know where to start. Planning and preparing your meals ahead of time is a great way to free up spare time and create a routine while improving diet quality. It can also be more cost-effective. Meal prepping for weight loss can also be an easy way to stay on track of your eating habits. Here are some meal prep tips and tricks we’ve picked up:
Get Clear on Eating Clean- Before you start planning what meals you want to prep, figure out what ingredients will be essential for getting the right nutrients and a balanced diet. In simple terms, a clean diet should include whole foods that aren’t too processed or contain too much sugar and refined fats. There should be a rainbow of fruits and veggies included, and plenty of protein-rich foods like tofu, lentils, and other whole grains.
Figure out What you Like- There’s no point in preparing meals that you’re not going to enjoy! Look around on Pinterest or Instagram for recipes that look yummy. Typically, most meals will last about 3-5 days in the fridge, so do your research on what types of meals include the right amount of healthy ingredients but will keep for the desired amount of time and still taste fresh enough. Some easy ones include roasted chickpeas and veggies, fried tofu or tempeh, salads, and different soups.
Make a Routine and Plan Ahead- If it helps, you might even want to draw it out on a calendar to visualise when and what you’re going to make. You’ll soon get into a weekly rhythm for preparing your meals, and the process will become quicker and quicker. Sticking to a weekly meal-prep schedule and planning ahead will also mean you can seamlessly incorporate new recipes into the mix if you feel like changing it up.
Buy in Bulk, and Invest (if you can)- Buying in bulk will really help out cost-wise and will reduce the number of times you need to visit the supermarket. Having a bulk inventory of things like rice and kinds of pasta will mean you can be more flexible with your recipes without the need to go out and buy a whole new shopping list every time you want to change it up. If you have the means, it may be helpful to invest in some durable Tupperware containers that can withstand many years of meal prep.