Regardless of if you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or just a healthy eater, meal planning is no easy task! However, the benefits of meal prep are clear: healthier portions, less stress, no time wasted thinking about lunch, the list goes on. So, here are some meal prep hacks that will make your life so much easier!
Meal Prep Planning
Yes, you need to begin with the most tedious part: panning. However, its imperative to plan carefully, reducing as much waste as possible and spending as little as possible on unnecessary items. This will truly make your costs drop! So, take an afternoon, most people use Sundays, and plan out all the meals you want. Type it our in detail, rotating every ingredient and how many portions you can get from a single meal.
Of course, planning out every single meal can seem overwhelming. If you’re feeling unsure, just start with one meal, like lunch or dinner. Meanwhile, even if you’re an advanced meal prep master, make sure to leave yourself some wiggle room. Whether it’s a cheat day, a pass day to eat out for one meal, or only not planning out our snacks, make sure you don’t box yourself out of your cravings.
Also, be sure to plan in some variety! While making sandwiches for every single meal might seem easy on Sunday, you’ll likely become bored by Wednesday. Foods that keep all week, like rice or soup, can be a savior if you’re looking for some midweek variety.
Shopping Hacks
By meal prepping, you’re likely going to begin seeing cash savings immediately. However, there are a few hacks to make meal prep an even better bang for the buck. When planning out your meals, look for recipes that use useful ingredients that can be served in a variety of versatile meals. Foods like potatoes, beans, pasta, and chicken, can be transformed into fantastic foods that taste nothing alike. So, even though you’re eating the same foods, you’ll never get bored!
Meanwhile, having a smaller shopping list not only means a lower bill. It also means you can stock up on certain foods in bulk at stores like Costco, saving even more. After all, if you know you’ll be using potatoes in all of your dishes over the next two weeks, no reason not to pick up a good amount at a discount!
The Act of Meal Prepping Itself
Of course, at some point, you’re going to have to prep the food! Again, most people choose Sunday evenings. Hopefully, you matched your sides with the main courses when planning on paper. However, if not, remember to keep the nutrients of each meal in check. Each should include at least one vegetable, some protein, and a dash of something high in starch. Outside of those rules, just have fun!
Also, as stated, do not bit off more than you can chew. While it might seem like a great idea on paper to make a dozen or so meals, once in the kitchen, everything can go sideways quickly. So, start off small! In no time, you’ll be using your slow cooker to make a protein, while another cooks in the other, and vegetables freeze.
Meanwhile, always keep an eye out for kitchen gadgets that can help cut down on meal prep time. Also, head online and look at meal prep groups on social media sites like Pinterest, Facebook, and Reddit. They are filled with great advice, links, and ideas! And, most of all, enjoy your meal!
Sources: HealthLine, Living101