10 Tips To Make Meal Prepping Easy

Meal prep is becoming more and more popular as more people learn about its benefits. Meal prep involves planning and preparing several meals at once, which then requires only simple steps to prepare each day. Meal prepping takes dedication and planning, but it will save you money, effort, and time in the long run. Your health will benefit from the proper nutrition, too.

Whether you just want to start prepping your lunch for the week so you can avoid the office cafeteria, or you want to create accountability and purpose for your diet, meal prepping is a great way to do this. In fact, I'm doing it myself.

Meal prepping is a process that varies for each individual. Still, these meal prep tips for beginners can be helpful to anyone who wants to make healthy eating easier.

Make Meal Prepping Easy! 

1. Start Small

   It can be intimidating to make a meal plan if you've never done it before or have been away for a long time. Making a habit of meal planning is similar to making any other significant adjustment in your life. Starting small and gradually increasing your confidence is a fantastic strategy to ensure that your new habit persists.

   To get started, plan up a few simple snacks or meals for the following week. You will eventually learn which planning tactics work best for you. You may gradually expand your schedule by adding additional meals as needed.

2. Get Organized

   Any great meal plan must start with good organization. Every aspect of meal preparation is made easier when you have an organized kitchen. From creating recipes to shopping for ingredients, you'll always know where everything is and where you can find it quickly.

   There is no one-size-fits-all solution for organizing your food prep spaces. Make sure it's a system that suits your needs.

3. Consider Each Food Group

   Whether you're planning meals for a month, a week, or just a few days, it's important to include foods from each food group in your plan.

   The perfect meal plan includes wholesome foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, protein, and good fats while avoiding refined grains, excessive sugars, and unnecessary salt. Consider each of these food groups as you look through your favorite recipes. Do your best to fill in any gaps that may exist.
   

4. Pick Recipes With Shared Ingredients

   Look for ingredients that may be used in a variety of recipes. For example, quinoa can be used as a side dish, in salads, or in a lunch bowl. Roast chicken can be served as an entrée, in soup, or in sandwiches throughout the week. You can also freeze any leftovers if there are any.

5. Plan For Leftovers And Repurpose Them

   It's better to make more food than you think you need so that you can have some for later. Making a few more servings of whatever you're cooking for dinner, you'll have lunch for the next day without any additional effort.

   If you dislike leftovers, consider how you may repurpose them so that they no longer feel like leftovers. For example, you may use leftover roasted chicken for tacos, soup, or salad toppings the next day.

6. Invest In High-Quality Storage Containers

   One of the most important pieces of meal prep equipment is a food storage container. Working with a pantry brimming with mismatched containers and lidless containers might make the meal prep procedure irritating. Investing in high-quality containers is well worth your effort and money.

   Consider the intended usage of each container before making a purchase. Choose freezer-safe, microwave-safe, or dishwasher-safe containers if you intend to freeze, microwave, or clean them in a dishwasher.

   Glass containers are both environmentally friendly and microwave-safe. They're readily available in shops and online. It's also helpful to have a collection of sizes for various foods.

7. Pre-Portion Your Meals

   You can save time over the week by dividing large meals into single servings that are ready to go. It can also help you avoid overeating. Fill a resealable plastic bag or a glass container with each serving. Stews, soups, and broths can also be poured into silicone muffin molds, frozen, and then popped into a plastic bag once hardened. Then, simply reheat and serve when ready.

8. Scheduling When You'll Do The Cooking

   Meal prep can seem overwhelming, and if you're not careful, you could waste a whole day preparing food. Therefore, I feel that your meal-prep sessions should be brief. Sunday mornings, I usually set the timer for 2 hours. Two hours is all I have time for, and after that, I can enjoy my weekend knowing that I've prepared myself well for the forthcoming week. You'd be surprised at how much you could accomplish in that time!

9. Learn To Multitask

   When people first begin food prep, they frequently focus on a single task, which is OK, but it sometimes takes them much longer to complete their food prep, which can be discouraging. Once you've done that a few times and be more comfortable, multitasking in your kitchen is a real game-changer. I usually always have something cooking on the stove, baking something in the oven, cooking something in the crockpot, and something on the counter at the same time. This enables you to accomplish more in less time.

10. Ask For Help

    It can be challenging to stay motivated to prepare a new meal every week, but you don't have to go it alone. If you're responsible for preparing meals for the whole family, don't be hesitant to ask for input from your loved ones.

    If you're cooking primarily for yourself, ask your friends what they're making or look for inspiration online, such as on social media or through food blogs.

One More Tip!

The last meal prep tip that I would like to share with you is to remember that it is not a race but a journey. Rome wasn't built in a single day. So do not expect overnight results. It takes time to retrain your brain to know your triggers and push yourself away from those triggers. However, once you learn how to best prepare yourself for the week, it will become easier and more enjoyable. I hope these meal prep tips help you on your journey!