In order to understand how to meal prep, we need to first define what meal prepping is. So, what is meal prepping? Well, meal prepping is the concept of preparing whole meals or dishes ahead of schedule. It’s popular amongst busy people because it can save a lot of time. Having pre-prepared meals on hand can also reduce portion size and help you reach your nutrition goals!
Ways to Meal-Prep:
Make-ahead meals: Full meals cooked in advance which can be refrigerated and reheated at mealtimes.
Batch cooking: Making large batches of a specific recipe, then splitting it into individual portions to be frozen and eaten over the next few months.
Individually portioned meals: Preparing fresh meals and portioning them into individual grab-and-go portions to be refrigerated and eaten over the next few days. This is particularly handy for quick lunches.
Ready-to-cook ingredients: Prepping the ingredients required for specific meals ahead of time as a way to cut down on cooking time in the kitchen.
What can/ can’t be meal prepped?
Roasted vegetables, soups, sauces, beans, nuts and sturdy raw vegetables make good bases for meal prep recipes
Soft vegetables, cut fruit and crunchy food like crackers will only get softer in your refrigerator which make them not great for meal prepping.
Tips
Use quality food storage containers to keep prepared food hot (or cold).stainless steel containers are often airtight and work best! They’re also BPA free.
Choose a specific day to meal prep, so it can become part of your routine and you’re more likely to stick to it!
Make a specific grocery list, so you’ll be able to go into the grocery store prepared. This will save you time and money!
Use recipes that have overlapping ingredients to make the most of your grocery list