Meal Prepping 101 with a Twist
Let’s face it, It doesn’t always seem easy to prepare meals in advance due to our busy schedules and lifestyles. However, when you plan meals in advance, you better position yourself for success when pursuing a healthy lifestyle and weight loss. The ideas behind meal prepping are that you prepare more healthy and less processed foods. The following are a few strategies to help you better meal prep in advance.
1.) Select the right day. Choose a day that you can have at least a two-hour block to prepare foods as well as place them in containers without interruption from work, family, friends or other commitments. You will want to do this twice in one week so that you are not preparing a week’s worth of meals in one day.
2.) Determine the recipes you want to use as well as the groceries needed to support them. Complete your grocery shopping. Remember you can save time by purchasing items pre-chopped. However, you can save money by chopping on your own in most cases.
3.) Use a scale to determine portion sizes based on your goals. Chop and divide items as applicable to support your meals. If you plan on preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner, start with breakfast and lunch preparation first.
4.) Proper storage is key. Therefore, invest in containers with divided sections so that you can neatly organize your food and ensure that it appears to be appetizing. Have divided sections also helps with portion control.
5.) When selecting containers ensure that they meet the following criteria:
-BPA Free
-Freezer Safe
-Dishwasher Safe
-Microwavable
-Stackable
-Reusable
6.) Start with simple and well-balanced meals. When thinking about recipes, think about your weight-loss goals, as well as the foods that you enjoy. Getting started with meal prep recipes can be difficult at first. Use sites such as Pinterest for inspiration. This article from Prudent Penny Pincher can help get you on the right track.
