As school starts back up, our schedules can quickly become overfilled with classes, assignments, extracurriculars, and work. That makes Postmates or UberEats seem like a logical choice, but in the long run, this can become really unhealthy and expensive. To help maintain some semblance of a balanced diet, I like to meal prep. I’m not an expert cook by any means, so here are some easy-to-follow tips and tricks to help alleviate the daunting pressure of meal prepping.
1. Write Down a Meal Plan for the Week
Before I even attempt to grocery shop or cook, I like to write down a plan for the week, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as any snacks. This way, I know exactly what I need to buy when I’m at the grocery store. This also gives me the chance to really assess which days will be busier, so I can prepare some easy-to-eat meals that will ensure that I won’t be tempted to order in.
2. Grocery Shop Accordingly
Once I have my meal plan written down, I like to dedicate a day to grocery shopping. I keep a list on my phone, so I don’t end up buying items that aren’t necessary for the meals I’m planning. This not only helps me stay within my budget, but it also prevents me from buying unnecessary items, which can end up being thrown away because I don’t eat them in time.
3. Portion Things Out Ahead of Time with Serving-Size Appropriate Containers
Meal prepping can look different for everyone, depending on dietary needs and restrictions, so I won’t go into too much detail about the whole process of preparing food. Instead, my next tip focuses on portioning out the meals once they’re ready. It can be tempting to leave a pasta or casserole in its original pan or tray, but I’ve found that this can discourage me from eating the meals I’ve prepared due to lack of convenience or just plain boredom at having to eat the same thing a few meals in a row.
This is why it’s so important to portion out the meals into serving-size appropriate containers. This not only makes it easier to just grab a container and pop it in the microwave, but it also prevents us from overeating. Plus, this also helps save time since we can just reach into the refrigerator and pick up an already packaged meal that just needs to be reheated.
What are some of your favorite meal prepping tips?