During both the scholastic and summer season, there is one life hack that I stick to religiously, and that is meal prepping. One of my best friends introduced me to this process a few years ago and it has been something I have kept in my tool belt of life hacks ever since. Meal prepping might seem a bit daunting at first, but once you realize both the time and money saved, it is clear how helpful it is.
The first step to helping your week’s meal and your wallet is to buy in bulk. This can be done at any store that offers a deal on big purchases. Personally, I buy my chicken (or meat of the week) from somewhere like Costco and put any excess product in the freezer to last until necessary. Once you have created the base of your meal by pairing a protein and a carbohydrate, you are then able to incorporate the produce of your choice. This is where the aspect of creativity plays in as there is an endless amount of variations, all depending on the produce you choose to include. The optimal produce to include is dependent on the time of the year, and I use the USDA Seasonal Produce Guide website to help me navigate what I should buy. This summer I have been focusing on bell peppers, summer squash, and zucchini, but it is important to buy an array of seasonal veggies to switch up the flavor, while maintaining the convenience of the process!
Especially while working from home, I am a firm believer in keeping a routine and process in our everyday lives. Meal prepping provides a structure to the beginning of the week, taking the list to the store and spending the rest of the Sunday in the kitchen with some culinary therapy. When we start our week with a schedule of what to eat and when, it discourages the 24/7 snacking that we are all prone to. Healthy meaningful meals are a great way to keep a positive and productive environment, so give it a try!