Meal prepping has become a popular trend in recent years as individuals struggle to find time in the day to get work done and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Planning meals ahead of time can help you stick to your goals and save you time during a busy workweek.
Here, Christopher Lee, a Buffalo, New York fitness expert, discusses ways to build an easy, healthy, and affordable meal prep plan. He goes over the advantages of meal prepping and how to avoid getting bored with the process.
What is meal prepping?
Meal prepping is defined as preparing a week’s worth of meals simultaneously, then storing the food in individual containers separated by the day. Doing this not only allows for reduced food waste by preparing exact portions for each meal, but it also helps you stick to a diet or budget by enabling you to have home-cooked meals each night even when you are short on time. Meal prep essentially helps avoid the temptation of going out to eat as you already have food ready at home.
How to Begin
Meal prepping can take getting used to, so it’s best to start small. Begin by saving leftovers from dinner one night to eat for lunch the next day. Eating leftovers can help you recognize which foods you like to eat consecutively, and which ones store well in the fridge for more than a day.
You can start by making a simple recipe that incorporates all essential nutrients together, such as protein, grains, and vegetables. Recipes that combine those ingredients reduce the amount of time spent having to prep multiple dishes. You can determine what works best for you based on your unique dietary needs.
Before you even begin cooking, the first step is to plan your grocery list. As you think of recipes for the week, you can save money by selecting recipes that have overlapping ingredients. Specify a day or time that you will dedicate to prepping meals. Many people commonly set aside Sundays as a day to prep their meals for the week.
For meal prep, you will also need containers to store your food. Depending on your budget, these can range from simple plastic Ziploc containers to more complex glass dishes with individual compartments. If certain meals require sauces, salad dressings, or small servings of items, you can supplement small plastic bags or reusable containers. Separating liquids can help keep your meals fresh longer.
How to Avoid Meal Prep Fatigue
Eating the same thing over and over can get tiring, as well as spending the whole day in the kitchen. At the end of the day, you know how many times you can eat a specific food before burning out. Limit your recipe quantities to that amount, so you don’t throw out any meals. You can also avoid fatigue by making sure you are stocked up on essentials at home. Don’t be afraid to freeze meals for later or keep items in your pantry that will cut down on time.
About Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee is originally from Buffalo, New York, and is a certified personal trainer. Mr. Lee
helps his clients build muscle and improve their overall level of fitness. Christopher supports his clients as they revamp their health and fitness routines, increase their metabolism, and get stronger. His exercise programs and training sessions are designed to help clients build strength, athleticism, and agility so clients can enjoy the activities and sports they love pain-free.
Mr. Lee earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Sports
Performance from the University at Buffalo. Christopher Lee’s passion for living a healthy and active lifestyle has inspired him to educate his clients about the importance of regular exercise and science-based nutrition fundamentals.