Meal prepping is a great way to get prepared for the week ahead. It involves cooking and storing multiple meals in advance.

The goal is to save time and money by cooking more than one meal at a time. It also reduces impulsive buying at the grocery store and makes it easier to stick to a healthy diet.

Planning

Meal prepping is a useful way to cut back on cooking time and eat more healthily. It’s a common technique for people who attend the gym, are trying to lose weight or gain muscle, are athletes or simply want to eat a more balanced diet. It can be done in a variety of ways, from prepping entire meals to preparing individual ingredients for use in different meals throughout the week.

When starting meal prep, it is important to determine your goal and choose a day of the week to plan, shop and cook. Choosing one day will help you stay on track and prevent food waste. Ensure that you have enough space in the fridge or freezer to store your foods, as well as the right equipment.

It is also a good idea to invest in reusable, airtight food containers. Stackable containers and those that are microwave-safe will be more convenient and allow you to save space.

Prepping

A successful meal prep process is largely dependent on planning. This includes setting aside a block of time to shop, cook and store food. For instance, you can choose to dedicate Sunday mornings to grocery shopping and prepping meals for the week or select Monday evenings to make work lunches for the rest of the week. Choosing specific times will help you develop a routine and reduce impulsive purchasing, which can lead to unnecessary expenses.

In addition to reducing spending, a planned approach also helps you adhere to your nutrition goals and dietary lifestyles. This may be especially helpful for individuals who are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, manage diabetes or other health issues.

Meal prepping can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. You can prepare entire meals or simply ingredients such as grains, roasted vegetables and protein. You can even make a variety of dressings, sauces and soups to help you add some variety to your diet without cooking a whole new dish each week.

Cooking

Meal prepping can be as simple as cooking and portioning your leftovers for the week or as comprehensive as preparing 3-7 days of meals based on foods and recipes you enjoy. It’s best to plan your menu around your schedule, to ensure you don’t cook meals for days that you won’t be at home.

Planning your meal preps ahead of time can also help you save money. By bulk purchasing your ingredients when they are on offer or when in season, you can make a larger amount of food at once and store it for a later date.

You can also use containers that optimise space in your fridge and freezer, and ensure that your meals are stored at the right temperature (between -18oC and -18oC). This helps preserve the quality of your food and avoid any spoilage or defrosting issues. It can also help reduce food waste. You can also try to cook and prep your meals in the same day each week, reducing the amount of decision-making that you have to do on a daily basis.

Storing

The goal of meal prepping is to cook a variety of foods in advance and store them until ready to consume. This allows individuals to keep meals interesting and eat well, even when they’re busy. The process also minimizes food waste, a costly problem that affects many people.

The best way to store prepped meals is in airtight containers in the refrigerator or freezer until they’re consumed. Stackable and similarly shaped containers can help optimize space in the fridge or freezer. It’s also important to label each container with the contents and date of preparation. This will help individuals avoid confusion and food waste.

Meal prepping is a great way to save time and money, while still eating healthy. It also helps first responders stick to their dietary goals and reduces the stress of making last-minute food decisions. Investing in a good set of tools and techniques will make the meal prep process easier and more efficient.