Mastering Your Meal Prep

Food Prep vs. Meal Prep

Food Prep: Prepare food individually to conveniently be able to put together a meal later on.

Meal Prep: Preparing a whole meal so you can just heat and serve later on.

I learned the hard way that even the smallest preparation is a huge key to success. Continue reading to find out just a few of the benefits of meal/food prep.

The Benefits Of Food Prepping:

1. Diet / Weight Control

Whether you’re flexible dieting, intuitive eating, keto, paleo or any other subcategory under diets, whether you meal prep or food prep it helps you stay on track. It helps you balance out your meals ensuring you get proper nutrition. It helps you stay on track with your micronutrients so you’re not grabbing the convenient foods out of hunger and realizing it was all carbs and fats and little protein. It helps you from getting unplanned takeout because you’re just so tired and #life and the last thing you want to do is cook dinner.

2. Money Saver

I buy all the groceries and for a family of 5 with 2 out of 3 picky kids and 2 foodie adults, you can only imagine how steep it can get #justtakemypaycheck .

Planning your meals ahead of time saves you money because you’re not buying a bunch of different items hoping you can throw something together, everything you buy has a purpose. Prepping some of it saves you money because then it’s easier to throw together during your busy week. So instead of spontaneously stopping by the new restaurant that opened up in town and wasting your groceries (read: already spent money) you go home and are able to quickly get things rolling for probably fewer calories, cleaner ingredients, and you’re not spending money on the same meal twice.

3. Stress / Convenience

Life is stressful. You work, you take care of your health, you try to have a social life, maybe you’re married, maybe you have kids... and then you’re expected to cook and clean and pay the bills and don’t you dare forget to do a little self-care too! We put a lot on ourselves and the last thing you want to do on top of it all is worry about what you’re going to eat next. I read something on Instagram recently and I wish I could remember where it came from but it went something like this:

You would feel exhausted if you had to change your clothes 3-5 times a day so of course you will feel exhausted thinking about changing your meals/snacks 3-5 times a day.

Stop doing this to yourself. Get organized and get consistent. Leave the weekend to try something new but keep your week hectic free and keep it simple!

Download your own template (click image)

Meal Planning

1. Pick a protein

2. Keep it simple

Pick a protein. Every meal should be built around protein. According to Healthline protein helps you lose weight naturally by reducing your hunger hormone, cuts cravings, prevents muscle loss & metabolic slowdown, and more. Pick 1 source of protein for each mealtime of the week (ex. Breakfast: Eggs, Lunch: Deli Meat, and Dinner: Chicken).

Again, keep it simple by eating the same thing for Monday-Friday. If you can’t imagine yourself doing that then at least stick to the same protein source at the same time of the day and keep your meals really simple focusing on the 3 macronutrients: Protein, Carb & Fat.

Shopping

Make a grocery list based on your meal plan and be specific!

Ex. Chicken Breasts 2.5lbs

Lunch Meat 10oz

Sweet Potatoes 5 at 200g each

This way you buy exactly what you need. If it’s not on your list, don’t get it! If you see something and you’re like “oh man, wish I thought of having that!” Then write it down and work it in on the weekend or next week but don’t buy it yet. Also, if you can buy in bulk then that’s the best bang for your buck. You can always freeze whatever meat you don’t use.

Random Tips

1. Don’t put lids on while the food is still hot, it builds condensation.

2. When Prepping consider the longevity of the food.

3. Not random, more repetitive but I really want to drive this home - DO NOT OVER COMPLICATE!! Simple is better ESPECIALLY if you’re just starting out.