{"id":1100,"date":"2022-12-16T05:18:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T05:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitmencook.com\/?p=1100"},"modified":"2023-07-01T16:28:01","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T16:28:01","slug":"how-to-meal-prep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitmencook.com\/blog\/how-to-meal-prep\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start Meal Prepping (Guide For The Beginners)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Many food trends come and go, but meal prepping is more than a trend. With meal prepping and meal delivery kits growing in popularity over the last two decades, meal prepping is now a way of life for many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This smart meal-planning method is particularly popular among busy people. You can save time and money by prepping your meals ahead of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if you\u2019re ready to level up your meal prep and eliminate the daily stress of \u201cWhat should I make for dinner?\u201d<\/em> then meal prepping is for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some meal prep ideas to get you started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meal prepping is just what it sounds like \u2013 prepping a meal. But instead of prepping the entire meal right before eating, you prep at least portions of the meal in advance so there\u2019s less work when it\u2019s time to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several different kinds of meal prepping \u2013 each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Your meal prep mantra should always be: \u201cDo what\u2019s right for ME.\u201d So whether you\u2019re hoping to free up time on your weeknights, reduce food waste, or better manage your diet, find which version of meal prep works best for YOU and YOUR goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meal prepping can fit any recipe or schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These different types of weekly meal prep options give you the flexibility you need for your diet and lifestyle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fully-cooked meals, typically including lean protein, complex carbs, and fruits and veggies. Portion these meals into a single-serving <\/strong>meal prep container.<\/strong> You simply reheat food at a meal time and you\u2019re ready to eat. This is a great method for people who use meal prep to manage a healthy diet. By portioning your meals in advance, you reduce the risk of overeating or grabbing unhealthy food options when you\u2019re hungry. Consider individually portioned meals for weight loss goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some cooks prefer to have ingredients ready to go for a variety of meals. Buffet-style prep does just that by bulk-cooking several ingredients that you can mix and match for <\/strong>easy meals<\/strong>.<\/strong> If you don\u2019t mind some repeat ingredients throughout the week, this is a great option to reduce weeknight meal prep without committing yourself to a specific menu. An example of buffet-style prep is cooking a bunch of chicken breasts, rice, and veggies at the beginning of the week. You can combine these ingredients into many different quick and easy meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to buffet-style prep, ingredient batch prep is making a large batch of a single ingredient. <\/strong>You may choose to use this prep straight from the fridge throughout the week. But often batch cooking goes to the freezer for long-term use. Making a sheet pan full of healthy meatballs and throwing them into a storage container for the freezer gives you healthy, homemade meatballs for months. It\u2019s great to load up your freezer with a variety of items like this to reduce cooking time later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like to use your slow cooker or have a family to feed, this method is for you. Typically, freezer meals use recipes that are simple and allow you to put all (or most) ingredients straight into a crock pot or instant pot. So when you make these recipes in advance, they are easy to prep by putting all of the ingredients in a food storage container (like a freezer bag) and popping it into the freezer to cook later. These one-pot recipes go straight from the freezer to the cooker. <\/strong>Some families load up their freezers with a variety of these meals to have on hand. Although you do need to remember to get the meal cooking early in the day, pulling these bags from the freezer takes less than five minutes and you have a hearty meal ready for your family on a busy weekday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re working with a lot of fresh produce, sometimes washing and cutting the produce can take twice as long as cooking. If you like your sweet potato fries right out of the oven, you may not want to cook them days in advance. But taking a minute over the weekend to wash and cut your produce can really speed up your weeknight cooking. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you prep a single ingredient or an entire meal, the benefits of meal prepping are undeniable! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The convenience of ready-to-go meals during the week is clear, but did you know there are many other benefits of meal prepping? <\/p>\n\n\n\n A meal plan can improve both your physical and mental health. Prepping meals in advance helps you save time and money, reduces stress, reduces food waste, and can help you in your weight loss or weight gain journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out more details on the benefits of meal prepping here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to start? Here\u2019s an easy step-by-step guide to meal prepping for beginners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meal prepping is a tool to help you achieve a variety of goals. Knowing your goals for meal prep will help guide you in picking recipes and cooking methods that make meal prepping really work for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some goals to consider are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Write down your goals and keep them in mind for the next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make a plan of which days, meals, and meal prep recipes you\u2019re prepping. You\u2019ll also want to decide which meal prep method you\u2019ll use for each meal. Keep in mind any events on your schedule that impact mealtime. If you plan to eat out with friends or need to work late several nights, make sure your plan accounts for these needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This step can be the hardest part for some people, especially for those who don\u2019t typically make a weekly menu. But the great thing about these plans is you can reuse them in the future. So once you have a few menus in place, rotating through them makes this step easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you have a plan in place, take a look at your fridge, freezer, and pantry to see what you need to buy. Make a list and head to the store for what you need. If you\u2019re used to several small grocery runs throughout the week, a single large trip can save you lots of time. It can also give you a bit of a shock at the checkout line since those smaller grocery runs are combined into a single bill. Don\u2019t worry. Many of the freezer and pantry staples you purchase will last several weeks. So a larger upfront investment will pay off over the weeks ahead. Shopping in bulk and looking for sales helps take the edge off of large grocery runs. Even if the initial bill seems higher than usual, you can save money on your overall monthly food costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Prep or cook the food according to the recipes you\u2019ve selected. Look for ways to save time by batch-cooking ingredients for multiple meals. If you\u2019re making freezer meals, consider making several meals worth to maximize your prepping time. Freezer meals can last in the freezer for months, so doubling or tripling a recipe is a quick way to prep more meals for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you\u2019ve allowed the food to cool down, store the food in airtight containers. You can portion out individual meals into a bento box or fill freezer bags with uncooked ingredients. Then pop them in the fridge or freezer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meal prepping doesn\u2019t have to be a big process or require an entire day in the kitchen each week. The key is to find what works for YOU. Again, think of your goals. Decide what will help you reach those goals easier. Then try it out. Make adjustments each week until you find your groove. Meal prepping is supposed to make healthy eating EASIER to do. So if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and simplify. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Start small, start simple, start with recipes you\u2019re comfortable cooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can meal prep any foods that store in the fridge or freezer without tasting nasty later. Meats, veggies, and starches are great foods to prep. Soups and sauces hold up really well during reheating too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re planning to prep and store fully-cooked meals, make sure your foods can hold up to a reheat. If you\u2019re prepping produce, consider how far in advance you\u2019re prepping and whether the produce will spoil more quickly after it\u2019s prepped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some foods to consider in your meal prep:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider meals that you can eat cold. Or make sure all foods stored in the same container can withstand a high-heat zap in the microwave. If you\u2019re eating at home, you\u2019ll have more flexibility to reheat items individually using the stove and oven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The quality of your food storage container is important. Make sure your container is airtight to keep food fresh longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pick the right container for your reheating needs. Don\u2019t use a stainless steel container if you plan on going straight from the fridge to the microwave. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a good idea to have a variety of sizes and container types to meet all of your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some tips to keep in mind as you select a container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Purchasing containers that stack well in your fridge and lunch bag will help you maximize your space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re struggling to eat a quality breakfast each day thanks to the rush of the morning, having grab-and-go breakfasts ready for you is the way to go! Here are a few breakfast recipes that will get your day started right without adding any stress to your weekday schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWHAT IS MEAL PREP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DIFFERENT WAYS TO MEAL PREP<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Individually Portioned Meals <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Buffet Style Prep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ingredient Batch Prep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Uncooked Freezer Meals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Uncooked Ingredient Prep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEAL PREPPING?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BEGINNERS\u2019 GUIDE TO MEAL PREP<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Know your goals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
2. Make a plan.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Go grocery shopping.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Make the food. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Store the food.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
WHAT FOODS CAN I USE WHEN MEAL PLANNING?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
PICKING THE RIGHT STORAGE CONTAINERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
BEST MEAL PREP RECIPES FOR BREAKFAST<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n