{"id":1140,"date":"2022-12-05T08:37:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T08:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitmencook.com\/?p=1140"},"modified":"2023-06-29T17:18:48","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T17:18:48","slug":"how-to-meal-prep-for-the-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitmencook.com\/blog\/how-to-meal-prep-for-the-week\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Meal Prep for the Week for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Meal prepping is one of the hottest<\/em> trends for home cooks. And rightfully so \u2013 it\u2019s a total game-changer for managing your diet! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking to improve your health, save time and money, reduce food waste, and have your meals for the week ready in one day, meal prepping is the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we\u2019ll guide you through the simple step-by-step process to get you up and going with meal prep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this beginner\u2019s guide to meal prep, you\u2019ll have all the information you need to get started with making a full week of meals from meal prepping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meal prepping is simply cooking meals or parts of meals ahead of time. Typically those meals are portioned out into individual containers that make them convenient grab-and-go meals later in the week. In addition to making a meal convenient, the portioning process also allows you to decide how many calories or what nutritional value goes into each meal. Most meal preppers will batch cook 3-7 days of food at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are SO many benefits to meal prepping<\/a>. Here are some of the top reasons to join the meal-prepping craze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re looking to lose weight<\/a>, bulk up, or make life easier, meal prepping can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best foods to meal prep:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t like a particular food, cooking it in bulk is probably not the best idea. Focus on simple recipes that you feel comfortable cooking. In fact, a great way to start meal prepping is doubling your favorite recipe and freezing half for later!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For meal prep ideas, here are some great options for meal prepping ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When grocery shopping, buy fresh, frozen, and canned foods, so you have a variety. Buying in bulk will also help you save money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you develop a meal prep routine, you\u2019ll find that your pantry and freezer stay stocked with many meal prepping staples. This makes planning and cooking easier from week to week. So, if you feel like you\u2019re investing in new items to get started, hold onto them for next week! Meal prepping builds to save you more and more time and money as the weeks go by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re just starting meal prep, keep it simple. All you need to give meal prepping a try is your basic cooking equipment and some quality storage containers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As meal prepping becomes part of your weekly routine, here are a few items that make meal prepping easy peasy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you feel really comfortable in the kitchen and want to invest in some helpful appliances, here are a few pricier items that are worth considering. Again, these are NOT required to get started. But if you\u2019re looking to level up or if you have these appliances already, they can definitely make prepping easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to meal prep for beginners, keep it simple and start with what you have. This hobby can certainly grow over time. But to get started, focus on establishing a meal prep routine with the items currently in your kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Start <\/strong>SMALL<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong> This is so important. Meal prepping can be a lifestyle change, and if you take on too much too quickly, you\u2019ll likely lose motivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Begin by doubling a recipe, making a large breakfast casserole to last throughout the week, or individually portioning a week of snacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After a successful week or two of prepping a few meals ahead of time, try tackling a full week of meals. Many meal preppers develop a routine of only cooking once or twice a week to cover all their meals!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a basic guide to get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make a menu. Write out which meals and days you\u2019d like for meal prep. Choose meals that are easy to cook, taste good reheated, and you can cook in bulk. Most people meal prep over the weekend, but the goal is to find a day that\u2019s convenient for your<\/em> schedule. Plan on a few hours in the kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a beginner, it\u2019s a great idea to repeat the same meal several times throughout the week. This gives you more meals with less cooking time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a healthy meal, shoot for a balance of complex carbs, lean protein, fruits, veggies, and healthy fat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re wanting to count calories, you can map all of that detail out for each meal while you create your plan. Meal prepping can be very successful without focusing on calorie count, but the beauty of meal prepping is that you can completely customize it to your own goals and preferences!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, whether you pull out a pencil and paper or you keep your plan in a spreadsheet, detailing the what<\/em> and when<\/em> is an important first step to getting you ready for cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you head out to the grocery store, check your fridge, freezer, and pantry for items you already have. Then make a shopping list to fill in the gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the benefits of meal prepping is eliminating those mid-week grocery runs. If you plan well, you should be able to grab everything you need in one stop. For another benefit of meal prep, you\u2019ll save money by buying items in bulk \u2013 especially when they\u2019re on sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prepare meals according to the recipe. If you\u2019re not king of the kitchen just yet, use simple recipes to get started. You\u2019ll find your confidence grows from week to week as you try new recipes and techniques. The Fit Men Cook Youtube channel<\/a> is a great way to have support in the kitchen as you get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where possible, batch cook ingredients. You can also chop veggies and fruits for easy snacking throughout the week. As a beginner, stick to just a few recipes at a time so cooking doesn\u2019t become complicated. If you\u2019re spending more than 2-3 hours in the kitchen, then it\u2019s time to simplify your menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Package up your food for the fridge and freezer. Remember to use microwave-safe containers if you plan on popping the meal straight into the microwave later in the week. Make sure your containers are airtight to keep your food fresh throughout the week. While some meal preppers store each food item or meal in its own container and then dish meals later, we\u2019d recommend portioning out your meals into individual containers right away. The buffet style of meal prepping dirties more dishes and takes away some of the convenience of the grab-and-go meal. To maximize the benefit of portion control, measure out and store individual meals so you\u2019re ready for the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s it! Four simple steps to get you started. Meal prepping isn\u2019t complicated, it just takes a bit of planning ahead. If you\u2019re ready to make meal prep work for you, get started with\u00a0these popular recipes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lingering questions? Here are answers to the frequently asked questions about meal prep to help you feel confident as you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The general rule of thumb is 4 days, when stored properly. Some foods can last longer. But if you want to prep food far in advance, consider using the freezer to extend the storage of your meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let the food cool down to room temperature and then portion meals out into airtight containers. Glass, plastic, and metal containers are all great for meal prep. But if you\u2019re storing food that will need to be reheated later in the week, consider that when selecting your container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best days for meal prep are the days that work for you! Most preppers tend to cook on the weekend and then again midweek. So a Saturday-Wednesday combo would be a good fit to keep your fridge stocked with goodness. If you don\u2019t want to cook multiple times, consider freezing portions of your meal prep for longer storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This may take a bit of trial and error. Your portions will depend on your body size, body type, and health goals. Once you figure out how much food you need, focus on the ratios: 1 part protein, 1 part carb, 4 parts fruits and veggies. You do NOT need to count calories to achieve your health goals with meal prep. Once you get into a rhythm, you should be able to eyeball portion sizes within your containers. Again, just experiment and find what works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Away from home, feel free to pop your container in the microwave. Some foods reheat better than others, but a minute or two in the microwave should be all you need to bring your meal back to life. When you\u2019re at home, you\u2019ll find better results by reheating in the oven or on the stovetop. But if that\u2019s too much work, the microwave is great at home as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most popular breakfast meal prep foods is overnight oats. If you\u2019re an oatmeal fan, it\u2019s like regular oatmeal. The main difference is that the oats soak up liquid overnight instead of cooking. We prefer bulk cooking our oats with this protein oats instant pot recipe<\/a>, though. Give both methods a try and see what you prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This depends on how many meals you\u2019re making and how many people you\u2019re cooking for. A week of lunches and dinners for two adults can take about 2 hours. Add breakfast or a really diverse menu and you could make it to 3 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely! Repeating meals is convenient, but if that bores you then don\u2019t do it. You can make a few individual meals ahead of time and still experience the benefits of meal prepping. You may want to use the freezer more in your meal prep routine so you can still batch cook and eat it at a later date instead of on back-to-back days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of our most popular meal prep recipes this year to get you started prepping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
WHAT IS MEAL PREPPING?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEAL PREPPING?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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WHAT ARE THE BEST FOODS FOR MEAL PREP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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WHAT TOOLS AND SUPPLIES DO YOU NEED?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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HOW TO COOK MEALS FOR A WEEK?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Meal Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Shop<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Cook<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Store<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
MEAL PREP FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Long Do Meal Prep Meals Last in the Fridge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Store Your Meal Prep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which Days are Best for Meal Prep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Figure Out Portion Size?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Reheat Meal Prep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are Overnight Oats?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Long Does it Take to Meal Prep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Should I Meal Prep If I Don\u2019t Want to Repeat the Same Meals?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
MEAL PREP RECIPES TO GET STARTED<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
High-Protein Breakfast Casserole<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n