Planning, prepping, and sometimes cooking several days’ worth of meals ahead of time has a number of proven advantages, from saving you time to helping you get a wider variety of nutrients in your diet.
For some, meal prepping will look like rows of identical multicolored meals packed neatly in glass containers. To others, this is overwhelming; particularly those with an all-ready busy life.
For me, meal prepping means having my produce cleaned and at the ready. When I go to the grocery store, before putting my food away, I clean and package all of my food. This process makes it super-simple to prepare a delicious home-cooked meal in minutes.
Meal prepping helps us with just living well, in general. When we put some thought into it, we’re more likely to pick up really nutrient-rich foods from the grocery store. Plus, when you eat at home, that means you’re not eating out — a practice that, research shows, can have negative health impacts if overindulged.
If you’re new to meal prepping, it’s important to create a plan that works for you. Most feel that a meal plan has to be this rigid structure, but it doesn’t have to be that. It’s really about understanding how to put together a balanced meal and making sure you have those components on hand.
The perks of meal prepping go well-beyond the plate and can seriously impact your life and health. So, the next time you wonder what’s for dinner, consider the difference you could make by planning ahead.
If you want to learn more about "how" to meal prep, click here for my Meal Prep 101 e-book which walks you through the process, step-by-step and even includes simply sheet-pan recipes.
Over the years, I have shared my tips and tricks to making meal prep a breeze and not an overwhelming experience. I promise you, once you make this practice a non-negotiable in your life, it will become a habit - just like brushing your teeth.
