Although the concept is simple, many people find meal prepping difficult to master. Not only does it take a lot of discipline, but a certain strategy is needed when shopping at the grocery store. How can a person truly master the art of meal prepping? Follow this meal prepping guide and the results will follow.
Create a Plan
Having a specific plan in place when starting with meal prep is extremely important. Consider specific goals you have in mind. Is the goal to lose a set amount of weight? Does each meal need to come in under a certain price point? When will these meals be consumed? Ask yourself all these questions and more before fully committing. Meal prep takes a lot of time and effort, so without a plan, it is easy to give up. Once goals are put into place, it becomes a lot more attainable. After a few weeks of meal prepping, it is easier and easier to stick to the plan without thinking about it.
Learn to Buy in Bulk
One of the biggest advantages of this meal prepping guide is the overall savings if done correctly. One of the best ways to save is to buy in bulk. Certain items can’t be purchased too far in advance, but certain essentials should be stocked up on. What are some easy options to purchase in bulk? Anything frozen is going to have a long shelf life. Dry ingredients that go in the cupboard also last a very long time. Purchase the core essentials once and there is no reason to make another purchase any time soon.
Experiment with seasonings and spices. A major complaint with meal prepping, is that meals can become a bit too repetitive. Chicken with broccoli again? It becomes tempting to cheat on the plan and purchase food elsewhere. To switch things up, experiment with seasonings and spices as often as possible to create new recipes. There are a lot of interesting varieties to choose from, and they are extremely inexpensive. Once you find a few you like, that automatically increases the meal options.
Avoid Over Prepping
Yogurt, avocado, and pesto all do not do well in meal prep setups. They lose their flavor and consistency. Avoiding using foods in certain settings if they do not smell pleasant in the microwave. Don’t be the person stinking up the office kitchen with smelly food. While a lot of foods are usable in meal prepping, others just don’t work. Either use these foods right away, or only consume them when not doing a meal prep meal.
A Word from GR8NESS
Have fun with cooking. Don’t look at meal prepping as a chore. Instead, show some creativity and try different combinations. There is a wealth of information online for people who are struggling to come up with inspiration. The same meal every single day can make anyone frustrated, but a creative mind can go a long way. There will undoubtedly be a few miss-hits, but it is all worth finding a cool new combination in the end.