5 Simple Steps to Start Meal Prepping

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Meal Prepping in 5 Simple Steps

I think we can all agree that we could use more hours in our day…am I right?!? Especially in the kitchen where mealtime seems to come around all too quickly. One thing that has saved me from running to the drive-thru or eating cereal for dinner is meal prepping.

Meal prepping not only helps me stay on track with my nutrition but saves me TIME + MONEY.

It saves time because you spend 2 hours prepping your food for the week on Sunday and don’t have to cook the rest of the week…freeing up HOURS during the week! No more stressing out about what to eat or when you are actually going to make dinner. It’s already done.

It saves money because you are buying exactly what you need to prep, which leads to less waste and spares you from wasting money at the drive-thru or going out to eat.

It’s a total win-win situation.

What is Meal Prepping?

Meal prepping is preparing your meals ahead of time. So on those busy weeknights, instead of a TV dinner, you can grab your healthy, better for you, clean-ingredient dinner to reheat and enjoy.

The idea is that instead of reaching for processed foods or junk food you will eat the healthy food you prepared ahead of time. This helps you stay on track with your nutrition and reduces the stress of “what’s for dinner?” each night.

Start Small

Before you start meal prepping, it’s important to remember that it’s okay (and actually a good idea) to start small. Too often people get overwhelmed or want to make too many changes and then quit. Start prepping breakfasts firsts and then when you feel comfortable add in lunches.

Just like New Year’s resolutions fizzle by the end of January because we try to change too many things at once…like work out every day or cut out carbs (even though we haven’t been to the gym in years and we live on carbs). What happens? We quit. We added too much too quickly. The same idea applies to meal prepping.

5 Simple Steps to Start Meal Prepping

5 Simple Steps to Start Meal Prepping

If you hate cooking, want to save time in the kitchen, or just simply want to make healthy meals for you and your family, here are my top 5 steps to start meal prepping.

1. Pick a Day

Before starting, you’ll want to choose a day that works best for you and add it to your calendar. That way you have it planned out and won’t forget or skip over it.  It won’t (nor should it) take the whole day to prep – just a couple of hours. Most find Sunday works great because they’re off work and can spend a couple of hours in the kitchen preparing for the week.

Find a day that works best for your schedule.

2. Use the Right Containers

Choosing the right containers will make meal prepping so much easier and more convenient. I love using these containers from Freshware because they have two compartments, are easy to take to work, and they stack nicely in the fridge for easy storing.

I also love big mason jars for salads. You can eat out of the jar or dump in a bowl and you’ve got a yummy meal.

Whatever containers you use, make sure they are BPA free, leak proof, and dishwasher safe.

3. Start with a Clean Kitchen

Take out the trash, empty the dishwasher, and clear the counter and sink of all dishes. Having clean countertops will make your work in the kitchen more efficient. It will also make cleaning up less of a chore if everything else is put away ahead of time.

4. Multi-Task

As a mom, we are already good at multitasking so this step should be an easy one. In order to only spend a couple of hours in the kitchen prepping, you must cook multiple things at once.

Look at your recipes, and see which one needs to bake the longest and add the chicken, sweet potatoes, and veggies to the oven all at the same time. Cook your quinoa and brown rice at the same time. While those are cooking, cut up any other veggies for salads. This will speed up the process and allow a shorter time in the kitchen a.k.a. more time watching Netflix in bed (who’s with me!?!)

5. Create Your Menu

This is no doubt the hardest part, so start small. Choose a few of your favorite meals to cook and prep ahead of time. See how it goes, and build upon that the next week by adding breakfasts to your meal prep routine.

One of my favorite meals to meal prep is this Cilantro Lime Chicken because it makes a ton and can be used for tacos, salads, or enjoyed on its own. Another easy meal prep recipe {and the most made recipe on my blog} is this Garlic Basil Chicken with Tomato Butter Sauce.

What about you?

Are you ready to keep your nutrition on track and save yourself some time and money?

I’d love to hear your experience with meal prepping. Have you tried it before?

Photos by Aly Carroll

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