Meal prepping, you've probably heard of the term already. It's all-over social media, some people swear by it, others roll their eyes at the thought of spending Sunday afternoon chopping veggies and some just love watching it on TikTok because it's aesthetically pleasing. But what's the deal? Is it just another internet trend, or could it actually make your life easier (and your fridge a little less chaotic)?
Meal prepping what?
Simply put, meal prepping is the art of planning and preparing your meals in advance. Whether that means cooking full dishes ahead of time or prepping ingredients to save yourself the hassle during the week.
Why? That takes so much time
Basically you choose one day in the weekend when you have all the time in the world (or let's pretend that you do). And you start cooking for the whole week. I can hear you think: "Why would I ever give up half a day of my weekend to cook?". But it's not just about cooking, it's about prepping in a smart way. Say you're planning to have rice with broccoli and chicken. Instead of rushing to make it from scratch on a busy Thursday night. You season and bake the chicken in advance, cook the broccoli, freeze it all and boom future you is winning in life. When dinner time rolls around, all you have to do is cook some rice, and voila! More time to binge your favorite show instead of staring into the fridge wondering what to eat.
Meal prepping doesn't just save you time, it saves you money too. No more wandering the supermarket aisles, grabbing random snacks you think you need. With a solid plan, you'll know exactly what to buy. Meaning fewer impulse purchases and way less food waste. Your wallet and the environment will thank you.
Not convinced yet? Alright, let's try another angle. Thinking about eating healthier? Meal prepping makes it so much easier. You're in control of your portions and ingredients, meaning fewer last-minute "oh well, I'll just order pizza" moments. Just one tip: don't do your meal planning while craving a burger (trust me, the planning will not look so healthy). And whatever you do, never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach unless you want your cart to be 50% snacks. Stick to your plan and you're all set for a week af balanced eating. And if you really don't trust yourself in a grocery store, try Collect & Go.
Sounds great... But how do you actually do it?
Let's break it down slowly so you don't find yourself buried in Tupperware containers.
Start a Pinterest board (if you haven't already) and collect recipes throughout the week. Then, every Friday (or whatever day feels right), plan your meals for the week ahead. Make an easy week menu and make your shopping list based on that.
This one's a no-brainer, but when you're prepping for the first time, don't forget your containers. You'll need them to store all that deliciousness you just made (and keep your fridge from turning into a food warzone).
Now comes the fun part: the cooking itself. Pop on your favorite podcast, and let's get started. Chop your veggies, cook your meat, boil the rice,... It's totally up to you how much you want to prep in advance. Once everything's cooked, separate it into containers and don't forget to label. Trust me, you don't want to pull out your lasagna from the freezer only to realize once it's defrosted it's actually chicken and broccoli. Then add the date, and you're all set to freeze it and chill. No more worrying about food for the rest of the week.
- Step 4: enjoy the rest of the week
Now that you've conquered the art of meal prepping, it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. When the week rolls around, all you need to do is pop your prepped meals into the microwave or reheat them on the stove, no stress and no mess. Your week is about to be a whole lot smoother.
Happy prepping! :)
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