In today’s busy world, it can be hard to find the time to think up and prepare 3 different balanced meals a day. The prep, cooking, and cleanup time can all make cooking more chore than fun. Meal prepping is a great way to save time, money, and the environment while getting a balanced meal in! If you’re new and want to learn the ropes, here are 6 simple steps to make your meal prepping easier!
- Start small
If you’re used to preparing every meal from scratch every day, meal prepping can seem like a daunting exercise. The easiest way to get into meal prepping is to start small and simple. Start small by prepping only parts of your meals. You can buy cooked meats and combine them with prepped vegetables and carbohydrates. In the beginning, focus on prepping meals for the next two days, and work your way up.
- Ready the shopping list!
The best way to start planning out your future meals is to get serious with your grocery shopping. When you’re buying ingredients for multiple meals at a time, instead of trusting your memory, write down a list and take it with you. Making a list will make sure you’ve got everything you need and help you budget better and avoid wasting food.
- Get the right containers
If you’re just starting out, chances are you won’t have the right Tupperware for full-scale meal prepping. Food containers are half the fun of meal prepping, and they’re essential for doing it right! Filling up and packing Tupperware with food to last you a week can be a therapeutic and aesthetically pleasing activity. Look for airtight, microwavable containers that are easy to carry and stack. If you’re not a fan of plastic ones, there are plenty of eco-friendlier options out there.
- Keep a backlog of recipes
Having to remember all those recipes can be tricky for anyone, let alone someone new to meal prepping. A great way to make sure you get the same results every time is to write down and backlog your recipes. Whether you use an app or pen and paper, this makes it easier to get straight to cooking when you’re in a rush. Having a stack of recipes ready to go also helps you avoid any kitchen messes or failures!
- Stay inspired
Once you get started, it’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to meal prepping. Sticking with what you know is great, but it can get boring, especially when it comes to making food. To make sure you don’t lose hope, always be on the lookout for meal prep inspiration online. From healthy recipes to cooking or packing techniques, there are plenty of things to learn online to keep you inspired and ready to prep!
- Don’t be afraid to “cut corners”
It’s important to remember that you can prep your food however you want, using whatever ingredients you like! Don’t feel compelled to stay away from things like frozen foods when prepping. Pre-made or frozen foods are an easy and nutritious way to prep meals that can cut your cooking time in half. Start with simple recipes you know you’ll love, and get more creative with your ingredients as you go.
So there you have it! Getting into meal prepping is easy when you start small and simple. Before you get to prepping, make sure you have your groceries planned out and the proper tools and recipes at hand. Have fun with your recipes and ingredients and get inspired online and remember, there’s no wrong way to meal prep, so go out there and have fun with it!
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