6 Tips to Kickstart Your Meal Prep Routine
Meal prepping is a great way to save time, money, and energy in the kitchen. By planning and preparing your meals in advance, you can ensure that you always have healthy, nutritious food on hand, even on your busiest days. However, getting started with a weekly meal prep routine can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to meal prepping. Here are six tips to help you get started:
1. Choose your meals wisely
When you're just starting out with meal prepping, it's important to keep things simple. Start by choosing a few meals that you know you enjoy and that are easy to prepare in bulk. This might include dishes like chili, stir-fry, or roasted vegetables and chicken. Once you get more comfortable with meal prepping, you can start to experiment with more complex dishes.
2. Invest in good containers
Having the right containers can make all the difference when it comes to meal prepping. Look for containers that are sturdy, leak-proof, and microwave-safe. Glass containers are a great option because they're durable and easy to clean. Mason jars are also a good choice for salads or soups.
3. Schedule a meal prep day
To make meal prepping a regular part of your routine, it's important to set aside a specific day each week for meal prep. Depending on your schedule, this might be a weekend day or a weekday evening. Choose a time when you can dedicate a few hours to meal prep without feeling rushed or stressed.
4. Make a shopping list
Before you start meal prepping, take some time to make a shopping list. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you have all the ingredients you need on hand. Consider planning your meals around ingredients that are on sale or in season to save money.
5. Batch cook
Batch cooking is a great way to save time and energy in the kitchen. Instead of cooking individual meals, prepare larger batches of your favorite dishes and portion them out into your containers. This will save you time and make it easy to grab a healthy meal on the go.
6. Freeze extras
If you end up with more food than you can eat in a week, don't be afraid to freeze the extras. This is a great way to ensure that you always have healthy meals on hand, even on days when you don't have time to meal prep. Simply portion out your leftovers into freezer-safe containers and store them in the freezer for up to three months.
Meal prepping can be a great way to save time, money, and energy in the kitchen. By following these tips, you can start your own weekly meal prep routine and enjoy the benefits of having healthy, nutritious meals on hand all week long. If you’re still unsure of where you start, schedule a consultation and I can give you some more tips on how to set yourself up for success in the kitchen.
