Does the thought of prepping meals for an ENTIRE week kinda overwhelm you!? Don't worry, it did for me too! I thought, there's NO way I'm going to be able to make a whole week's worth of food!
Well guess what? You don't have to! Here's a short guide to get you started with some meal preppin' ;)
But FIRST. Why should you even meal prep!? Some reasons are:
- Help you with portion control
- Achieve your fitness goals
- Save money
- Super convenient
- Keep you on track
- and SO much more!
Step 1: Choose a prep idea.
Start simple! Stick to something that doesn't require any complicated cooking techniques or something that doesn't need to many ingredients. Start off with just prepping for one meal (for example, lunch every day at work). You can gradually build up to prepping multiple meals for each day!
Step 2: Make a grocery list.
Buy ONLY what you'll need for a week's worth of prep. This saves you money and keeps you from eating other stuff that you didn't plan for. Determine exactly how much of each thing you need to buy based on what you need to prep.
Step 3: Get your containers.
Use existing tupperware or buy some new stuff! I know getting new containers really got me excited to use them (I'm lame, I know!!). Try to use containers big enough to fit a whole meal and that stack easily. I prep my food in separate containers because Trevor is on a different meal plan than I am and needs more protein so it's easier for us to do it this way. Pack your food up in a way that's convenient for YOU
Step 4: Start prepping.
Make some time in your day (and space in your kitchen) and get going. It's really important that you set aside this time so that you don't feel rushed or skip it altogether. I usually prep on Sunday or Monday BUT sometimes I do it on Tuesday depending on how I plan my schedule. It will start to become a habit and you'll realize how much time and money you're actually saving. I find that even pre-cutting my veggies (onions, peppers, mushrooms) REALLY help when I want to make a quick salad or sauté some fresh veggies!
Step 5: Stick to your plan.
The hard part is over! Now enjoy all your extra time and enjoy your home cooked meals ;) take note of what works and what doesn't so that next week, you know what to do or not do!
I hope this gave you a good starting point! :) Remember, don't be too hard on yourself if you find this challenging in the beginning. Meal prepping isn't about perfection, it's about improvement!
Xo,
Andrea
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