What Style of Meal Prep is Right For You?
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One way to eat a healthier diet is having good food ready to go. Meal prepping is a great way to accomplish this. Often, when we hear "meal prep" we think of 5 to-go containers lined up and ready to go for the week. This works great for some people but it's not for everyone. Check out the following strategies for having good food on hand.
Pre-portioned Meals
This is what most people think of when you say "meal prep": A week's worth of meals, individually portioned, ready to heat & eat.
Pros: Great for those with busy schedules but free weekends! Dinner (or lunch, or breakfast) is DONE, you can have it when you want it, there's very little clean up each evening, you can rely on having something healthy available with zero stress each night.
Cons: It's a lot of work one day of the week, the meal might not be very fresh by Friday, you might get tired of what you've meal prepped, you might not be in the mood for what you've meal prepped, and you might be MORE or LESS hungry than the portions you decided on several days ago.
Pros: Great for those with busy schedules but free weekends! Dinner (or lunch, or breakfast) is DONE, you can have it when you want it, there's very little clean up each evening, you can rely on having something healthy available with zero stress each night.
Cons: It's a lot of work one day of the week, the meal might not be very fresh by Friday, you might get tired of what you've meal prepped, you might not be in the mood for what you've meal prepped, and you might be MORE or LESS hungry than the portions you decided on several days ago.
Big Batch Recipes
Make a large recipe or prepare a "double dinner" each time you cook and freeze the leftovers. Lasagna, soup, chili, enchiladas, crockpot recipes all work well.
Pros: less work than portioned meals, you can decide in the moment how hungry you are, can use your freezer to cut down on flavor fatigue, meals are ready when you want them
Cons: You might get tired of eating the same meal many days in a row if you don't freeze, still can be a lot of work one day.
Pros: less work than portioned meals, you can decide in the moment how hungry you are, can use your freezer to cut down on flavor fatigue, meals are ready when you want them
Cons: You might get tired of eating the same meal many days in a row if you don't freeze, still can be a lot of work one day.
Batch Cook Ingredients
Cooking ahead of time components of the meal saves tons of time when you're putting together dinner. How many different ways can you use one ingredient?
Grains, like rice or quinoa, can be cooked ahead and used in burritos, bowls, soups, salads, sides, and casseroles. (When defrosting, add a tiny bit of water to avoid dry rice.)
Meats can be grilled to be used in salads, sandwiches, bowls, or tacos.
Veggies can be roasted to use in bowls, soups, casseroles, salads, sandwiches, and more!
Sauces can be put together ahead of time to use throughout the week- and many can be frozen!
Grains, like rice or quinoa, can be cooked ahead and used in burritos, bowls, soups, salads, sides, and casseroles. (When defrosting, add a tiny bit of water to avoid dry rice.)
Meats can be grilled to be used in salads, sandwiches, bowls, or tacos.
Veggies can be roasted to use in bowls, soups, casseroles, salads, sandwiches, and more!
Sauces can be put together ahead of time to use throughout the week- and many can be frozen!
Try freezing: tomato sauce, pesto, chimichurri, peanut sauce, yogurt ranch, tahini dressing, hummus, avocado dressing, green goddess, etc.
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