I’m so glad you’re here!
DAY 1: BEGINNER MEAL PREPPING TIPS
Let’s face it–when you’re in a hurry you are more than likely to make poor food choices.
Food that is quick and convenient is often highly processed and offers little in terms of nutritional value. Wouldn’t it be nice if eating healthy were also quick and convenient?
That’s what meal prepping is all about!
You can easily plan ahead by taking a little extra time on the weekend or your days off to cook food in batches for the following week. Or if you’re like me, during your toddler’s naptime!
If stored properly, the food will stay fresh and last for several days. Yes, it really does!
Now here’s the thing…
Meal prepping doesn’t have to be super time-consuming or complicated. It’s simply a matter of finding what works for YOU and your lifestyle.
And don’t let the term “meal prepping” scare or intimate you!
You DO NOT need to spend hours on a Sunday afternoon prepping all your meals for the week if that’s not your thing. You can break it down into smaller tasks like chopping your veggies, cooking your protein, marinating meat/veggies, so everything is ready when it’s time to prepare your meals.
Maybe you don’t like leftovers and the idea of cooking food in batches just doesn’t seem appealing. Or maybe you work 6-7 days during the week and finding “a little extra time” seems far-fetched and impossible.
I GOT YOU!!
Believe me, my “meal prepping” routine looks a lot different now compared to a few years ago and I’m sure the process will continue to evolve over time.
I decided to do this challenge because I see so many people struggling with meal prep and making things harder than they need to be! And that’s not a good way to set yourself up for success. I hope by the end of this challenge you will look at meal prepping in a whole new way. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated at the thought of prepping your meals, you will feel empowered to take charge of your health.
And now we have the Instant Pot to make things even easier for us!
HERE ARE MY TOP TIPS WHEN IT COME TO MEAL PREPPING…
Are you ready?!?
1. Start SMALL. What seems to happen a lot is that people try to plan and execute this huge elaborate meal prep right off the bat. They spend hours planning, shopping, and cooking and the whole process is so overwhelming that they never do it again. That’s like deciding you want to run a marathon and then doing a 20 mile training run on your very first day! If you’re new to meal prep or giving it another try, begin with ONE meal. Once you’ve mastered that, add one more. I recommend starting with the meal you seem to struggle with the most when it comes to eating healthy.
2. Prep as much as you can BEFORE putting the groceries away. I know it’s not always possible, but if you have the time and can save yourself the hassle of having to put everything all away twice, do it! You’ll be more motivated to prep foods while they’re still sitting on the counter. So before you put them in the frig chop up your veggies, marinate your meats, etc. Even if you can’t do EVERYTHING, pick one or two things that you see yourself eating within the next 24-48 hours.
3. Meal prepping, just like every other part of your health and fitness journey, is not an all-or-nothing experience. Don’t think you need to wash, chop and pre-cook every meal and snack for an entire week in one afternoon. Prepping and portioning food for cooking later, or even boiling a dozen eggs, is better than doing nothing at all. BABY STEPS for the win!
4. Before you start cleaning up the kitchen after dinner (or whatever meal you eat at home) think about what you can do to start preparing for tomorrow. The kitchen is already a mess and you probably have all your cooking utensils out–so why not take advantage of the opportunity? Maybe chop some veggies/fruit or make your lunch for tomorrow? I do this with my Instant Pot all the time. After cooking dinner I’ll use it to prepare another meal or something for the next day…boiled eggs, soup, sweet potatoes, etc. My husband is usually home at dinner-time and entertains our toddler, so it’s a good time for me to hunker down in the kitchen.
5. Be OK with the fact that this is going to be a PROCESS and not a quick-fix. Life is a journey, not a race. And learning how to meal prep in a way that works for you LONG-TERM is something that needs to be savored and enjoyed–not rushed. Slow and steady wins the race!
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOD): What meal prepping challenges have you experienced in the past? What do you love or hate about meal prepping? Share your thoughts in the Facebook group under the daily thread here –> https://www.facebook.com/groups/290505694685477/permalink/604227976646579/