How to Meal Prep for a Week of Healthy Eating: Tips and Tricks

How to Meal Prep for a Week of Healthy Eating: Tips and Tricks

Proper meal prepping can help you save money, time, and stay healthy by organizing your meals ahead of time. Meal prepping involves pre-cooking meals and prepping ingredients like washing and cutting vegetables and pre-cooking grains. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get started meal prepping for a week of healthy eating.

1. Choose Your Recipes

To begin, choose your recipes for the week. You want to choose recipes with a variety of vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. It's also a good idea to choose recipes that you can pair together and double up on one ingredient. For example, if you choose two recipes that both call for bell peppers, you can chop up a large quantity for each recipe at once.

2. Make a Shopping List

Once you have chosen your recipes, make a detailed shopping list to help you when you go to the grocery store. This will prevent you from buying unnecessary items and sticking to the recipes you have chosen.

3. Bring Home Pre-Washed Veggies

Many grocery stores offer pre-washed, cut veggies and fruits which can save you a lot of time meal prepping.

4. Meal Prep Strategically

When you begin prepping, be strategic and cook items that can be used for multiple meals. This saves time and effort and prevents having to wash and chop the same ingredient multiple times.

5. Double Up on Recipes

If you want to save even more time, double up on recipes. For example, you can cook a large batch of chili on Monday and use some for lunch that day, and save the leftovers for Thursday or Friday’s lunch.

Prepare Ahead Techniques

Here are some tips on how to prepare ahead:

• • Wash and chop vegetables – Wash and cut up vegetables ahead of time to save yourself time during the week.

• • Cook grains – Cook your grains (such as rice, millet, quinoa, etc.) ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator to use throughout the week.

• • Cook proteins – Cook proteins such as chicken, tofu, fish, etc. ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator to add to meals.

• • Make sauces and dressings – Make sauces, dips, and dressings ahead of time to quickly and easily dress up any meal.

• • Pre-package snacks – Pre-package snacks such as nuts, dried fruit, energy balls, etc. for easy snacking throughout the week.

Meal prepping can be a great way to stay on track with healthy eating. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be meal prepping like a pro in no time!