Want to meal prep but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered.
Meal prepping is an excellent time management skill to cultivate for both your health and wealth. Not only does it assist you to reach a specific health goal but it is also a great way to save you time and money — and who doesn’t love to save a buck or two!
Here are our top tips to successfully prep for the week ahead.
Keep It Simple
Meal prepping doesn’t have to be rocket science, scheduling some time each week to prep your upcoming meals can be very simple. Our biggest tip is to keep an assortment of different spices and condiments on hand.
Keeping an array of seasonings in your pantry can make all the difference to your meal prepping experience. Herbs, spices and healthy sauce options can create an explosion of different flavours for your basic chicken and rice meal, as well as provide a variety of health benefits.
Make a Meal Plan & Shopping List
Heading to the grocery store unplanned and without a list is like shopping when you’re hungry — you will inevitably end up buying an endless number of things that you don’t necessarily need.
Creating a meal plan and shopping list will help you stay focused and beat those impulsive urges, and if you're prepping to save some cash, this will be extremely beneficial. Most grocery stores offer a pick up or home delivery option, so if you are someone who is a serial snacker or struggle for time, this could be a great option for you.
Shop In Bulk
Take full advantage of buying in bulk or when your favourite, but more expensive items go on sale. Items like rice, canned goods, nuts, oils, spices and sauces are a few examples of versatile everyday foods you can bulk-buy when on special and keep in your pantry. Stocking up on essential items will help improve your meal prep efficiency and save you money and time in the long run.
Shop Your Pantry First
When making your weekly shopping list, check your pantry and fridge first! You might just find that extra bag of rice in the back of your cupboard or even a friendly reminder of certain items that need using up.
Batch Cook
You don’t need to cook full meals, batch cooking is when you prep larger amounts of certain foods for the intention of multiple different recipes. While cooking up designated meals is an easy and convenient way to prep for the week, it can also become repetitive.
Cooking up a big batch of rice, vegetables, and your preferred protein source, then freezing them in portions for the week, allows you to create a variety of different meals like salads, sandwiches, stir-fries, power bowls and much more.
Store In Style
If you're meal prepping, you're most likely taking your food with you on the run. Office fridges can fill up quickly, and there's always a food thief to be wary of! Grab some portion packed containers (we love this cheap option from Kmart), a couple of ice bricks and a stylish lunch bag, and you'll be out the door in a flash! For a deluxe lunch bag that will last forever, keep your stuff cold, and fit your laptop in it, the BYS team love this stylish option from Mealami.
Learning to meal prep like a boss will not only save you time and money but will also save on extra unnecessary stress! By preparing your meals at the start of the week, you will free up a lot more time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do, rather than wasting your nights in the kitchen or your money on eating out.