Meal Prepping 101
Meal prepping is an incredible way to save time and money on food. This method of food preparation also lessens food waste and can help you to keep on track with your fitness journey! Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of meal prepping and how to get started planning and prepping your meals.
What is meal prepping?
Meal prepping is the act of making a meal or recipe and portioning it out to create easy grab-and-go meals for later.
Even if you haven't meal prepped on purpose before, you have probably accidentally meal prepped. For example, if you have ever brought your leftovers from dinner to work with you the next day for lunch, then you’ve already meal prepped!
Of course, this example is on a smaller scale. Typically, meal prepping is meant to prepare meals for 3-5 days.Â
Why meal prep?
Meal prepping is convenient, efficient, inexpensive, reduces food waste, and eliminates the temptation to eat meals that fall outside of your diet or budget.
If you would like to reduce the amount of time or money you spend on meals throughout the week, and stay accountable to your diet, meal prepping is a great option for you.
Getting Started
If you are new to meal prepping, start out by preparing food for three meals using one of the meal preparation formulas below.
 Â
- Basic: Protein + Grain + Vegetable
- Low Carb: Protein + Vegetable + Vegetable
- Vegetarian: Legume + Grain + Vegetable
Here is a list of foods that work well for meal prepping:Â
- cooked grains & pasta
- cooked beans
- cooked meat
- roasted vegetables
- hearty fresh vegetables (think celery, carrots, peas, bell peppers, kale, cabbage, radishes, etc.)
- whole fruit (apples, oranges, stone fruit)
- nuts & seeds
- cheese
- sauces and dips (like salad dressings, hummus, salsa, sour cream, etc.)
Of course, some foods don’t meal prep as well, such as:Â
- soft fruits and vegetables (lettuce, berries, and cut fruit)
- fried food, crackers, or chips