Easy Meal Prep for the Busiest People
Meal prep – or preparing meals in advance – is one of the best ways to eat right every day, while also saving time and money. You make meals ahead of time all at once, then put them in servings for serving or freezing.
It reduces the hassle of cooking at every mealtime, and it cuts down on binge eating or grabbing whatever’s most convenient when you’re hungry, rather than eating what’s in your plan.
But to start it might seem like a big time commitment, right? A whole hour in the kitchen? Well, I think you’ll find it’s a great investment.
Here’s how to manage the time.
- Choose a day or two each week where you can devote the time and focus. Most people pick Sundays because they’re not working. Some can get it all done at once. Others might want to break it up with, say, a Wednesday too. But remember: You don’t have to meal prep for an entire week; it’s up to you!
- Start simple, with just one entrée recipe. Slow cookers are useful. It’s so easy to make chili or soup in a crock pot and then have it to enjoy all week, along with a big salad you can prepare in advance (and dress when you serve).
- Gather recipes and make a shopping list. That way, you’ll be sure to have everything you need in advance.
- Make sure your supplies include glass storage containers you can put in the freezer, and materials like wax paper storage wrap.
- Make big batches of staples like sweet potatoes, quinoa and chia seed pudding. You can use them throughout the week to mix things up.
- Start with lunches and dinners. At home, a healthy breakfast can be quick and easy. But if you’re going to work every day, you don’t want to rely on food courts and cafeteria food. And, after a long day, it’s grand to come home to dinner that’s already done and waiting for you.
- Stock the freezer with meats and veggies, the pantry with nonperishable staples, and your spice drawer with your favorites. You’ll find it’s really kind of amazing how much time you’ll save each day during the week.
And that hour you spent in the kitchen? Totally worth it!
Want to learn more? Join me on October 24th for my Nutrition Reset on Triathlon Obsessed!
Register here (it’s FREE!)
Erinne Guthrie is a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. Creator of Triathlon Transformation. She has been training, racing and coaching triathletes since 1997. She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, Mermaid and much much more.
