Meal Prep Tips From A Pro
What’s the easiest way to stay on track for achieving your goal body? Meal prep! It eliminates the possibility of veering off track from your diet, grabbing junk food on the go or giving in to your cravings at meetings during office hours.
What is meal prep? We have all heard the saying that failing to plan is planning to fail. And this is in fact the truth. The best way to stay on track and achieve the goal body that you have always dreamed of is by making sure that you properly prepare your meals aka meal prep in advance. Meal prep isn’t the same for everyone. The best way to start prepping is to find 1 or 2 days a week where you can hash out a few hours to prepare your meals in advance.
I personally love Sunday’s. It sets me up for the week and I love starting out a new week with a goal. The goal is to stay on track with my meals. If I make all my food on a Sunday I know that I have no reason or excuse not to stay on track. This day may not work for you. So, find a day that works in your schedule. It can also be any time of day. You don’t have to cook in the evenings. It’s a personal preference.
The following are 6 Pro meal prepping Tips
Tip #1
Make your food in bulk.
The best way to get your foods cooked efficiently is to prepare them in bulk. Crock pots, barbeques and baking in the oven are great options for bulk cooking proteins. A rice cooker is always a solid investment to batch cook carbs. Pasta and potatoes (sweet, red, yellow etc) can be cooked in bulk as well in a pot on the stove.
Tip #2
Use Seasonings and sauces.
No one wants to eat the same meals repeatedly. It becomes monotonous, boring and bland. Don’t be afraid of seasonings and sauces. And do not be afraid of sodium. Sodium contains nutrients and electrolytes that help keep the muscles full, from cramping and keep proper water retention in the body. So get creative with seasonings and sauces but just avoid the ones that contain extra sugars.
Tip #3
Get Creative.
When most people hear the phrase “meal prep” they think boring. This does not have to be the case. Like mentioned above seasonings and sauces help but you can also get creative with ingredients. For example: For breakfast, most people think egg whites, oatmeal and berries. Sure, that’s great but have you ever thought of mixing the egg whites and oatmeal in a blender and making it into a batter? The batter can then be made into a pancake or even put in a waffle maker for a delicious waffle. You can then take the berries heat them up quickly and make them into a delicious compote! And pancakes and waffles are great to eat in a rush! Remember if you are thawing them, or reheating them you don’t have to put them in the microwave because if you want to keep them crispy pop them in the toaster or toaster oven for that delicious crisp!
Tip #4
Invest in BPA Free Containers.
Good quality containers are worth the investment. Remember you will be using these to reheat your foods every day. BPA is the way to go for this as you don’t want any harmful chemicals getting into your foods and in turn your body. Its also good to buy containers that have separate compartments for your macronutrients and micronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vegetables).
Tip#5
Freeze extra meals.
Some veggies and meat keep better than others in the fridge but remember you can freeze your meals and take them out when you need them. Especially do this if meal prepping twice a week isn’t a good fit for you. Its ok to freeze them in the container, freezer bag if its bulk or even vacuum sealed and reheat later.
Tip #6
Buy a water jug.
Often hunger is confused with dehydration. Too many times people feel that they are hungry when its thirst. Try and have a BPA free water jug, bottle or container with you always and sip it throughout the day. This will help keep you hydrated, full and keep you from reaching for snacks that aren’t your prepped food.
Remember that there isn’t a wrong way or a right way to meal prep. It should be whatever works for you to help keep you on track. Experiment with prepping and find a way that it fits for you and your schedule. And remember for best results it can help to hire a coach to help you with your meal plan. This will insure that the food you are eating is individualized and planned strictly for your lifestyle, goals and exercise habits.
