You have all seen the Instagram influencer videos, meal prep is a lifestyle trend that has just been going up for the last few years. From folks planning their meals at home and having a week's worth of lunches in the freezer, to entire businesses launching to provide pre-paid meals such as Sun Basket or Green Chef, and even the rise in overnight breakfast oats.
There is a common conception that meal prep is just for folks who go to the gym and are trying to reach their fitness goals. Or maybe you think tech people who have their meals ordered for them just don't have time to cook. While these may be true, they aren't the only two reasons to lean into meal prepping.
What does your daily routine look like? You probably spend at least an hour in the kitchen each night prepping lunch and making dinner. Meal prep gives you back that time while keeping nutrition in mind.
Why Is Meal Prepping A Trend?
Meal prepping as a trend is popular for two main reasons: it gives people back more time in their week without the cost of eating foods that aren't necessarily healthy. Everyone has been there, whether you are a college student studying for finals and ordering a pizza or a corporate worker on a deadline who grabs the nearest ready-to-go food, it is hard to be mindful of what you eat when you are in a hurry.
To have more control over your diet, and incorporate the right foods to energize you and make you feel your best, it is important to stop and think about what you eat. When you meal prep, you are thinking about what you eat not just in a day but in a week. It gives you a bigger picture of your nutrition.
For folks who are on some kind of diet, not necessarily the kind for losing weight but possibly trying to eat anti-inflammatory foods or go vegan, looking at a bigger picture of what you eat helps you stay on track with your goals.
Being Conscious Of What You Eat
What you eat in a day does not reflect your health or nutrition goals, because in the long term, a single day doesn't make a difference. To make and see an impact on your health and nutrition goals, you need to look at the big picture.
For many folks who are starting a specific diet, whether it be protein-packed for going to the gym or looking for new ways to eat plant-based, meal prepping allows you to get all the nutrients you need in a week, to build sustainable and long term habits.
When you meal prep, it also leaves room for treats because you know that you deserve it when you have a clear picture of what you eat in a week. Don't fall victim to eating unhealthy at times sake, get more time in your week and eat well by meal prepping.
Planning & Saving Time
For those who aren't as interested in watching what they eat or meal prepping with a nutrition goal, it is still a valuable habit for giving you back time.
Many meal preppers take a few hours on Sunday to prep their lunches for the entire week, and breakfast prepping is also trending on social media with the rise in overnight oats. If you can prep two meals of the day, and some snacks, of course, you only have to think about dinner each day.
That is a lot of time back into your daily schedule to do something for yourself, or just relax.
How To Get Started With Meal Prepping
To get started, you will need the right containers. If you are prepping 5 lunches, that is 5 Tupper ware's, but if you are including dinners, breakfasts and snacks, don't forget to do the math.
Next, make a meal plan so that you can make a shopping list. Many people think that to meal prep you have to eat the same thing every day, but that isn't true. You can make enough quinoa for 5 days and switch up the vegetables, proteins and sauces to have some variety. That is just one example, or you can make two really good dishes like vegetable curry and lasagna, and divide it up into lunches.
The variety is really up to you, once you have your list go to the grocery store and then get cooking. This can all be done in a single morning of your weekend, making it a great way to relax, enjoy some time to yourself and feel prepared for the week.
Beat the Sunday blues by taking the time to take care of your nutrition.
