As a society, we are becoming increasingly busy, and as a result, we are moving away from prepping and cooking our own meals at home. When we neglect to cook or order healthy prepared meals, it typically means we eat out more frequently, and we don’t always make the healthiest choices.
For optimal productivity, you must ensure that your body is getting the nutrition it needs. A meal planning or meal preparation routine is an excellent way to stay on track with a healthy diet during the week. There is no one correct method for meal preparation, as it is dependent on food preferences, cooking skills, schedules, and personal goals.
Here are a few meal prep tips that Fitlov nutritionists recommends:
Start Small
If you’re new to meal planning, start small and work your way up. This could mean cleaning and slicing your fruits and vegetables, as well as preparing one protein on a Sunday before the week begins. See how long that takes, and aim to schedule extra time for your meal planning session the following week.
Before drafting your shopping list, use what you currently have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry to inspire your weekly meals and snacks.
Think About The Ingredients That Go Into A Healthy Dish
The meal should include lots of vegetables, a good source of protein, and plenty of healthy fats. You can make enough tempeh or hard-boiled eggs to last the whole week.
Both are excellent for tossing into a salad or combined with roasted vegetables to make a filling and delicious meal. Chicken breasts, ground beef, and ground turkey are other easy-to-prepare meats that may be made in large quantities.
Get Organized
Knowing what’s in your pantry, fridge, and freezer is extremely helpful, and having things organized allows you to immediately see what’s available to you in a given week.
Fresh fruits and protein are essential, but non-perishables may help round out weekday dinners and save time. Pasta, tomato sauce, a can of beans, and your favourite vegetable, for example, is a quick, easy, healthy, and delicious meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare—as long as you have everything on hand!
Make It A Priority
Even if you only have an hour to prepare meals, there is a lot you can accomplish in that time. So, whether it’s food prep, exercise, or meditation, make sure you’ve allocated enough time in your week.
Save Delicious Recipes As You Find Them
Keep a collection of recipes you like and add to it as you discover new ones. This simplifies the planning portion of your meal prep and ensures that you’ll have food you love eating ready for you in the fridge.
To Conclude
Meal preparation does not have to be difficult; in fact, it is simple to customize based on your budget, lifestyle, and dietary choices. At its most basic, you could just prepare a protein, a grain, and a vegetable in bulk and eat the same meal for a week. Or you could learn simple ways to level up your ingredients, process, and meals.
If you need help making your daily meals tastier and more nutritious, speak to a nutritionist at Fitlov today, and they’ll be more than happy to help.
