As the name suggests, “meal prep” refers to the strategy of preparing meals in advance and storing them in the freezer or refrigerator. Often, meals are prepared for the entire week ahead. It requires that you set aside a block of time on one day to shop, cook, and store your food for the days coming up. While meal prepping may not be for everyone, many people find it to be a useful approach to feeding themselves and their families.

Benefits of Meal Prepping

There are many reasons why people choose to prep their meals ahead of time. Most do it to save time during the rest of the week. Getting all of your cooking and preparation out of the way at once can be much more efficient than cooking every day. By utilizing healthy ingredients and smart portions, meal prep can help you lead a healthier lifestyle as well. It can also help you reduce food waste in the kitchen, saving you money and lowering your environmental footprint at the same time.

Best Foods to Use for Meal Prep

Because meal prep involves storing food for a few days before eating it, you’ll need ingredients that can hold up in storage. Thankfully, there are a lot of options to choose from. Foods that work well for meal prep include roasted vegetables, cooked meat, cooked grains and pasta, stiff, raw vegetables, soup, cooked beans, nuts and seeds, whole fruits, and cheese.

On the other hand, ingredients that generally aren’t a good choice for meal prep include crunchy foods like crackers and chips and soft fruits and vegetables like lettuce or sliced apples.

Best Containers to Use for Meal Prep

Having the right containers is a big part of meal prep. Glass and food-safe plastic containers are both great options for storing your prepped meals in the freezer or refrigerator. To be sure that your plastic container is safe to use, look at the bottom. Containers with the numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 are safe for food storage while 3, 6, and 7 are not. Glass containers are generally a better option for the environment, but they are also heavier and tend to be more expensive. Your choice between the two will come down to your personal needs and preferences.

Making Your Meal Plan

The first step to meal prep is to decide on the recipes you want to make and on the ingredients you require. Keep it simple, at least in the beginning, and try to pick meals and ingredients you know you will eat. A good formula for a basic meal is one protein, one grain, and one vegetable. Make a comprehensive shopping list so that you can be sure to get everything you need in one trip. Lastly, pick a day to do all of your prepping and cooking. Many people choose Sundays, but this can vary according to your schedule.

Meal prep done right comes with a host of benefits that can help you enjoy healthier and more convenient living. You have nothing to lose by giving it a try and seeing if it is the right choice for you and your family.