This article was written by out Nutrition Coach, a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified coach.
The mysterious process of meal planning has been explained as a long process that takes hours and hours to do. That folks just know exactly what they are going to make or that the food made in these meals are plain and boring. But why do we think that food should be that way? We all love food; we all love food that tastes good. So, if you are hesitant to try meal prep because of hours that were needed to do that preparation or because of taste, we say give it a try.
Why you don’t need hours to meal prep?
Everyone talks about the meal prep process taking hours and hours of time over the weekend. They make a week worth of food that packs their fridge and freezer for the week until they go to the grocery store again. That is only one type of meal prepping that can be done. There are many other options that can be done when it comes to meal prepping.
Take 5 minutes
Make a little extra for the next day while you’re already cooking. This is one of the quickest ways to start meal prepping. Not making a massive pot of food that can last for a week or more, but, simply adding just enough for a second serving then put into the fridge for the next day or to repurpose bits for a different meal.
Take 10 minutes
Pair your food prep with another task that you do every day. If you’re drinking your morning coffee, chop up some veggies for later, or pair it with another task.
Take 15 minutes
Do a batch of small things. Chop up vegetables, hard-boil up a batch of eggs, or do some other small things that don’t take up too much time. This option for meal prepping will be a little bit more work at first, but it will make things much easier later!
As you go
Start keeping a log/book of recipes that you enjoy. This can help you go back on a favourite or to cycle through options once you have a big enough list.
Benefit of meal prepping
Meal prepping doesn’t only help with things like simple time management skills, but it can also help you reach your goals faster. It helps you plan the portion sizes and ratios that you are wanting to have, reducing food waste, reducing overspending on food, and so much more!
Meal prepping can also help you with trying new things. Whether it is cooking styles, new recipes, or new foods, meal prepping allows you to try the great things cooking and food has to offer.
What is important with meal prepping though, is knowing that you can divert from it if needed. Want to have a pizza night instead of mushroom burgers? Have the pizza night. The main benefit with meal prepping is better understanding how much you are purchasing, how much you are using, and where you can adjust. Then, if you think that you need a more intense structure to your meal prepping, like the 1-2 hours to make most, if not all, of your meals, then that you can do that.
Meal Prepping Isn’t for Everyone
If you give meal prepping a try, there is a chance that it may not be for you. You might realize that you enjoy the process of cooking after a day of classes. You may find that there is a social component to cooking in your home that is important. Or there is something else. Maybe the meal prepping causes you to eat what you planned to quickly. Whatever it is, that’s alright. Just like the type of eating behaviour or exercise style, one thing is not going to work for everyone. Within behaviours related to health, a little bit of a testing period is always needed and sometimes trial and error is needed to find what works best.