When it comes to losing weight and achieving fitness goals, meal prep can make a positive contribution to your efforts.
Have you ever just wandered into your pantry or refrigerator without thinking about it? I have and wow, I always end up eating either the wrong foods or too much!
When thinking about and planning out what you’ll eat, you are more likely to make better choices. For instance, you can plan ahead to include more vegetables and fruits into your daily diet.
Meal prep is easier than you think and once you get in the groove, you’ll be preparing meals like a champ!
Here’s a few tips to get going with meal preparation.
Meal Prep Tips
Create a Plan
This first step is the most important. It’s saved me money each time I grocery shop too! Instead of wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles, I only buy what’s on the list.
Think about the days ahead and your meal needs. For instance, if you work, packing a lunch is your best way to save money and eat healthier.
Once you understand your eating needs for the week, think about some great ideas for your daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
You can jot these down as meal ideas that you can also look back on at any time.
Grab a Meal Planner journal to keep track of your weekly meal prep!
Create a Grocery Shopping List
After you come up with great meal ideas for the days ahead, decide what the ingredients are. That’s your shopping list! The most important thing while at the grocery store is sticking to the list.
It’s easy to throw another bag of chips in the cart, am I right? I know I do it! When I stay committed, I stick to the list. That not only saves money but helps me eat healthier for the week. And stay away from unhealthy, empty calorie snacks.
You can choose to keep your list healthy or so, it’s up to you. But a meal prep plan will help you consider what’s best before you shop.
Need more support? Check out Beachbody’s nutrition programs, 2B Mindset and Ultimate Portion Fix!
Prepare your Weekly Meals
My daughter has this process down in the best way possible. After her weekly shopping, she prepares a few meals for the week ahead.
Be sure to have some good containers on hand. I prefer the glass containers. You can easily identify what’s inside. Plus, they are safe for use in oven, microwave, dishwasher, freezer, and refridgerator.
If any meals can be frozen, that’s a great way to have food ready for the week. I freeze a number of meals for easy peasy preparation when it’s time to eat.
Be aware of portion sizes when preparing your meals and keep it healthy.
Conclusion
Meal prep is the way to go for money savings and healthier eating. When you plan out your meals, you can have greater success by sticking to a healthier diet as long as you stick to your list. Grab a meal prep journal to help.
It may seem a little overwhelming at first, but as you incorporate meal planning into your life, it gets easier.
Learn more about Beachbody’s nutrition programs, 2B Mindset and Ultimate Portion Fix!