Meal prepping is the genius hack you never knew you needed
Best tips for meal prepping
Meal prepping seems daunting if you’re not sure what you’re doing and can seem like a lot of added work and stress to deal with. However, it’s not the most difficult thing in the world, and actually one of the simplest ways to eat healthier and save money at the same time.
Here’s how you can start meal prepping, especially if you’re a busy millennial balancing their career, family, mental health, personal development, and all the other big things in life:
There are no rules about when you do it
Whoever said the weekend is the only time you can meal prep lied. Of course, it’s easier when you have more free time to spend a few hours cooking and prepping, but it’s not the only time. If you prefer to get things done during the week and use weekends to relax, so be it. Just ensure that you have at least a couple of hours.
Make a meal plan that works for you
Don’t start without having a meal plan in place. You should know what you want to eat and what you want to include in your diet, not leaving out any foods that are important to you. Cultural foods can be kept as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet it’s not all avocados and quinoa.
Have different containers for different things
Some vegetables stay fresh in airtight jars, while others need some moisture and ventilation. Meat stays best when marinated and frozen or cooked, refrigerated, and stored in airtight containers. Bread and other carbs should be stored depending on their individual needs to keep them from getting soggy, stale, or going bad. Don’t mix everything up a week in advance, as some foods may transfer flavors and lose texture.
Use one item in multiple ways to save time
Got tons of chicken and not sure what to do with it? Prep one item multiple ways. Marinate it in different ways, roast some, pan-fry or air-fry some, or leave it uncooked till it’s time to eat. This will save you plenty of time when it comes to preparing different foods since you’ll be prepping and cleaning the same meat and raw ingredients.
The same goes for vegetables. Batch cook different veggies that have similar cooking times. You can spiralize and chop some to have raw, or cook later, roast some, or even steam and boil some. It all depends on your preferences.
Use jar and single-serving containers for ease
In addition to storing foods in separate containers, some food items can be prepped for grab-n-go eating too. Salad jars, overnight oats, lunch boxes are great ways to prepare meals the night before or a few hours before you eat them. Be sure to add the wet ingredients like sauces, dressings, vinegarettes, etc. just before you eat them rather than days in advance, lest they go bad.
Improve your health and wellness levels and day-to-day lifestyle habits with the help of our recommendations, and check out our article about the best healthy Cuban recipes that are worth a try.
We’re covering information about existing businesses that are uplifting communities, as well as sharing tips, recommendations, and more from the city of Miami. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest information from Miami, including news, events, and much more.
Add Comment