The Benefits Of Meal Prepping
As life gets more hectic and we return to work, meal prepping for ourselves and our families becomes more of a necessity. If you've ever thought about meal prepping and are unsure about starting, we're here to tell you it's time, and if the benefits we've listed don't convince you, we won't know what will.
Save Time
Planning meals will allow you to save some time during the week, especially if you're constantly on the go. Dedicate a day out of the week to shop, chop fruits and vegetables, organize, cook and store your meals. When making meals that will last longer than five days, storing them in a freeze and defrosting them later will save time.
Save Money
Meal prepping helps you avoid making unnecessary purchases, ordering takeout, and stopping at a drive-through before or after work. It also prevents the waste of ingredients and encourages you to use what you already have in your pantry. According to a survey completed by the American Chemistry Council, the average household throws out $640 of food each year. Furthermore, 76% of Americans admit to throwing out leftovers every month.
Healthy Diet
Meal prepping allows you to eat healthier. You can make meals using fruits and vegetables that are in season. For example, you can incorporate apples and pumpkins in the fall. In the Spring, you can incorporate fennel and asparagus. Prepping also helps with portion control, regulating your diet, and meeting your weight goals.
Try New Recipes
Meal prepping allows you to try new recipes and introduce fresh foods into your diet. Creating a Pinterest board of all the recipes and cuisines you want to try will help. You'll find delicious meals, from fast sheet pan meals to overnight crockpot recipes.
Reduce Stress
Trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day can be stressful. Meal prepping helps diminish that stress. Imagine coming home after a long workday and trying to decide what to eat for dinner? If you prep accordingly, you can figure out what you already have, what you want, and need and put it all on a shopping list, eliminating the stress of grocery shopping.
Be realistic! Have fun and pace yourself. Look up recipes ahead of time and give yourself some grace. Start with one meal, and as you grow more comfortable and confident, you can plan for three meals- five days a week.
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