I fell into meal prepping by accident. I mean, literally. My roommate was out of town for a week and the fridge became all mine. Freedom! But then I remembered something – I had no idea what to have for dinner. For five straight days. Adulting is hard.
It turns out that all those plastic containers everyone is sharing on Instagram aren’t just for looks. They’re actually saving people time and money. Who knew?
Why Meal Prep Isn’t Just Another Internet Fad
Hey, we’ve all been there. 8 PM on a Tuesday, you’re standing in front of the open fridge, exhausted from work, wondering why there’s literally no food to eat but condiments and that strange tupperware thing from. last month? Meal prepping puts an end to this existential crisis. It’s really just your old self doing a good turn for your future self.
Meal prepping is not rocket science. It’s just cooking, but more efficient. Like batch cooking’s hipper cousin.
Studies show that meal planners eat healthier. No surprise there. When you’re exhausted and hangry, that drive-thru is a dream come true. Your brain literally can’t make good decisions when it’s starving. Science!
Meal prep isn’t just for nutrition, though. It’s for growing up without having to grow up. You can still binge-watch Netflix on the weekend – just do it while your chicken cooks.
How to Get Started Without Losing Your Mind
Alright, alright. First things first. Don’t try to be a meal prep superhero in one weekend. Nobody went from microwave dinners to 21 immaculately portioned organic meals in one weekend. That’s how meal prep burnout happens. And yes, that is actually a thing I just invented.
Start small:
- Choose one meal to prep. Just one! Lunch is usually easiest.
- Choose recipes you actually like. Revolutionary thought, I know.
- Prep 2-3 days worth, not the whole week. Food safety is trending.
I tried doing meal prep for breakfast once. Made these beautiful overnight oats in mini mason jars. So impressed with myself. Then remembered that I don’t like breakfast. They took up space in my fridge for a week while I just kept grabbing coffee on the way to work. Know thyself.
Equipment That Helps But Won’t Break The Bank
You don’t need fancy technology. But a few things make life easier:
Storage Containers
Glass containers are best but pricey. Plastic works too, just don’t microwave them if you’d like your food with a side of chemicals. Yum.
Time-Saving Appliances
A slow cooker changed my life. Throw ingredients in before work, come home to dinner. It’s like having a personal chef who works for electricity.
Instant Pots are great too. I mean, I’ve had mine for three years and never learned how to use all the buttons. But the ones I do use? Magic.
Sheet pans get ignored. You can roast a whole meal on one sheet pan. Less dishes = more happiness. That’s just math.
Meal Prep Strategies That Actually Work In Real Life
The Sunday Power Hour
Most people prep on Sundays. There’s something about Sundays that screams “be productive before the week crushes your soul again!”
Set aside 2-3 hours. Put on music. Dance while chopping veggies. It’s basically a party. A party with knives.
The Component Method
Don’t want to eat the same thing every day? Smart. Instead of making complete meals, prep components:
- Roast a bunch of vegetables
- Cook a big batch of protein
- Prepare a grain like rice or quinoa
- Prepare 1-2 sauces to mix things up
Then mix and switch up throughout the week. Monday is a bowl, Tuesday is a wrap, Wednesday is a salad – all made from the same ingredients but with completely different flavor. Don’t work harder, work smarter.
The Halfway Method
Some meals don’t hold up well pre-cooked. So prep but not cook.
Marinate meat and freeze it. Veggie chop and prep. Spoon spices into little bags. Future you will be so grateful when supper is 15 minutes instead of an hour.
When Meal Prep Goes Horribly Wrong (And It Will)
I once prepped this massive curry batch. Ate it on Monday lunch. Wednesday, and I was asking myself why all my decisions in life were terrible. Variety, apparently, is important!
Some common traps:
- Cooking too much food
- Choosing recipes that reheat poorly
- Forgetting about texture (soggy vegetables are depressed)
- Failing to plan for your actual schedule
It’s okay. We all crash and burn occasionally. That’s where takeout comes in.
Meal Prep For Various Aims
For Weight Control
Focus on protein and vegetables. Use small containers. Portion control built in!
For Building Muscle
Bigger serving, more protein, don’t skimp on carbs. Muscles need fuel.
For Busy Families
Make it a family activity! Kids can wash veggies or stir the ingredients. They’ll eat what they’ve helped prepare. Bonus, child labor is totally fine when it’s learning life skills. That’s parenting.
For The Culinarily Challengent
It’s okay if you can’t cook. Rotisserie chicken is your best friend. Pre-cut veggies are worth the extra money if they mean you’ll actually eat them. No shame in shortcuts.
Real Talk: Is Meal Prepping Worth It?
Yes. But also sometimes no.
Some weeks, meal prep saves my sanity. Other weeks, the idea of cooking anything makes me want to live on cereal.
The good news is that it’s flexible. Prep when you’re able, takeout when you’re not. The thing isn’t perfection – it’s simplifying your life.
Remember that Instagram-perfect meal prep photos don’t reflect the mess in the kitchen. Or the likelihood is that they had pizza the following day.
Final Thoughts From Someone Who Still Occasionally Forgets To Grocery Shop
Meal prep isn’t perfection. It’s doing what works for you. Maybe that’s just preparing one ginormous soup. Maybe that’s just chopping vegetables so salads can be thrown together. Whatever gets you eating better and stressing less.
Begin small. Be realistic. Have a Plan B when life gets in the way.
And remember this: even a peanut butter sandwich is better than no dinner.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go decide how I’m going to deal with the 5 pounds of chicken that I just bought. Wish me luck.