Chances are the pandemic has left you with a bit more time on your hands, but with maybe a little less expendable cash. By now, you\u2019ve possibly heard about how many have sworn by meal prep and how it has saved people time and money \u2013 if you haven\u2019t considered meal prepping before, maybe this is the time.<\/p>\n
What it boils down to is batch cooking or ingredient prepping. Dedicating a portion of your time every week, usually at the beginning of the week, to prepare your meals or ingredients, or both, in advance. Save time, save money, and most of all reduce your food waste.<\/p>\n
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The one concern most people have with meal prepping is that they\u2019re scared that they will get bored with their meals throughout the week and just end up ordering in. This can be avoided if you prep ingredients along with prepping meals with the week. By simply preparing different ingredients, you\u2019ll have different options throughout the week if you choose to cook something different.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve come up with a list of helpful meal prep tips to help you start off. That way you\u2019re not spending your whole Sunday in the kitchen cooking up a storm for the upcoming week, but using your time efficiently and making sure you\u2019re cooking nutritiously. Make this \u201cchore\u201d a fun habit.<\/p>\n
You’ll always need reusable containers to store your pre-cut ingredients and pre-made food, make sure it\u2019s a good one. A smartly designed container, with compartments and sections, will make it easier to make sure everything has its place. It will also make it easier to transport your lunch if you are working away from home. Consider investing in some glass containers, it\u2019s better for the environment after all.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t think of it as a chore, think of meal prepping as an opportunity to listen to that podcast or audiobook that you\u2019ve been meaning to get around to for a while. Or turn on that playlist you like and dance along while you\u2019re cutting up those veggies. You can even bring your laptop into the kitchen and turn on Netflix and start rewatching Friends or whatever show your heart desires. No need to meal prep in silence!<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to think of recipes when you\u2019re ingredient prepping but it sure helps if you know you\u2019re going to be cooking in the week instead of just eating your meal-prepped food. Cook with ingredients that can be used in multiple ways, if you\u2019re big on eating chicken, cut up your chicken in different sizes and pre-cook it in ways that could go on top of pasta, in a sandwich<\/a>, or on a salad<\/a>. Another idea would be to pre-cut and wash your broccoli so that it\u2019s easy to throw in a frittata, stir fry or even alongside some chicken. It\u2019s all about thinking of different ways to use the same food so you\u2019ll bever get bored.<\/p>\n Look, we all get a little snacky but it can be hard to go for healthier snack options<\/a> if it\u2019s not already pre-cut or washed. Avoid reaching for that bag of chips by making sure you pre-cut some cucumber, carrots, red peppers that way you have a vessel to dip in some hummus, homemade or store-bought. Pre-cut some rosa tomatoes so you have something to throw on top of your avo on toast, throw some grapes or blueberries in the freezer for a delicious and nutritious sweet snack. It\u2019s all in the way you prep.<\/p>\n Switch it up! Maybe you and your family decide that you want to cook only Asian-themed food that week or Mexican<\/a> food, prep ingredients that could easily be thrown into those dishes. The same can be said if you decide to do one-week vegan<\/a> or vegetarian<\/a>, there are loads of ingredients that can be used more than once throughout the week keeping meal-prepping fun and exciting.<\/p>\n If you know you\u2019re going to be eating a lot of veggies throughout the week, cut them up and toss them in a pan and roast them all together. Saves up so much time and now you\u2019ve got a wider variety of options for the week. However, if you\u2019re someone who\u2019s not that into cutting up everything or is constantly short on time, don\u2019t hesitate to buy those pre-cut veggies at the store, that cooked rotisserie chicken or those packs of rice that only needs to be put in the microwave for 90 seconds. It\u2019s an easier way to meal prep that might cost a bit more but it\u2019s still definitely cheaper than ordering takeaway every night of the week.<\/p>\n![\"meal](\"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/mealprep1x5.jpg\")
The idea of prepping for the week can be intimidating to some so it\u2019s best to keep things simple. Cook and prep things you like, but keep it basic. Pre-cook a big pot of quinoa<\/a>, pasta<\/a> or rice, pre-cut your proteins, whether that\u2019s meat or tofu, wash your greens, chop your herbs, make your sauces \u2013 that way you can mix and match your basics throughout the week. Grab a bunch of ingredients and throw them in the blender for low-maintenance soups, you\u2019ve got a lot of ways to keep things easy, it\u2019s just the way you go about it.<\/p>\nVersatile Foods<\/h4>\n
Snacks! Snacks! Snacks!<\/h4>\n
Theme Week<\/h4>\n
Shop Smart<\/h4>\n
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We\u2019ve talked about how there is a way to grocery shop in a smart, efficient way so make sure to check out that article here<\/a>. Just keep in mind when you are trying to meal prep for the week it might be best to get items that have a longer shelf-life. Potatoes can go a long way, aloo gobi<\/a>, stuffed potatoes, potato bake, a side dish to your proteins, you name it.<\/p>\nTake Strategic Shortcuts<\/h4>\n