Meal prepping has become increasingly popular in the states over the past few years, but the question is... is meal prepping right for you?
Meal prepping may be beneficial for you if you...
Like routines and planning.
Don't mind repeating meals.
Are willing to devote time each week to prep and/or cook.
Don't want to cook throughout the week.
Want to incorporate more home-cooked meals into you diet.
Want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your normal routine.
I find that taking the time to prep a couple of meals and chop vegetables for snacks and dinners early on in the week reduces stress and makes it easier to make healthy food choices.
What Should Meal Prepping Look For Me?
Meal prepping doesn't look the same for everyone. I personally don't meal prep in the stereotypical way - prepping breakfasts, snacks, and lunches on Sunday afternoon and dividing them into microwave safe containers for the entire work week. However, on most Sundays I DO prep vegetables (see more on that in this blog post) and make a breakfast and/or lunch option like my Sweet Potato Enchiladas that my husband Lucas and I can have for a couple of days. Since I'm testing and creating new recipes during most weeks for this blog, Lucas and I usually have a variety of lunch options to choose from during the rest of the week.
This is what works for me, but it might not work for you. What should meal prepping look like for you?
For you, meal prepping may look like taking time on Sunday afternoon (or whatever day you choose) to write down the meals you plan to make for the week, create a grocery list, and purchase everything you need without actually chopping or cooking anything.
For you, meal prepping may look like taking inventory of your pantry and fridge and searching for recipes with those ingredients without chopping or cooking anything.
For you, meal prepping may look like getting your groceries (in person or delivered) on Saturday then setting aside an hour or two on Sunday to prep and cook your breakfast, snacks, and lunches for the week.
For you, meal prepping may look similar to how I meal prep. You prep a breakfast dish (Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal and fruity crumbles are my go-tos!) and a lunch dish for the next two days, chop up raw vegetables for you to incorporate into snacks and meals that you cook during the week, and make a healthy grab-and-go snack option like these energy bites.
Like I said, meal prepping doesn't look the same for everyone. You have to decide what version works best for you and your lifestyle.
What Are Good Meal Prep Options?
Some foods are not very good reheated or saved for another day (I'm looking at you salads), but there are many breakfast and lunch recipes that are still delicious and sometimes even better the second day (I'm looking at you soups!).
Meal Prep Breakfasts:
Sweet:
Savory:
Meal Prep Lunches:
Pasta:
Soups/Chilis:
Other entrees:
Side dishes:
Meal Prep Snacks:
Sweet:
Savory:
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. When you make this recipe, tag me at @hope.for.balance and use the hashtag #hopeforbalance for a chance to be featured in my Facebook or IG stories. I LOVE seeing your creations!
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