The Meal Prep Mastermind: A Week 1 Guide

Meal prepping is one of the best things you can do for your health, schedule and wallet. Meal prepping allows you quick access to fresh and healthy meals during the week and can also save you a ton of money that would otherwise be spent on takeaway meals.

For those who are new to the concept of meal prepping, it can seem like a daunting and overwhelming task. If you’re interested in prepping your own meals and don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

Today we have a look at 6 super handy tips when it comes to embarking on your meal prepping journey, so read on to find out more! 

Stock Up On Tools and Ingredients

Purchasing a few kitchen essentials is step one when it comes to meal prepping. While you don’t need to buy hundreds of dollars worth of items, we do recommend investing in the basics such as a food processor, hand mixer, cooking utensils and a few quality pots and pans.

Once your arsenal is stocked, the best way to get organised for your meal prepping session is to find your recipes and list down the ingredients you will need for your meals. This will save you a lot of time at the grocery store and will help ensure that you have everything you need to keep you well nourished and fueled throughout the week. 

Dedicate One Day a Week

When it comes to meal prepping, it is always wise to dedicate one day of the week solely for chopping, cooking and packing your meals for the next 5 days. Most people choose to do this on a cruisy Sunday evening so that their meals are ready for the work week.

Your one dedicated meal prep day will be the day in which you make the majority of your cooked dishes in bulk that you can then store in glass tupperware containers in the fridge. Simply take your meal out, heat it up in the oven or microwave and tuck into a wholesome, delicious home cooked meal even if you’re at the office. 

Choose More Than One Recipe

One of the biggest complaints about meal prepping is how eating the same meal for five days straight can become dull and unappetizing. To prevent your taste buds from getting bored, we highly recommend that you choose more than one recipe because in the end, variety is the spice of life.

By choosing a minimum of three simple recipes, you’ll be more inclined to eat your homemade meals instead of being tempted to head out for lunch when tastebud boredom sets in.  

Avoid Perishable Ingredients

The last thing you want is to open your lunch box on a Friday afternoon only to realise that your food has either gone off, soggy or has dried out. This is why choosing recipes and ingredients that can withstand being kept in the fridge for a week is so important.

If you’re making salads, keep the lettuce and other vegetables separate from the dressing to prevent your greens from going soggy. Keep in mind that some high risk ingredients include cooked rice and pasta, cooked meat and fruit. If you’re thinking of adding rice to your meal, we always recommend opting for microwave pouches that you can freshly heat up each day. 

Nothing Wrong with Store Bought

Meal prep is all about making your life easier, not harder. This is why there is no shame at all in using store bought components such as rotisserie chickens, bottled dressing, pre-shredded greens and anything else that will make meal time that much simpler. Grocery shortcuts are the holy grail of meal prep and will shave hours off your meal prep sessions, leaving you more time to relax and enjoy the weekend. 

Stock Up On Containers

Stocking up on containers may sound like a mundane task but it is incredibly important if you want to get your meals organised. When you’re cooking large amounts of food, it is important that you store your meals properly as improper storage may lead to food spoilage.

Using glass containers is always recommended as they last much longer than plastic and can also be used in the microwave and oven. You can also re-heat glass containers over and over again without having to worry about nasty chemicals leaching into your food. 

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With a little planning and organisation, you’ll find that meal prepping is a lot less intimidating than you once imagined. We hope that these handy tips have given you the confidence and knowledge you need to start on your very own meal prepping adventure!