Meal planning and prepping can be overwhelming when you first get started, but there are many different ways to meal prep and it’s important to find the ways that will work for you. Today I’m sharing some of my tried and true meal planning and prepping tips to help get you started on your meal prep journey.
Plan Ahead
The most important piece of meal planning and prepping is planning ahead. It’s important to have a plan you can follow, especially when you are first starting out on your meal planning journey. There’s a variety of ways to plan, but you will want to find one that works for you. You can try a planner on stuck to the fridge or create a plan in your phone, but whatever you are using make sure that it works for you and makes sense. If you’re new to the meal planning game start with planning one meal a day for a week and see how that goes. You can always add to this easily if all goes well.
Keep Your Recipes Handy
If you are someone using recipes keep them handy in the kitchen. You can create a recipe binder that stays in your kitchen or you can use your phone as well. This will help give you ideas when you are building your plan for the week and you won’t have to constantly be searching for your recipes.
Check Your Fridge, Freezer and Pantry
It’s important to check what you have that needs to be used up in order to prevent food waste. When planning your meals for the week take a look at the food that you already have on hand, especially stuff that is approaching expiry and work that into your plan for the week. This can help you save money at the grocery store too (you may not have to buy as many food items) and it keeps your food storage areas from having too many items in them that you won’t use up.
Create Your Shopping List and Stick To It
Once you’ve decided on your recipes and looked at what you already have on hand, create your grocery list. This list should include items that you need for the meals you plan to make and any staples that you need to stock up on. It doesn’t mean that every item you need for every recipe is on the list. Try to only add what you need to help keep costs low and avoid food waste. When you go into the grocery store aim to only buy the items on your list. Try to avoid any aisles that you don’t need to go down completely to help prevent impulse buying. If you really struggle to stick to your shopping list you can also try the grocery pickup option. Order your groceries online getting only what is on your list and then drive in and pick it up. I’ve really found that the online ordering helps me prevent impulse buying is a lot of situations so if this is something you struggle with, give this a try.
Set Aside Time for Prep
This doesn’t mean that you need several hours at a time to set aside (although if that works for you go for it). You can also just set aside 15 minutes here or there throughout the week if that works for you as well. Find what works for you, but schedule the time with yourself if possible in order to make sure that you can get your meal prep in. When you have this time scheduled and allotted to meal prep you are much more likely to get it done. This is one of the most important things you can do to achieve success when it comes to meal planning
Wash and Chop Your Vegetables Right Away
When you bring vegetables (and fruit) home from the grocery store, wash it and cut it up right away. How many times have you bought produce only to throw it out a week (or more) later? If we wash it and cut it up right away we are much more likely to reach for it because it’s easy and ready to go. I know there’s been times for me where I just decide I’m not going to use that vegetable because it’s not easily accessible after a long day at work where I want a super quick and easy dinner. If it’s already cut up and ready to go it’s easy to throw it in the air fryer or oven or even just to add it raw as a snack. Try this the next time you come home from the grocery store, I bet you throw out less produce if you do!
Store Your Meals in Clear Containers
Clear containers are a saviour when you are meal planning, and storing food. Not only can you put all the food together in containers and have it ready to go, but you can also see what’s in them when they are clear. Your containers don’t need to be crazy expensive or over the top. If I’m putting them in the microwave I prefer glass, but outside of that plastic works just fine. Portion your snacks and meals in clear containers to be easy to grab and easy to see.
Try choosing one or two and implement that before adding more. Which meal planning tip are you starting with?
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