How to Meal Prep For Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

For beginners, make recipes you know you’ll love—anything less could result in wasted food (and wasted time). If you can multitask a little (use your oven and stovetop to prep more than one food at once, for example), you’ll cut down on time even more. Using a sheet pan to roast big batches of food can also cut down on prep time. I broke up with gluten in high school, fell in love with plant-based cooking at uni… and that kicked off 10 years of meal prep! Now I help busy people eat more plants, stress less about food, and build meal prep habits that actually stick.

Dietitian-approved tips for meal prepping

The wheat berries cook to fluffy perfection in just over 30 minutes, leaving you free to prep the rest of the ingredients. Make a batch on Sunday, and you’ve got a quick bite ready for enjoyment all week long. This recipe makes eight servings and is a good use of leftover brown rice or quickly cooked cauliflower rice or quinoa. No need to wait for rice to cook with this meal when you’ve got frozen riced veggies to keep the prep time short (and the carb count light). Meal prep is one of the most practical tools for supporting weight loss, saving time, reducing stress, and helping you stick to balanced nutrition. Not sure how to align your meal prep with your workout routine or strength goals?

Benefits of Meal Prepping for Weight Loss

What would you normally get at your local takeout/delivery spots? I can guarantee that there’s a free, easy recipe for it online. The goal here is to count the exact number of meals you need for the next week. Without this information, you won’t know how many servings you’ll need or how much food to buy. Proper storage ensures your meals stay fresh and safe to eat. You can’t go wrong making this one-pan teriyaki chicken dish — it’s super easy to make, and you can customize each portion with the veggies of your choice.

Lunch:

There are so many ways to save time, food, and money by planning ahead; a great place to start is our meal planning for beginners guide. Having prepared meals in your refrigerator will do wonders for your nutrition. We are hardwired to take the easy route and our nutrition is no exception. Many of us struggle to eat healthy because many nutritious foods require some form of preparation in order for them to be edible.

What are the downsides of meal prepping?

The board doubles as a lid, so you can chop veggies, scrape them into a container, and tuck them away in the fridge for later. Say goodbye to wasting time in the kitchen thanks to IKEA’s easy-to-use mandoline slicer. It features three different thicknesses, which you can select quickly with a turn of the dial. After slicing your ingredients, hand-wash and fold up the slicer for slim, space-saving storage. This easy, five-ingredient tuna casserole will remind you of home.

Workweek Lunch

When aiming to lose weight, the best meal choices typically involve a balance of lean proteins, fiber-rich vegetables, and whole grains. These meals provide satiety, essential nutrients, and help regulate blood sugar levels. Meal prepping is one of the most powerful tools for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. By setting aside time once or twice a week to prepare balanced meals, you take control of your nutrition, save time, and reduce stress. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s consistency. Start with a few recipes, build your skills, and soon meal prep will become a natural part of your lifestyle.

Best Christmas Recipes

• This recipe is as simple as it sounds, and you don’t even have to measure any of the ingredients — just spread the amounts you like.
• Especially meal-prepping with a secret weapon – the Instant Pot.
• Freeze them or keep them in the fridge to use throughout the week.
• For weekly meal prep, use containers designed for fridge storage, like glass containers with airtight lids.
• Homemade TaquitosA super-fun appetizer or light dinner!
• Plus, we had small flats, a kitchen, and small fridges, so we couldn’t do much meal prep.

Meal Prep Guide, Instead, it’s about finding a system that works for you and your lifestyle. While the proteins, grains, or veggies are cooking, I make the most of that time by washing and chopping fresh produce. If three recipes call for chopped onion, I’ll chop all of it at once and store it in one container (or portion it into separate containers) in the fridge. Meal prep goes (sorta) gourmet with this simple but refined steak salad. As long as you keep the dressing, veggies, and meat separate until it’s time to eat, you can enjoy a bistro-style lunch or dinner several times a week.

Batch Cooking

Alternatively, Monday nights could be dedicated to making lunches for the week. Next, we’ll go over some key concepts of meal prepping and simplify the process into manageable steps. Silicone freezer bags are a great alternative to single-use plastic unimeal reviews and can be used for everything from storing fresh veggies to freezing pre-made meals. Mix and match for different meals without feeling like you’re eating the same thing every day.

Tales of a Shrinking Boy: My Approach to Sustainable Weight Loss

But once you understand the basics, it becomes a powerful tool https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/ that saves time, money, and stress. Whether you’re a student, a busy professional, or a parent, these meal prep tips will simplify your weekly routine and help you make healthier food choices effortlessly. Most people do not struggle with healthy eating because they lack motivation.

BLT Pasta Salad

Thermal, stainless steel containers are often airtight and leak-proof. They can be the ideal solution for keeping food warm or chilled. All of these are totally valid ways to meal prep, and when you’re getting started, you may want to experiment with one or all of them to see what you like best. Whatever your meal prep style or reason, here’s how to get started. There’s no one way to master the art of meal prep — and that’s part of the beauty of it.