Summary: Here are 5 tips for incorporating food prep into your own routine so that you can have healthy meals all week long without spending all your time cooking.
One thing that has made a huge difference in my ability to eat healthy, homemade food during the week is using a little bit of time on the weekend to do food prep. And for someone on a budget, it’s much less expensive to bring my own packed lunch than it is to run out and grab a meal for $8-$13. That adds up!
So today I want to share 5 tips for incorporating food prep into your own routine so that you can have healthy meals at hand all week long, without having to take the extra time to cook during your busy week.
- Start With A Plan: Know ahead of time what you plan on prepping and making for the week. This way you can go to the grocery store with a set list and you know exactly which items you can prep ahead of time. For example, if you’re making salads with grilled chicken on top for the week, you know the ingredients you need and you know you need to grill and slice the chicken beforehand.
- Double Recipes: Doubling recipes is a great idea when it comes to snacks and breakfasts. Doubling recipes is also great if you don’t mind eating the same thing for lunch all week, like I do. If you find a recipe for two, double it for your lunches. If you find a recipe for crock pot oats that serves four, double it and then freeze any extra servings for the next week!
- Don’t Over Complicate: Sometimes when I’m prepping I decide to try a new recipe, but by the end of the day I’m overwhelmed with figuring out what to prep and how to make the recipe (I’m no chef!). Especially if you’re just starting out, stick with recipes you know by heart and you know that you love. It’s especially awful when you make something you don’t like and then have to eat it all week.
- Even a Little Helps: I love prepping my full lunches and dinners for the week, but you don’t have to! Just doing a few small time-saving things can make a huge difference. For example, grilling some chicken, hard boiling eggs, or chopping veggies can make your week a little bit easier.
Target Certain Times: When are you most likely to run out and spend money, or reach for something unhealthy? Make sure you focus on those times of the day/week and prep for them.That way you’re helping your future self avoid some bad choices!