What Are Your Tips for Successful Meal Prepping and Planning?
Dive into the world of meal prepping and planning with guidance from those who know it best. This article distills the wisdom of culinary experts and seasoned meal planners to help you streamline your routine. Discover practical tips that transform kitchen chaos into a symphony of well-orchestrated meals.
- Start with a Detailed Plan
- Pick a Day for Meal Planning
- Prepare Basics for Quick Meals
- Master the Obvious Steps
Start with a Detailed Plan
Starting with a detailed plan and manageable goals makes meal prepping much easier. Preparing meals in two to three-day segments works better than a full week’s prep because it maintains food freshness and supports meal diversity. I prepare several meals in advance by cooking a flexible base like vegetable stew or grilled chicken, which I pair with rice on one occasion and use in a salad on another.
By using one-pot recipes together with a slow cooker, I am able to decrease both cooking time and the amount of cleaning required. Also, good storage containers make prepped meals stay fresh while providing easy access. I discovered that maintaining a list of preferred meal-prep recipes eliminates decision fatigue and accelerates the meal prep process with each attempt. Simplify your routine while maintaining organization and choose a system that integrates seamlessly with your daily life.
Renato Fernandes
Clinical Nutritionist, Saude Pulso
Pick a Day for Meal Planning
Meal prepping is a real game-changer for staying on top of your eating habits while juggling a busy schedule. One of the best tips I can offer is to start by picking a day to do all your meal planning and grocery shopping. This way, you’ve got everything ready to go when you’re ready to cook. Lots of folks like to use Sunday as their prep day—it sets the tone for a week of good eating and less stress about, “What’s for dinner?”
Once you’ve got your groceries, cook in batches! For instance, roasting different veggies and cooking a big batch of protein, like chicken or beans, can save you a lot of time during the week. Then, it’s just about mixing and matching based on what you’re in the mood for. A slow cooker can be a lifesaver here—throw everything in in the morning, and come home to a delicious meal ready and waiting. Keep things varied to avoid meal fatigue; nobody likes having the same lunch five days in a row. In the end, remember the aim is to make your life easier and keep you eating healthy, home-cooked meals, no matter how busy life gets!
Alex Cornici
Writer, The Traveler
Prepare Basics for Quick Meals
Meal prepping for me is less about making full meals, but preparing the basics so that I can easily make something to eat in less time. For example, I like to prepare a large portion of rice at the beginning of the week so that I can easily reheat it whenever I want some. I also prepare the proteins—chicken, steak, or fish—by portioning and marinating them. Lastly, I cut up fruits and vegetables that I can easily snack on or cook into my meals. Often, when I am spending time cooking and making meals most of the time is taken up by cutting, marinating, and portioning things out.
Scott Clyburn
Founder and Director, North Avenue Education
Master the Obvious Steps
This isn’t going to win any awards for innovation, but mastering the obvious is pretty helpful: 1) make a menu/plan for the week and calendar the time needed to prep; 2) batch-cook everything that can be—and won’t suffer for being—cooked in advance BEFORE the week starts; 3) save the highly perishable or time-sensitive stuff (i.e., making guacamole) to right before serving.
Brad Cawn
Founder, New Dad’s Kitchen
