» DON’T let meal Prepping be a chore. Meal prepping should be a fun and creative time, not something you dread! Reframe your thoughts to view meal prepping as a tool that will change your life because it is! meal prepping can help you hit every single one of your health goals! This is an opportunity!
» DO all your meal prepping on the same day, in other words, establish a meal prep day! I recommend shopping and preparing your meals on the same day. Pick a day that isn’t already busy, for most people that is a Sunday hence the phrase “Meal prep Sundays”. Prepping on the same day you shop will help alleviate clutter in your fridge and cabinets as well as prevent food waste.
Ok, let’s talk recipes! When looking at what to meal prep for your week...
» DO your best to find recipes with overlapping ingredients. The same ingredients can contribute to different meals. For example, bell peppers could be chopped and used in a salad, or into a great chicken salad! Rice could be a base for a beef dish and later a side for chicken or veggies (bell peppers). Sharing ingredients makes shopping and prepping more relaxed and less expensive.
Something else to keep in mind when choosing what to prep is to make sure you're preparing meals that will keep!
So important tip number #3 is...
» DO Use recipes that will keep at least a week. Choosing foods that will keep in your refrigerator is simple as long as you plan ahead. Proteins like chicken or beef are great options because not only will they keep, if you prepare them right but they will also maintain moisture. As for veggies, I have found that using a more hearty vegetable like fresh green beans, broccoli, or Brussel sprouts maintain their taste and crunch longer than other vegetables when cooked gently. No one likes soggy veggies!
» Alternatively, DON’T pick foods that do not keep or reheat well. Not every dish tastes the same after the first day. When thinking about the food that you're about to prep, consider the order in which you will consume the food. This is especially important for proteins like fish. Some seafood can taste odd and feel rubbery after reheating. If you're prepping a seafood like salmon. It would be wise to eat the fish one or two days later then save your chicken for the end of the week. Planning not only what you will eat but when you will eat which meal is something that is often overlooked in meal prep.
» You will need something reliable and durable, like our ISOBAG, so that you can be sure that your meals stay fresh throughout the day.