Maintaining a balanced diet is essential, and home-cooked meals are one way to achieve it.
However, not everyone has enough time to cook every day, especially whenworking a 9-to-5 job.
Meal preparation, or meal prepping, can be a good solution.
It can help you save time in the kitchen while enjoying a healthy, home-cooked meal.
Eating and enjoying your meals is the easy part.
Meal prep will require some work and a bit of time.
Heres a beginners guide to meal prepping to help you get started.
Here are some ways meal prepping can help improve your quality of life.
Meal prepping usually requires buying ingredients in bulk, and you could save a lot of dough that way.
Involves portion control
Ifyoure having trouble cooking or eating manageable and healthyportions, meal prep can help.
Part of meal prep involves portioning your meals.
It can help you eat healthier amounts and reduce food waste.
However, after you finish prepping, youll spend less time and mental bandwidth deciding what to eat.
Aside from saving time, you wont need to worry about buying ingredients and cooking when youre busy.
However, some types of foods last and stay fresher for longer.
Here are some of the best ingredients you could include in your meal plan.
You are going to freeze or refrigerate your meals, so some foods and textures might not hold up.
Softer fruits and vegetables and crunchy foods might not be the best ingredients for meal prep.
There are some ways to keep certain ingredients fresh, like packing them individually.
This method might not be as convenient and will require extra work.
but it might be worth it if you want to prep with them.
There is a wide range of techniques and ingredients you could explore.
you might also switch up your methods to suit your lifestyle and preferences better.
If youre just starting with meal prep, here are some basic steps you’re free to follow.
you’re free to use one or a combination of these meal prep methods to suit your needs.
Create a menu of recipes you want for a particular period.
see to it to consider your schedule and routine to work around it.
Start with some easy recipes you already know.
Keep things simple, and work with seasonal ingredients to ensure freshness.
Finally, schedule your prep.
Pick a day when you have free time to focus on the meal prep process.
Consult your recipe booksto see if you need anything else, and then go grocery shopping.
Aside from ingredients, ensure you have the right supplies depending on your prep method.
Prep and store
when you obtain everything, its time for meal prep.
Here are some tips to maximize your time and energy.
After preparing and cooking your meals, divide them accordingly into high-quality containers.
Label them with the date, then store them in your fridge or freezer.
Enjoy your meals
When mealtimes come, you’re free to easily access delicious, filling meals.
Cook or reheat your prepped meals and enjoy them yourself or with your loved ones.
Meal prep can seem like a daunting task, especially for a beginner.
However, the more you do it, the more you develop your skills and judgment.
After a few meal prep batches, youll soon develop your style and preferred meal prep method.
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