Prepping meals can often be a challenge. We’ve all been there- with ten minutes until you have to be out the door for work, and you can’t find anything to take for lunch. It seems like you must settle for a protein bar or go out to lunch again. While it is better to eat something rather than skip lunch altogether, a balanced lunch can help you feeling satiated throughout the day and has numerous health benefits. Some of these health benefits include weight management and reduced risk of chronic diseases. A balanced meal incorporates all food groups, including fruits and vegetables, protein, whole grains, and fats. Meal prep can be a great tool when it comes to keeping your fridge stocked up with balanced meals and snacks.
Meal prepping can seem like a daunting task. However, it can save you time, money, and increase your confidence in the kitchen. It can be useful to start taking a few steps to “revamp” your pantry prior to meal prepping, but this doesn’t mean starting from scratch. As you’re cleaning out your pantry, take inventory on what you have, throw out expired items, and donate food you don’t plan on eating. Next, stock up on pantry staples that will be useful to have on hand. This will vary from person-to-person, but common pantry staples are spices, condiments, broth, cooking oil, grains, etc. Lastly, investing in some basic kitchen supplies can make meal prepping a lot easier. Some of the supplies I recommend are Tupperware containers, a saucepan with lid, measuring cups, a baking sheet, and some basic knives.
The routine of meal prepping can take some time to get into. It is helpful to map out the meals you plan on having for the week to help create your shopping list. Next, think about the times you have available to devote to meal prep. Thinking realistically about the days of the week that you can devote to meal prepping can be helpful as well. This can look different for everyone, and it may look like devoting 4-5 hours on a Sunday or 2-3 hours two days a week. Play with your schedule and choose what works best for you!
Led by wellness experts within our campus community, Wellcats is your FREE employee wellness program designed to help you improve your overall health and well-being. Visit the Wellcats website to learn more!