There’s been a lot of buzz lately about meal preparation, or what’s often referred to as meal prep.
You’ll see countless pictures of creative meal prep ideas on social media and in fitness magazines. And odds are that you’ll find some type of contraption in your local gym or supplement store, like flashy coolers that you can tote to and from any activity throughout the day.
So what’s the big deal? Why is meal prep so important? First, preparing meals ahead of time is one of the most successful methods of achieving body transformation. Second, it teaches us about basic nutrition and what helps our body perform in an optimal manner. Third, it can dramatically alter our eating behavior and decrease the grip that sugar and processed food addictions can have on us.
Despite the fact that meal prep has worked for millions of people, a lot of us remain intimidated and even overwhelmed by the entire concept. We live in a fast-paced society with many conveniences like fast food and takeout. And we often wrongly perceive meal prep as resulting in boring foods that lack favor.
Fortunately, here are some ways to make meal prep easier:
- Make a list: Instead of going to the grocery store and winging it, make meal prep easier and stay on track by sticking to a grocery list. This will help you avoid unnecessary or impulse choices. And once you have these foods on hand, you’ll be more likely to prepare them.
- Storage containers: Purchase glass storage containers and sort your proteins, starches and healthy fats. This makes meal prep easier by creating organization and helping you balance out your meals.
- Cooler bags: There are some really great cooler bags such as 6 Pack Bags that help you bring food with you when you’re away from home.
- Food scales: Instruments such as these help you become aware of how much food you’re eating, or not eating. This is crucial when you want to change your body.
- Measuring cups: This might seem like an obvious step, but it really is one of the best ways to make meal prep easier and more successful. Like food scales, measuring cups help you learn about portion sizes.
- Practice: Lastly, but possibly most importantly, if you want to make meal prep easier, it simply takes practice. With a bit of time, the entire process will become easier, and you’ll be even more encouraged to continue this behavior as you see your body improve!
