Healthy Meal Prep Tips for the New Year
We all make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, and many of us center our goals around healthy eating. But we all know how easy it is to start off strong in the first couple of weeks of January, only to find our new healthy habits slipping away as our schedules fill up and energy levels dwindle. That’s where meal prep can come in handy.
Weekly meal prep gives you all the benefits of healthy eating without the stress of crafting new and complicated recipes every day of the week. Instead, you can simplify your meals, streamline your cooking and still hit your healthy eating goals – all year long.
Here are some easy meal prep tips to help you turn healthy eating into a long-term habit for the year ahead:
Start Small
It’s easy to let enthusiasm carry you away at the beginning of the year, especially when it comes to making resolutions. But if you’ve never meal prepped before, it’s a good idea to start small and get a few wins under your belt before going all out. Even if you just start by prepping breakfasts for the week, a small victory will encourage you to power through and solidify your new habit.
Organize the Kitchen
Any experienced meal prepper will tell you that an organized kitchen is a must. Before you launch into meal planning and list making, organize your fridge, freezer and pantry. Get rid of anything expired and donate anything you know you won’t eat. Once you’ve organized, you can easily spot what you have on hand and know exactly what you need when the time comes to whip up a grocery list.
Purchase Quality Storage Containers
If you don’t already have good, high-quality storage containers, it’s time to take the plunge. There are various sets available from online retailers in all shapes and sizes to accommodate everything from quick breakfasts to dinners and daily snacks. These are some of the most important tools in your healthy eating arsenal, so make sure not to skimp on them!
See more:Â 40 Nourishing Recipes You Can Make With Pantry Staples
Stock Up on Essentials
Meal prepping is easiest when you feel enthusiastic and have a lot of spare time to dedicate to researching and trying new recipes. But it can get tough when you get busy and crunched for time. That’s why keeping a well-stocked pantry of healthy essentials is important. It’s much easier to whip up a wholesome meal when you have most of the things you need right at your fingertips.
Schedule Consistent Weekly Meal Prep Time
Pick a day and time that works for you – and stick to it. The first few times you work on your meal prep may take a long time, but it won’t always be that way. Once you have a system in place and know what works and what doesn’t, you’ll find yourself knocking out the menu and grocery list in no time at all!
Plan Healthy and Delicious Meals
Everyone knows how important it is to eat healthy meals, but who really wants to munch on salads day after day? There’s no point in pouring your time, energy and money into preparing food you aren’t going to enjoy. It’s also a guaranteed way to give up after the first week or two. Instead of sticking to boring and basic meals that aren’t going to get you excited for lunch hour, take time to find recipes that look healthy and delicious to inspire you to cook (and enjoy) your meals.
Make Enough for Leftovers
Want to avoid cooking every single day? It may take some trial and error, but once you find a recipe you love, make a double batch and enjoy leftovers the following day. You can repurpose them for an easy lunch or enjoy the same dinner two days in a row.
See more:Â Make Weekly Meal Prep Easy With Salad in a Jar
Be Efficient With Time and Resources
If you have multiple recipes on your weekly menu that call for similar ingredients, such as a carbohydrate, consider doubling up. Instead of using brown rice in your burrito bowl on Monday and quinoa in your chicken skillet on Wednesday, cook an extra batch of brown rice and use it in both dishes. It saves time and money and makes it easier to throw together each dish in a flash.
Prep Fruits and Vegetables Immediately
Nobody wants to spend time washing, drying and slicing produce for dinner after a long day at work. Even if it only takes a few extra minutes to chop the carrots and tomatoes, knowing you have to do that extra little bit of legwork before getting dinner on the table could send you flying to the nearest fast food joint. Instead of waiting to deal with produce the day you need it, go ahead and wash, prep and store as much as you can as soon as you get home from the store or farmers market. You’re much more likely to use and eat fresh ingredients that are already prepped and ready to go.
Take Advantage of Your Freezer
Similar to making a double batch of a particularly delicious meal, consider making extra portions of your favorite recipes to freeze for the following week or two. This is especially handy since you only have to cook once instead of multiple times, and those stored meals can be real lifesavers when you’re in a pinch and need a back-up plan for dinner.
Have Fun
Meal prepping may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Solidify your new routine by finding ways to make it a fun and satisfying part of your week. Turn on your favorite movie, listen to a playlist or podcast, or get the whole family engaged to make meal prep go by faster. Whatever you need to do to make healthy eating easier, give it a chance. Having fun at the same time is a wonderful way to build long-lasting healthy eating habits for the year ahead.
Meal Prep Recipes to Try
Ready to get started with meal prepping this year? Try some of our favorite healthy recipes: