How Meal Prep Can Save You Time and Money
The modern man’s schedule can often feel like a constant hustle. Balancing your career, social life, fitness, and personal goals often means time is a premium commodity. Meal prep is a fantastic solution that can help streamline your week, ensure you’re fuelling your body with nutritious grub, and even save you some dosh in the process. So let’s break it down, lads, and get you on the meal prep bandwagon.
Batch Cooking: The Cook Once, Eat Thrice (or more) Strategy to Meal Prep
Say hello to your kitchen’s new MVP. Batch cooking is all about maximum output with minimum effort. Make a hearty curry, a protein-packed chilli, or a veggie stir-fry in large quantities. Portion it out into Tupperware or freeze for future use. You’ll thank yourself during the week when you’re reaching for a homemade meal instead of a takeaway menu. Consider using a large slow cooker or pressure cooker like the Instant Pot Duo, which makes it even easier to cook in bulk.
Assemble the Troops: The Individually Portioned Meals Approach
Like to keep things fresh and varied? Then this is your strategy. Spend some time cooking a range of proteins, carbs, and veggies. Get creative with your combinations during the week. You can mix and match grilled chicken, brown rice, steamed broccoli one day, and go for quinoa, salmon, and bell peppers the next. To keep your ingredients fresh and separated, Sistema Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers are a great bet.
The Sous Chef Strategy: Pre-Prepped Ingredients
If you’re a fan of daily cooking but dread the preparation time, the ‘sous chef strategy’ is your secret weapon. Spend your Sunday chopping up a storm, marinate your proteins, or cook up a few different types of grains. This way, you’ve got the base ready for whatever dish you feel like cooking up during the week. Check out the Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor for efficient chopping, grating and mixing.
Meal Prep Your Snacks Too : Healthy Munching Made Easy
Make sure you’re not reaching for the crisp packet when the midday munchies hit. Prepare a variety of snacks at the beginning of the week – think carrot sticks, protein balls, Greek yogurt with a handful of berries. Portion them out for each day, so you have a healthy, satisfying snack when hunger strikes. Try the Sistema To Go Collection Mini Bites for snack-size portions.
Freezer Meals: The Ready When You Are Approach
Ever wish you had a healthy ready meal waiting for you after a long day? Enter the freezer meal. Cook a casserole, lasagna or a batch of your favourite soup, and freeze it in portion-sized containers. All you’ll need to do is reheat and serve on those manic days. I personally use these BPA free multi compartment containers i found on Amazon UK.
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Theme Days: Because Variety is the Spice of Life
To keep things exciting and varied, consider having theme days. Make Monday the vegan day with a delicious chickpea curry, or celebrate hump day with a flavoursome pasta dish. Theme days are not only fun but also simplify your grocery shopping and meal planning.
And there you have it! Meal prep might seem a bit daunting initially, but remember, it’s all about what works for you and your lifestyle. So grab those aprons, invest in some decent Tupperware, and let’s get prepping. With a bit of patience and trial and error, you’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without it. Here’s to a healthier, stress-free, and more cost-effective way of eating. Cheers to that!