10 Meal Prep Tips Every Beginner Should Know

Looking to start your own meal-prepping journey? Well, it might seem complicated at first, but do not let that scare you off. With our help, you will have nothing to worry about. Meal prepping is far from confusing. When done right, it is as simple as ABC. You have the utmost freedom to customize your meal prep routine to fit your day-to-day life. Also, there is no need to spend money on fancy equipment; all you need is already in your kitchen.

With that out of the way, our goal is to provide you with 10 meal prep tips for beginners. With our help, you will be making a well-balanced meal that you can enjoy throughout the week. That being said, we will answer all of your questions regarding meal prepping, so let’s not waste any more time and dive right in!

Meal Prep Tips

The first question that comes to mind for most people that are looking to start meal prepping is “How to meal prep?”. Preparing meals in advance will help you to not miss important meals or substitute them for fast food. Additionally, starting out may seem complicated, but rest assured you will get better in no time. Here are our 10 meal prep tips every beginner should know:

Plan Everything

Without a plan, you will get nowhere. Take one day to plan everything for an entire week and prepare some healthy meal prep ideas. It is important that you create a shopping list for the ingredients you will need so as to not waste time when you are shopping. Try to add this to your already existing schedule and you will see the benefits in no time.

Organize

Organizing your pantry and keeping inventory goes a long way. You will not waste time searching for something not knowing if you even have it. A messy pantry equals messy cooking. Try to separate different food groups into different cupboards and shelves. Also, when you keep an inventory of your pantry, put the list somewhere you can access it easily so you can check it off when you run out of something.

Add Variety

When you decide to meal prep, preparing the same meals over and over for weeks is an easy trap to fall into. If you do this, it is bound that you will get sick of those meals. Try to add variety to your diet. Switching out the protein in a dish is a good way to freshen up your meals while focusing on healthy meal prep.

Fresh Ingredients

When you go shopping for ingredients, try to incorporate ones that are in season. This way you can get fresh, ripe, and delicious products that will make your dish super flavorful. For example, fruits and vegetables are tastier and more affordable during summer when they are in season.

Focus on Your List

All of us have experienced a situation where we buy more than we wanted to. When you are meal prepping this is not good at all. Sticking to your list is very important. Try to avoid shopping when you are hungry and also definitely avoid those snacks and soda aisles to avoid temptation.

Containers

If you are meal-prepping for the whole week, you will need adequate containers to store your meals. If you do not have them, we recommend that you buy containers that have separate compartments. This way you can keep different elements of the meal separate so they do not ruin each other. Additionally, portion control is much better with these containers and most importantly they should be microwave safe.

Flavor

Healthy food does not have to taste bland. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices. If you make a mistake you can always correct it and try again until you find that flavor profile that suits you. If you eat only bland meals every time, there is a high chance you will want to give up entirely. Create meals that you want to eat, not avoid.

Cook More Portions

If you are preparing food for the whole week, try cooking in bigger batches. When you get some experience with meal prepping and know what meals you like, cooking bigger batches can save you a lot of time and effort. That being said, remember to check that the meal you are preparing can sit in the fridge without going bad.

Find Other People

Nobody said you have to do this alone. There are plenty of groups and forums online where people share their opinions and recipes for meal prepping. This is a great way to get informed and acquire some new meal prep ideas while making some online friends along the way. Joining a community or a blog will help you to stay motivated in your journey while being able to share it with other people that have the same passion as you.