The Truth About Meal Prep and How To Make It Easier
#MealPrep has over three million tagged pictures on Instagram. Seriously. Go look at it. There are also accounts dedicated to meal prepping, like @mealpreponfleek and @mealprepdaily, with hundreds of thousands of followers. The photos are captivating, inspiring, and . . . intimidating as hell!
People are OBSESSED with meal prep. And for good reason — there are countless benefits to planning and preparing your meals ahead of time, and it's a surefire way to help you eat healthier and lose weight. I myself have touted its ability to help save money and provide more nutritious food throughout the week. But while everyone is singing its praises, here's what they're not telling you: it's not that easy. This might get some people riled up (trigger warning), but I have to say it — meal prep kind of sucks, and we need to address it.
No matter how simple meal prep may look, there's a lot of legwork. In this blog we’ll go over what you need to be aware of ahead of time so you don't get so frustrated you give up forever and a few helpful tools that can speed up the process. Because in the end, it's absolutely worth it, but we need to talk about the parts that suck so we can come into it with a positive attitude and sustain this helpful, healthful practice each week. For those of you who have been struggling through these things, know you're not alone!
The dishes are going to be a pain in the ass. Pots, pans, bowls, whisks, knives . . . when you're cooking food for the whole week, you're going to have almost a week's worth of dishes to clean up. Plus, if you're working with limited equipment, you may need to do some midprep washing to continue your healthy endeavors. Just know this ahead of time to prevent frustration!
The entire thing is like the kitchen Olympics. Have you ever tried cooking quinoa on the stovetop with chicken in the oven while chopping veggies and whisking up a salad dressing? It's like jumping up and down on one leg while rubbing your stomach and patting your head, but your head is on fire and the room is on fire and everything is on fire. OK, maybe it's not that dramatic, but if you're lacking culinary prowess, this can be more than daunting at first. Start by cooking foods you're more familiar with. Is cooking brown rice easier for you than cooking quinoa? Start there! More familiar with how to sauté asparagus versus sweet potatoes? Go for the greens. Keep a familiar "control group" when you're starting out so you're not overwhelmed by too many new projects.
The prep requires prep. You'll need to know exactly what you're making ahead of time in order to have all the groceries you need. I can't tell you how many times I've returned from the grocery store only to curse at the sky saying, "HOW DID I FORGET EGGS?!?" You'll need to choose recipes and map out each day of meals, and from there, create a list of groceries. Make that list, check it twice. Or three times.
Making your own weekly plan is hard. Unless you're Bobby Flay, creating a delicious week of meals can be intimidating, if not outright impossible. It's OK to rely on a preset meal plan! You can find meal prep ideas here on Stronger Fitness Kitchen, browse Pinterest, or try our meal plan programs like — we craft weekly meal plans and specifically outline what you'll be eating and when and include grocery lists.
It takes forever. Meal prep takes a long time, particularly when you're new at it. Once you have a routine, a rhythm, and a set of recipes, it will get easier. You need to carve out time for this so you don't rush and then end up with burnt (or half-cooked) food, incomplete meals, or high stress levels (or all of the above). There are hacks to make meal prep easier, and you'll get faster over time — just be patient!
You're committing to a new lifestyle. This might sound weird, but it's not just an activity . . . it's a new way of life. You'll be grocery shopping a LOT more (produce goes bad quickly — looking at you, avocados), and you'll be sacrificing some of your weekend to commit to healthy eating throughout the week. It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes commitment — but the payoff is amazing.
So now you know. If you've been meal prepping on your own, buried in a mountain of dirty dishes that never seems to shrink, wondering why everyone is so joyfully obsessed — it's because they got past these hurdles. But you're not the only one with these frustrations! Meal prep is just like exercise; it's hard work, sometimes you hate it, sometimes it makes you miserable, but in the end, you feel incredible, and you're doing something awesome for your body.
If you're still feeling overwhelmed with meal-prepping, I’m here to help! To keep you motivated, organized and save you time, I’ve scoured the internet and hunted down the hottest kitchen gadgets everyone is snatching up right now. From spiralizers to air fryers and food savers, you'll wonder how you ever lived without these useful tools. I’ll let you know where to find it cheap and how it can make your meal prepping easier!!
Digital Kitchen Food Scale and Measuring Cup
You'll never misread a measurement again with this handy Digital Kitchen Food Scale and Measuring Cup ($25).
2.Herb Saver Best Keeper for Freshest Produce
Make sure your herbs stay as fresh as possible by storing them in this Herb Saver Best Keeper ($7). Simply refill it with water every three to five days, and it will last longer.
3. Ninja Air Fryer
Air fryers are all the rage right now, and this Ninja Air Fryer ($89.99, originally $130) is a bestseller on Amazon.
4. Vegetable Chopper Mandolin Slicer Dicer
Chopping just about everything will be a breeze with this Vegetable Chopper Mandolin Slicer Dicer ($28).
5. Spiral Slicer 5-Blade Spiralizer
This Spiral Slicer Spiralizer ($23) comes with five different size blades.
6. Food Huggers Reusable Silicone Food Savers
Save yourself from using plastic bags with these Food Huggers Reusable Silicone Food Savers ($13). You can even put them on top of cans and glasses.
7. Bamboo Cutting Board with Storage
How cool is this Bamboo Cutting Board with Storage ($39)?
8. Mini Digital Food Multifunction Scale
Not only does this Mini Digital Food Multifunction Scale ($40) weigh your food, but it helps you track food portions and calories.
9. Instant Pot
The Instant Pot we all know and love — the one that's completely transformed the way families prep and prepare what used to be time-intensive meals — is on deep discount right now ($79)!
10. Glass Meal Prep Containers
You can se these leakproof glass storage containers ($26) with lids not only for food storage in the fridge, on the go or in the office, but also for cooking and baking in the oven, too!!
