5 Reasons You Should Meal Prep

I get it… you are busy. But you also want to eat healthy most of the time but being on the go makes it seem impossible.

Most of us are crazy busy during the week and can’t fathom the thought of having the time to cook a healthy meal for ourselves or the entire family. What can you do when you have limited time and want to avoid all of the quick and convenient processed food that is EVERYWHERE?

MEAL PREP. This is a game changer when wanting to become healthier/fitter and reach your goals. So here are a few reasons why you should meal prep for better results:

1. SAVES YOU TIME
Figuring out your meals for the day every time you wake up while you are rushing out the door isn’t gonna cut it. It usually ends up in grabbing random things to snack on and missing a balanced meal that your body needs. By preparing meals in advance, (usually on a Saturday or Sunday) you have healthy meal options ready to grab on the go and NO excuse to not eat right. It saves you time and calories. Spend 1-2 hours one day bulk prepping a few veggies, protein options, and carb options.

2. ALLOWS YOU TO STAY ON TRACK
We often eat whatever is easy and available when we are busy. If you have left over pizza, cereal, or pop-tarts on hand and no prepared meals.. most likely you are gonna choose one of the first items. With already prepared food, it becomes an instant option that is healthy and keeps you on track. 

3. SAVES YOU MONEY
Prepping meals allows you to eat healthy food every day instead of eating out or buying quick microwave meals that are processed and costly. Eating out every day or for every meal adds up quickly. It might seems costly to invest in meal containers and groceries but in the long run, it’s saving you extra money, time, and allowing you to eat food that will save you medical bills one day. With food ideas for the week, you also will most likely only buy the food you NEED so you won’t waste money on food that will just end up going bad. 

4. ALLOWS YOU TO CONTROL PORTIONS
Prepping meals allows you to control the exact amount of macros: carbs, protein, and fat, that you eat at each meal. Especially for those tracking macros, pre-weighing and measuring out food into containers will be a huge help and time saver. Controlling the portion sizes also will save you a ton of extra calories during the day. Yes, it matters WHAT you eat but also HOW MUCH you eat as well. 

5. ADDS VARIETY
I'm sure some of you have been down this road before… spending a few hours on Sunday prepping boring chicken and rice, getting tired of the same meal half way through the week, and then face planting into a box of pizza because you can’t take it anymore. That’s why prepping options is a wonderful idea. Grill chicken, make ground turkey, and have canned tuna on hand. Roast broccoli, boil green beans, and make cauliflower rice. Roast sweet potatoes as wedges, cook brown rice, pre-bag a tortilla. DON’T make the same food for every single meal. Mix & match. Add seasonings, spices, sauces, etc. Experiment with different combos. Don’t make it complicated but don’t be so repetitive that you go crazy and cave for fast food. 

Meal prep requires, time, effort, and motivation but once you start and get into the swing of things, it can become a great part of your week & help you get started in the right direction to reach your goals!