Preparing your meals ahead of time (“meal prepping”) really helps with that.
(You, of course, will make something tastier.)
But meal-prepping has its pitfalls.
Maybe youwillget bored with your meals.
With that in mind, here are some beginner tips to ease into the process with your sanity intact.
Have a go-to breakfast
Before we start prepping anything, lets startplanning.
Were taking baby steps here, so dont worry too much aboutpreppingthis ahead of time.
Just double-check that it will bereadywhen breakfast time arrives.
For example, maybe your breakfast is yogurt and fruit.
Thats easy enough: Buy some yogurt and buy some fruit.
In the morning, it’s possible for you to put the two together.
Or you could make something the night before tograb on your way out the door.
A smoothie in a jar is perfectjust shake it in the morning and it’s ready to drink.
(Don’t use ice, since ice melts, but frozen fruit is fine.)
So on Sunday night, Ill prep jars for Monday and Tuesday.
On Tuesday night Ill make another pair.
Or the boxes you buy may turn out to be the wrong size once you start filling them.
I like the flat rectangular ones and theround one-pint soup containers.
And if, unlike me, you enjoy packing lunches bento-style, you’re free to getdivided containers.
(I likeeatingbento lunches, but it’s work to come up with something to fill each compartment.
Much easier to make a one-pot dish that fills the container by itself.)
For something more durable,these are made of thicker plastic.
If you’re prepping for more than one person, you’re free to add names as well.
For most of us, it will be lunch.
(It is fine if you never advance past this stage.)
I also recommend, at least at first,notplanning for seven days at a time.
For your first foray into cooking for the week, I recommend finding a recipe that makes three servings.
Two such recipes will get you through the work week with one to spare.
you’re free to even alternate the two meals.
On Sunday, make both your dishes so it’s possible for you to alternate.
Pop three of the meals into the freezer.
Then, on Tuesday or Wednesday, take them out of the freezer to begin to thaw.
If a meal is still slightly frosty at mealtime, just microwave it a little longer.
Try a recipe before you commit
Ready to start making that first meal?
Hold up: Did you choose a recipe youactually like?
Im not asking whether it looks good in photos.
That means that you might stay off the recipe websites for now.
Choose an old favorite; you’ve got the option to get experimental later.
Be lazy
This is honestly my most important tip.
When I started meal prepping, Id spend an entire Sunday afternoon shopping and cooking.
My feet would ache and my other household chores would be unfinished.
No time or effort was saved; it was just moved.
Ive gotten better since then.
Do I care that Mr. Joe gets half the credit for my culinary artistry?
Even when cooking from scratch, it’s not cheating to find ways to be more efficient.
Buy frozen veggies, since theyre already chopped.
Get a rice cooker if you find yourself using rice for a lot of your meals.
(Olive oil and garlic salt are perfect for broccoli or, to be honest, any vegetable.)
Chicken tenderloinsmarinated in mayoare another protein option that go with anything and can be prepared en masse.
Thanks to the extra moisture, they reheat superbly well.
Dont expect to get everything perfect at first; youll refine your workflow over time.
