When starting a diet, there are a lot of things people do to help control their cravings and keep themselves fueled with healthy foods. Some people quit drinking soda or remove all sugar from their house, some people go with low carb diets and different protein shakes, but no matter what approach you take, meal prepping for weight loss is one of the best ways to stay on track for your diet.
What is Meal Prepping?
Meal prepping is the process of measuring out your meals and packaging them in easy-to-use containers for use throughout the week. Preparing these meals ahead of schedule means that you won’t have to cook or think about what to make each night. A lot of times, meal prepping involves adding a protein, starch, and veggie all in one cohesive meal. Depending on what diet you are following, those different foods can change.
Benefits of Meal Prepping
Meal prep is great for those busy individuals who don’t necessarily have time to make a lunch or dinner. Instead of stopping for fast food or grabbing something out of the vending machine, meal prepping allows you to have a well-balanced meal that only takes a few minutes to prepare. On top of the time savings, meal prepping allows you to portion out for foods so that you aren’t overeating and helps maintain your nutrition goals. Proper portion control is critical to healthy eating habits.
Meal prepping has a lot of great benefits when it comes to time and nutrition, but it can also help reduce stress throughout the day. If all your meals are prepared and ready to go, you won’t have to worry about running to the grocery store or trying to find something last minute that fits your diet. It can also be fun if you like to cook, and you can experiment with many different foods and proteins that you may not normally think about.
5 Tips to Meal Prepping
Just because meal prepping is a great way to stick to your diet, it doesn’t mean that it is easy. You will need to set aside time to prepare all the food, which can be difficult for busy individuals. Below are some of our tips and tricks to help stick to your meal prepping processes and get the most out of it.
- Pick a Specific Day to Make Meals
The most important part about meal prepping is to actually prepare the meals! To make it easier, pick one or two days of the week that you will make the food and package it. For example, making dinners on Sunday night is a great option for a lot of people, because the weekend is winding down and it gets them prepared for the start of the week. There is no wrong way to choose, as everybody has a different preference, but getting on a schedule can help ensure that you are taking the time to meal prep.
- Don’t Prepare Meals for Too Many Days
You may think that making meals for the next 2 weeks will save you a lot of time and money, but you may want to rethink that strategy. If you are making meals for too many days, food can go bad or start to get boring, which could cause you to throw away a few meals. Keep meals fresh and exciting by only meal prepping for a few days at a time, or a week at a time. It will help save time, money, and you won’t get bored of the same meal each day.
- Keep a Recipe Book on Hand
One way to keep meal prepping fun is to keep track of the recipes you are making and record them in a recipe book. If you don’t record what you’ve made, you may lose out on recreating your favorite dishes. Having a recipe book will also make it easier to decide what you want to make and keep the variety of meals different each time!
- Consider Each Food Group
Preparing meals is one thing but preparing a nutrition-balanced meal is another. Meal prepping is meant to provide healthy meals that follow your diet. Our suggestions it make sure you have a protein, like chicken breast or steak, some veggies, and a starch. This helps provide nutrients and keep you full without eating too much.
- Involve The Family
Last but not least, make meal prepping a family affair. Try to get your family involved to spend time with them and make meal prepping less of a “have to” task. You can also invite friends over and make it a fun weekend activity that helps everyone stay on track and join in the same weight loss and wellness goals.
Options Diet Program Meals
If you are finding it hard to prepare meals and get on a schedule, you can supplement your meal prepping with some of the pre-made meals from Options Diet Plan. From your favorite soups, to different sandwiches and pastas, we have plenty to offer that will satisfy your taste buds.
If you can make meal prepping more enjoyable and easier, you should! Losing weight isn’t always simple, so anything you can do to help will benefit you in the long run. If you find you are having trouble keeping on track or need some extra help, Options Medical Weight Loss is here to help. Talk with one of our weight loss experts and get a free consultation. A healthier lifestyle is waiting for you!