I feel like I need to put a major disclaimer on this post. Nutrition is entirely dependent on your individual needs, what works for me may not work for you. This point is simply meant to make nutrition seem a little less daunting by giving you some of my tips and tricks that have set me up for success. Personally, I track my macros to manage my food intake, but I don’t have any qualifications to advise you on how to determine what your macros should be.
Stick to the basics
One of the mistakes that I made a lot when I first started meal prepping was trying to make these elaborate meals with a ton of components. While yes, they tasted really great, it was not sustainable because the prep took me so much time. It also didn’t allow for any flexibility, because everything was pre-made and pre-portioned.
Now, I prep ingredients rather than whole meals. Generally, I cook a couple of chicken breasts and some ground beef as my protein sources, a few different veggies, and then usually some rice or pasta as my carb sources.
Set aside time for meal prep
My schedule kind of sucks right now, and there are days where I have to leave the house before 7 am and I don’t get home until after 9 pm. On those days, having all my meals prepped and ready to go means that I get to sleep a little longer and save myself a whole lot of stress. I like to prep for a few days at a time, so I typically will set aside about 2 hours or so twice a week to plan and cook. Certain things don’t prep well so I will make them as I go, like my oatmeal and eggs in the mornings, for example.
Get some nice containers and a good lunchbox
When I buy new containers I look for ones that are compact, leak-proof, and microwave-safe. I like glass containers for storing food at home, but I prefer plastic containers for on-the-go meals because they are way easier to carry around in my backpack all day. My favourite containers are from the Rubbermaid Brilliance collection.
A good lunch box is important, especially if you carry food with you all day like I have to. Find a lunchbox that is insulated that you can add ice packs to so that your food can essentially be refrigerated on the go. Lately, I’ve been using this super compact one from Amazon.
Don’t make it harder than it needs to be.
Seriously. Set yourself up for success by grocery shopping with a list, set aside some time to prep, and stick to the basics.