Meal Prepping for Beginners

There are a lot of ways to approach meal prepping, and the method you choose will depend on your own personal preferences and lifestyle. Some people prefer to cook all of their meals from scratch, while others prefer to use quick and easy shortcuts like pre-packaged meals or meal delivery services. No matter what approach you take, there are a few basic tips that will help you get the most out of your meal prep.

Meal Prepping Tips for Beginners

Plan Ahead

One of the keys to successful meal prepping is planning ahead. Even though this seems obvious, you need to take some time to think about what you want to eat for the week, and then make a shopping list accordingly. This will help you avoid making last-minute decisions that can lead to unhealthy choices. Plan ahead and buy some simple sides like rice or noodles. Search online for meal prep recipes or make a little extra when you are cooking for lunch the following week. 

Prep your Ingredients

Once you have your list of ingredients, take some time to prep them ahead of time. This might consist of chopping vegetables, cooking meat, or portioning out snacks. Having everything ready to go will make it much easier to put together healthy meals when you’re short on time. Once you go grocery shopping, come back and clean and chop the ingredients you will need, so when you are ready to either cook dinner or pack lunches for the week, it is already ready.

Get Creative

Meal prepping doesn’t have to be boring! Get creative with your ingredients and try new recipes that you’ll actually enjoy eating. As mentioned before, do your research! You would be surprised by the recipes out there that you can have for dinner or meal prepping for the week of lunches. You can take a recipe you already have and switch some ingredients out for substitutions to make it healthier. 

Be Flexible

Life happens, and sometimes our best-laid plans go away. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t meal prep as planned, don’t stress. There are plenty of healthy options that you can make on the fly. When you go to the store, frozen meals or fresh produce can make great meal options. Just make sure you make it by the date that it says to make it by. 

Beginner Meal Prep Recipe Ideas

Breakfast – Overnight Oats

Start your day with a nutritious breakfast that can be made ahead of time. Overnight oats are a great option, as they only require 5 minutes of prep time. Simply combine rolled oats, milk, chia seeds, and your favorite toppings (we like berries and almond butter) in a jar or container, and let sit overnight in the fridge. In the morning, you’ll have a delicious and healthy breakfast that’s ready to go. You can make multiple jars at once, so you can have this every morning.

Lunch

For a quick and easy lunch, try these veggie-packed wraps. Start by prepping your veggies – we like to use cucumber, carrots, and red pepper – then add them to a whole wheat wrap along with some hummus or tzatziki sauce. Wrap it up, and you’re good to go. These can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Dinner

This healthy stir-fry is perfect for meal prep. Simply cook your protein of choice (we like chicken or shrimp) and veggies in a pan with some oil and soy sauce. Once everything is cooked through, add it to a container or jar. When you’re ready to eat, simply reheat in the microwave and enjoy. This dish will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Now that you have the tools you need for meal prepping. Let Bektrom help you by providing you with some simple sides and meals that you can use!