Meal prepping is a popular trend amongst foodies and gym nuts that consists of planning and preparing meals ahead of time, often by days or weeks.
“Meal prepping makes it easy to stay on track with your nutrition by having quick, easy access to healthy meals,” said Tawny Schnorr, a nutrition consultant at Re:Vitalize Weight Loss and Wellness.
According to Healthline, a provider of health information and the benefits of healthy eating, meal prepping is the concept of preparing whole meals or dishes ahead of schedule. It’s particularly popular amongst busy or working people because it can save a lot of time. This way of preparing food can help people stay on track with their health or eating goals.
Any foods that hold up well in storage and can taste palatable after a few days of sitting in the refrigerator can be prepared. Meal prepping is convenient, efficient, reduces waste, and reduces temptation to eat outside plans, whether the plan is a diet or going on a budget. When cooking every day is out of the question, meal prepping can allow for home-cooked meals to be made without having to dedicate time each day for preparation.
According to Budget Bytes, a food blog that encourages food budgeting, meal prepping is not for everyone. It is ideal for people who value convenience and efficiency more than variety. With meal prepping, the same food is consistently eaten for a few days in a row, so if leftovers are not preferred or eating the same food repetitively becomes boring, meal prepping is probably not desirable. If having control over what is eaten, or maximizing time or budget is more valuable than eating something different every single day, meal prepping can work.
“For me, meal prepping has helped to keep balance in my diet,” said Kendyll Riley, a senior.
Foods that are often used in prepared meals include nuts, seeds, and grains, along with cooked meat, beans, and vegetables. These foods need to be stored and refrigerated before being eaten. Leftovers from previous lunch or dinner can work well to begin meal preparation, and the materials needed for meal prepping will be containers and possibly ziploc bags. Some tips to help beginners, according to Healthline, are to write in a calendar to not forget, start simple, and use dependable recipes. Usually, food is kept in refrigerators for around 4 days. However, depending on the food, it can be stored for up to one week at the most. After being stored for too long, food can change texture, taste, and potentially spoil or rot.
“I always write ahead in my planner so I don’t forget what to pack,” said Riann Raygoza, a junior.
Proven benefits of meal prepping include saving money and time, reducing stress, and eating healthier.