By Jem Hanan, Contributing Blogger
Here at RBX, we know that meal prepping can sometimes seem like the most monumental task. However, that overwhelming feeling shouldn’t stop you from starting the year off right with delicious meals that make you feel good. That’s why, for the new year, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to make meal prepping manageable, forgiving, and fun! You deserve to eat the way you want, and we’re here to make that process a bit easier.
1. Start Small
When beginning your meal prep journey, it’s tempting to dive in headfirst and plan each and every meal. From my experience, that usually turns out to be a recipe for disaster (pun intended). Although the gung-ho energy is great, channel that into 2-3 meals per week rather than 3 meals a day 7 days a week right off the bat. Once you get comfortable with that, then add another 2 in. By slowly building up the amount of meals you prepare, the process of prepping will feel way more manageable right off the bat, and you’ll feel encouraged to continue.
2. Get Organized
There are a ton of sites and applications out there that can be a super useful tool in your meal prepping journey. Even something as simple as a spreadsheet can be a huge help in organizing yourself for the week to come. There are also meal prepping templates available for download on the lovely place we call the internet, so all you have to do is plug in your meals, ingredients, etc. If you're someone who prefers physically writing things down, set aside that empty journal that’s been sitting on your bookshelf for years or buy yourself a new one to use for meal prepping. Seeing your plan laid out in front of you in a neat little chart will make the process feel much less overwhelming.
3. Keep It Simple
Simple, staple ingredients will make your life much easier when it comes to meal prepping. Think rice or pasta for carbs; meat, eggs, or beans and chickpeas for protein; spinach, sweet potatoes or carrots for vegetables. Ingredients like these not only have a longer shelf life, but will simplify the decision-making aspect of meal prepping tenfold. Obviously, it will take some experimentation to see which foods work for you, but that will also make the mixing and matching of staple ingredients a fun and exploratory process.
4. Befriend the Freezer
Don’t be afraid to utilize your freezer and fill it with all kinds of foods in ready-made portions. Freeze cooked meat and fish (like salmon or cod) for convenient reheatable proteins. For a vegan option, measure portions of beans and lentils for some proteins that can easily be thrown in a soup or salad. Freezing sturdy vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower and leafy greens like spinach or kale will keep them fresh for a stir-fry or side. In some cases, you can even freeze whole meals, like a burrito or curry. This will keep your kitchen well-stocked with ingredients you’ll feel good about eating, circumventing the time consuming nature that usually accompanies cooking a healthy meal.
5. Plan Ahead
The weekend is a great time to plan ahead for your week. Setting aside even just a half hour to chop some vegetables, marinate proteins, or cook some grains and legumes will be a game changer for the rest of your week. Then, utilize our last tip to keep the prepped food easily accessible and convenient to cook or reheat.
Extra Tip: Invest in airtight containers to keep your prepared food as fresh as possible throughout the week!
6. Don’t Forget Snacks
Having healthy snacks on hand is a great addition to meal prepping. A snack could be as simple as a hard boiled egg or more elaborate like a yogurt parfait. If prepping meals feels overwhelming, prepping healthy snacks is a great way to get comfortable with thinking like a meal prepper. If you're a more seasoned meal prepper, snacks are a great way to add variety into a routine that may start feeling a bit repetitive.
As we step into the new year, there’s no better time to start building habits that make life a little easier—and a lot healthier. Meal prepping doesn’t have to be about perfection; it’s about progress. Even small steps, like prepping a few snacks or planning a couple of meals, can save time, reduce stress, and help you stay on track with your goals. So grab those containers, plan your menu, and make this the year you finally say goodbye to the question, “What’s for dinner?”
