COOK WEEKLY
WHAT IS MEAL PREP?
Meal Prep (sometimes called Batch Cooking) is a designated time where you prepare some or all of your meals ahead of time for the week.
FIVE REASONS TO MEAL PREP:
1. It’s easier to eat healthy, since food prepared outside of the home is typically higher in calories and of lower nutritional value. A study from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University found that when people cook most of their meals at home, they consume fewer carbohydrates, less sugar and less fat, than those who cook little or none.
2. It will save you time. Although you’ll have to invest about 2 hours one day (Sunday is generally a popular Meal Prep day), it will actually end up saving you loads of time later during the week since all you’ll have to do is reheat the meal.
3. It makes meals more affordable. Eating out can be expensive and preparing meals for the week can help you save money.
4. It can help reduce stress. With Meal Prep you do not need to worry about what are you going to eat during a busy week.
5. It may help you reach your weight goals. For basically every aspect in life, planning ahead is key to staying on track and reaching your goals, including goals related to healthier eating and weight management.
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED:
Start small by making just 1 recipe to last you the week (such as a veggie frittata or a 3-bean salad) to get into the habit of Meal Prepping. Then you can add new recipes into your rotation each week.
Once you can handle more than 1 or 2 recipes aim to include all the food groups so that you can build a full meal and mix and match a few of the following: lean proteins (grilled chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, ground turkey or tofu), whole grains (whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, oats), and veggies (such as pre-cut veggies for snacks or salads or roasted vegetables). Plus, don’t forget to have some fresh fruit and heart healthy nuts on hand to be served as a snack or side with meals.