Meal Prepping
Five tips to make your time in the kitchen more efficient and your belly happy.
Meal planning and prepping are excellent personal health and wellness tool kit skills. Cooking more meals at home is good for your health and your wallet, and with some planning, you can fit it into even the busiest week.
The goal is to make the most of your time in the kitchen. Here are five tips to make your meal prep more efficient.
Plan out your menu
A layout of what you have to cook will make your time in the kitchen more efficient. Write down what each meal will have and create an ingredient list. Cross off every ingredient you have at home, and then make that grocery trip if necessary.
1
Prepare by preparing
Doing all the prep work before you start cooking will save you time and stress in your kitchen. Start by having everything you need to cook ready and nearby, including pots, pans, cooking spray, thongs, etc. Next, do all the prep. Prep work includes making your seasoning, slicing or cutting your meats, and chopping all your veggies. Once that is done, you can start cooking. This system will make your prep smooth and efficient every time.
2
Check your Inventory
Before you go out and buy any groceries, check your pantry and fridge. Look at your ingredients that might be going bad soon and build a meal using those first. You will avoid food going bad and will save a few bucks.
3
Use a Food Scale
Invest in a food scale. Using a food scale will guarantee your portions are accurate, and it will be easier to measure out everything. If you are following a specific plan, weighing your food is essential to build consistency. You can find food scales at your local Target or on amazon.
4
Make a Prep Schedule
Cooking every day can feel overwhelming, especially if you have a busy schedule. Instead, make your life easier by meal prepping twice a week. You will cut your prep time in half, and your food will taste better because it will only last a maximum of 2-3 days in the fridge versus 5-6 days.