Getting into the Habit of Meal Prepping
This post was contributed by Megan Moret, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student who worked with us here at Parker Place as part of her final capstone project in the fall of 2021.
Meal prepping is the technique of preparing multiple meals at a time for later consumption throughout the week. This includes pre-planning your breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, or all of the above! By having these meals premade and pre-portioned for you, there is less temptation to opt for drive-thru or restaurant alternatives. Although this method takes slightly more planning, it allows families or individuals to relax and feel organized throughout the week with one less daily responsibility.
Meal prepping is an excellent solution for busy parents or individuals who cannot dedicate time every single day to preparing healthy food options. Setting aside a few hours to meal prep one day per week will keep your daily routine simple and allow more time to spend with the family. Meal prepping does not align with any food restrictions or specific diet. The purpose of this technique is to promote the convenience of healthy, pre-planned, and pre-portioned meals that are ready to consume through the week. You can continue making your favorite healthy recipes by doubling the recipe to fit the needs of your meal prep plan and family size. Once your recipe is complete, you can package the contents into containers to ensure availability of pre-portioned healthy meal options throughout the week.
There are a handful of businesses that sell meal prep plans by cooking and pre-packaging these meals for you to pick up in bulk for the week or month. However, by doing your own meal-prep you are able to save money and remain on track for your personal health goals. It is cost-effective to have your meals pre-planned for the week by saving money on less healthy or fresh options from restaurants. This is a great way to put your organizational skills to use and simplify your week while saving time and money!
Finding a few healthy recipes that you or your family enjoy will take the planning process out of your day by creating meal options ahead of time. You can get creative in the kitchen and find meal prep combinations that fit your health needs and personal preferences. Check out this video to learn more about meal prep and simple recipes to get started.
Here are some healthy meal prep recipes and quick video demonstrations to inspire you!
Breakfast:
Lunch or Dinner: