Learn about the benefits of meal prepping, including stress reduction and cost savings. Discover tips for selecting staple ingredients, freezing meals for longer shelf life, and creating variety in your meals. Explore the concept of 'hero meals' and the importance of meal containers. Get advice on using the right equipment, such as a slow cooker, for meal prepping.
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Quick takeaways
Meal prepping helps save money and reduce stress by providing readily available and accessible food options.
Meal prepping allows for diverse and enjoyable meals by combining versatile ingredients creatively.
Deep dives
Meal Prepping for Convenience and Wellness
Meal prepping is a solution to the relentless task of figuring out what to eat every day. Kevin Curry, founder of Fit Men Cook, shares that meal prepping involves cooking a variety of ingredients ahead of time and then mixing and matching them throughout the week. This approach allows for readily available and accessible food, reducing the need for last-minute grocery store runs or settling for unhealthy options. Meal prepping not only helps with budgeting and controlling spending but also promotes wellness by providing better control over one's diet. It allows individuals to make intentional food choices and learn about the nutritional content of different ingredients, creating a sense of discovery and knowledge about one's diet.
Versatile Ingredients and Meal Combinations
Meal prepping revolves around selecting versatile ingredients that can be easily paired with various flavors and eaten in different combinations. For example, bell peppers are affordable, flavorful, and packed with antioxidants. Green onions are convenient and can be added to multiple recipes. When it comes to grains, it's not just about brown rice; it's an opportunity to explore other options like black rice, jasmine rice, or farro. Protein choices for meal prepping include chickpeas, chicken, seafood, and occasionally beef. By combining these ingredients creatively, individuals can create diverse meals, avoiding monotony and enhancing their enjoyment of the food.
Strategies for Successful Meal Prep
Successful meal prep requires considering food storage and choosing ingredients wisely. It's important to invest in quality meal containers, preferably glass ones that seal tightly to maintain freshness. To build a container collection on a budget, purchasing a couple of containers each week can gradually accumulate enough for a week's worth of meals. Additionally, certain foods spoil faster than others, so it's essential to be mindful of their storage and use them within the appropriate timeframe. While hero meals, like lasagna or soup, have their place in meal prep, mixing up meals throughout the week prevents boredom. Exploring new recipes and dining out can also provide inspiration for meal prep and broaden culinary horizons.
What's for dinner? It's a question that can lead to overspending on delivery, unhealthy meals and dread. FitMenCook founder Kevin Curry shares meal prep techniques that can alleviate stress and save money. This episode originally published January 31, 2023.