Entry 8: meal prepping 101

 Hey everyone, 


So while we're still in the thick of the new year feels, I really want to dive into meal prepping because it has honestly been instrumental in my fitness journey and I'm hoping that some of you might also be inspired to try it out as well. 

Not only is it helpful for saving time and ensuring you're always got a nice cooked meal ready for youy at lunch or after work but it can also help you to save money. By taking the time to plan your meals out and getting everything in one shop minimises the likelihood of extra supermarket trips during the week in which you're likely to leave with some extra goodies. 

So lets get into it.


Tip #1: invest in some good tupperware!

Please please please learn from my mistake and get good tupperware/storage containers from the get go. You'll thank me when your food doesn't spill in your bag and ruin a new top... :( 

And hey, it doesn't need to be super expensive. I hit up good old PaknSave when they had a special on tupperware one day and left with like 15 containers. Did I look crazy? Yes. But was it worth it? My god yes. 

Having said this, if you can afford to invest in glass or steel containers, that is definitely the go! There is a lot of research on BPA and the other different variations that we use which shows how toxic they are for our health. If you're storing things in there for shorter periods of time, its likely to be okay but the most important thing is to never ever microwave food in any plastic containers, even if it says that its microwave safe.

This might not be news to you but when I learnt this recently and read more about it I was shocked. 

Regardless, whatever you opt for, having good quality storage options is a must in the meal prepping game.  


Tip #2: set the scene

Okay this one might sound dumb but I swear it does actually make the entire process a whole lot more enjoyable. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I treat my meal prepping almost like a form of self-care. 

I put a podcast on that I'm excited about, I chuck my comfy clothes on, sometimes I light a candle and I get into it. 

Probably the biggest reason why this has been helpful is because it makes it a really fun and enjoyable part of my week - I actually really look forward to Sundays because I have created a process that I love so much. 

This is especially important because I see a lot of people starting out and then getting fatigued or sick of it. And sometimes this still happens. Like be completely honest, I didn't meal prep at all during the 3 weeks right before Christmas because I felt tired and didn't have enough energy for it. 

But for majority of the weeks of the year, I'm doing it and loving it. And that's because I've made it fun. 

It's like that saying "if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life" and its honestly very very true. 


Tip #3: start simple

Unless you're already a culinary wizard, save yourself the stress and don't attempt making 2 meals at the same time because you want to be more efficient. 

If you're prepping for lunches and dinners, I recommend starting off with 2 simple recipes and just cook them one at a time man. There are always gonna be some elements that you can do together like prepping everything at once and if you're using lots of the same ingredients that also makes it easier but it can get very stressful very quick. 

I would consider myself relatively competent in the kitchen but when you've got like 8 elements on the go at once, it can suddenly stop feeling like a nice self-care activity and take you straight into the masterchef kitchen. 

Once you've got your routine set and you're in the flow, its way easier to then make more complicated meals and experiment a bit more. 


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So theres my top 3 tips for effective meal prepping. I really hope some of you guys give it a go! It's definitely not for everyone but you never know until you try and it honestly is so so helpful. 

In future, I'm hoping to chuck out some recipes that I use for meal prepping in hope that it might give you some extra inspo and motivation so keep an eye out for that :D 

And hey, let me know if you give it a go and if you enjoyed it! 






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