In other blog posts, I have spoken about how meal prepping can be a really good tool for anyone to utilise, especially if you’re a student. There are so many benefits: it saves money, it saves time, it reduces food waste, it reduces stress and, above all, it enables you to eat healthier and make better choices. Here are some tips to make your meal prepping experience optimal.
Make a shopping list
If you plan what meals you’re going to prep, make a shopping list to ensure you get everything you need. This will also help you spend less money when shopping on food you won’t need. Try bulk buying foods like meat, which you can freeze, or rice, which lasts a while, it will prove cheaper in the long run. Frozen foods, such as vegetables, are also a great cheaper alternative to fresh veg. But, do be mindful of fridge, freezer and cupboard storage. Storage space can be tight at university and you don’t want to waste food because you don’t have space to correctly store it.
schedule meal prepping time
A couple hours a week is all you need. But, if you schedule it in, there’s more chance that you’ll follow through. Enjoy it – stick on some music, or a One Coaching youtube vid, and get cooking.
Remember: macros matter
You don’t necessarily have to fully track your meals when you prep them, but take into consideration protein, carbs and fats when creating a meal. Start by choosing a protein source, like chicken, 5% lean mince, or salmon, for example. Then add some carbohydrate sources (rice or potatoes are great options). Then, throw some veg in there. Meal preps don’t have to be boring, but, sometimes, simple can be effective. Additionally, if you know something works for you, it digests well, and you enjoy eating it, there’s no need to change it.
If you’re struggling for some meal prep ideas, why not try some of these meals?
- Chicken, rice and broccoli (sounds boring, but if seasoned well, it’s elite)
- Chilli and rice
- Stir fry
- Overnight oats
- Salmon, new potatoes and green beans
- Caesar salad
- Chicken burrito bowls
- Pesto chicken pasta
If you need help with optimising your nutrition to see great progress, don’t hesitate to get in touch and book a call with one of our coaches today!
