10 Meal Prep Mistakes You Need To Stop Making & 10 Easy Recipes To Start With
10 Meal Prep Mistakes You Need To Stop Making & 10 Easy Recipes To Start With
Don’t Make These Common Mistakes
If you’re getting into meal prepping or have been doing it for a while, you want to be sure to avoid these common mistakes that overcomplicate and ruin the process. Additionally, if you’re looking for fresh new inspo, here are 10 easy recipes to get excited about.
1. Preparing Too Much
It’s very common to prepare too much, especially as you’re starting out and aren’t sure how much food you need. This can lead to waste and isn’t good for your wallet either, especially since this food can easily go bad if it sits too long. With that in mind, try to weigh your food and use portioned containers to eyeball quantity.
2. Forgetting Portion Size
Speaking of portion size, to make sure you’re getting what you need, try using the handful method. This means having one handful of a starch base, one handful of veggies, and half a handful of protein. Of course, don’t be afraid to customize it to your needs.
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3. Ignoring Variety
Lots of people get bored of meal prepping when they end up eating the same thing every day. Just because you’re prepping the same base, doesn’t mean you can’t switch up the sauces or work with multiple proteins for a little variety.
4. Unbalanced Meals
A lot of people focus so much on simple bases, veggies, and proteins, that they may forget to account for important nutrients or dietary needs. Make sure you use some variety in your protein source, and you can always incorporate fish for fatty acids, or certain veggies for healthy fats.
5. Using the Wrong Container
Not all containers are built the same. You want to make sure you choose ones that are easy to clean, are the right size for portions, keep items from spoiling, and fit neatly in your fridge!
6. Not Considering Snacks
Just because you’ve meal prepped your meals doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to snacks. Of course, you can prep some of those too, or you can go ahead and keep a few healthy snacks around for light grazing between meals.
7. Overcomplicating It
Lots of people overcomplicate it by having to follow specific recipes or having to make every box interesting or inventive. It doesn’t have to be so complex, and you don’t have to buy a bulk of veggies and work your way through it. Instead, don’t be afraid to keep it simple and make the food you already know you like.
8. Spending Too Much
While many people meal prep to stay on a budget, it can become easy to spend too much, especially if you’re always buying in bulk. If you’re worried about money, maybe start by buying for a week instead of purchasing a month’s supply outright. Additionally, make sure you actually like and will eat what you buy, or else it’ll go bad in the fridge.
9. Forgetting Emergency Meals
Even though you think you only need 14 meals prepped for the week, it doesn’t hurt to make some extra. This is because you never know when you’ll need an extra meal, whether it’s for a friend or because you’re just feeling very hungry that day.
10. Overcommitting
Just because you’ve decided to meal prep doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy eating out or going to restaurants. Sure, you’re worried about wasting a meal, but leave some flexibility in your life for friends and socializing as well, or else you might decide to quit.
Now that we have talked about mistakes to avoid when meal prepping, here are 10 easy recipes to try today!
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1. Grilled Chicken Bowls
This is a classic starter bowl, but its versatility and variety make it a major contender. The idea is to mix grilled chicken breast with roasted veggies on a bed of either brown rice or quinoa. However, it’s totally up to you to rotate different veggies or switch up the spices or dressing for different flavors.
2. Breakfast Bowls
It’s always fun to tailor meals for certain times of the day. For instance, if you know you’ll eat breakfast every day, go ahead and prep something fun like protein pancakes or hard-boiled eggs. They can be accompanied with a light salad, or you can double down on breakfast with some toast or bacon.
3. Overnight Oats
This works as another breakfast meal or also as a light snack. Essentially, you mix yogurt or milk with chia seeds, and you can switch up toppings for versatility. For instance, you could top it with fruit, chocolate chips, or even a slab of nut butter.
4. Burritos
You don’t necessarily have to eat a spoon or form meal, as burritos also make great prepped meals. You can even individually freeze them and reheat as needed, and the world is your oyster in terms of toppings. However, you can’t go wrong with beans and rice.
5. Tofu Stir Fry
One of the best parts about meal prep recipes is that you can alter the offerings to suit your tastes. For instance, you can choose between tofu or chicken, and make essentially any stir fry over rice with veggies of your choice. For some classic flavors, throw in soy sauce or hoisin.
6. Lentil Soup
This is a common appetizer that is very filling in South Asian countries. Additionally, it is both vegetarian and easy to make in large batches. All you’ll need is some lentils, spices, and a few veggies.
7. Trail Mix
Another easy-to-prepare snack is trail mix! You can throw in your favorite fruits and nuts and simply pack it in Ziploc bags for ease of access. You can even leave them in the cupboard and simply grab them on the go.
8. Leftovers
If you’re only an occasional meal prepper or have some leftovers from a restaurant, don’t be afraid to incorporate what’s on hand into your meal. For instance, if you made some chili for a family get-together, you can make an extra big batch and parcel it up for the rest of the week.
9. Shrimp Pasta
While pasta isn’t the healthiest carb around, you can swap it for some whole wheat or veggie-based pasta for an extra kick. You can throw in some baked shrimp or veggies and take advantage of a sheet pan for easy cooking.
10. Veggie Sticks
This is another great snack box and involves dicing up your favorite veggies into sticks. Think carrots, celery, or even cucumbers. Then, throw in a dipping sauce of choice; anything from hummus to ranch works great.
