“The only downside is that you will absolutely look like a basic b*tch…”
Meal prep can be one of the most important x-factors in successfully losing weight. When you’re exhausted after a day at work or looking for lunch when you’re stressed, having a meal ready to go means you can stick to your healthy-eating goals, no excuses.
In fact, a2017 studyin theInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activityfound that even the act of meal planning helped people cook at home and therefore was associated with lower odds of being overweight or obese.
Other researchshows that those who spent more time on food prep had better diets and ate more veggies, salads, and fruit. (And, oh, they spent way less moolah, too.)
We know thinking about how you’re going to pull off the meal prep can itself be exhausting. How will you find time? What will you make? What if you hate re-cooked food? Redditors, who spend a lot of time shooting meal-prep tips back and forth on the LoseIt channel, know how to make it worth it. Here are some of their secrets.
Keep it crisp and fresh
One of the biggest downsides to meal prep is that reheating can take the life out of some dishes. “If I’m prepping things that will be reheated, I tend to undercook the veg. For some things, like green beans and peas, they’re better left raw, as they get cooked during the reheating process anyway…So for example, I’ll cook some meat (I like saucey meats for reheating, as they don’t dry out as much—so curries, stews etc). I’ll put that in the container with some raw broccoli and green beans (seasoned). Then I’ll heat the whole thing it the microwave for three to four minutes, and the broc and beans will come out cooked but not soggy.” —gooseisme
Related:5 Morning Habits That Are Making You Gain Weight
Cut corners if you have to
If you have no time, there’s no shame in streamlining the entire process. “I’ve even had preps where I take frozen Lean Cuisines, frozen steamed veggies, and frozen precooked, precut chicken strips. Cook the Lean Cuisine, put the steamed veggies on top, and add in some chicken. Boom, prep done!!” —hxcjosh23, down 130 pounds
Related:The 10 Best Frozen Meals From Trader Joe's, According To Nutritionists
Mix it up
Come up with a theme and mix and match to prevent boredom. “Something I’ve recently become fond of is prepping versatile ingredients. I’ll throw together a big batch of Mexican seasoned chicken, which depending on the time I have in the evenings can be a lifesaver. [I'll] also pre-cut some veggies. Instant burrito bowl, tacos, salad, or even enchiladas if I want to spice it up and have time to throw something in the oven. It’s actually what I’m doing tonight, and when my mom comes home she will have her choice of food.” —one_day_atatime
(Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The Body Clock Diet!)
Contain it right
Plastic containers don’t have to be in your future. “I’d like to make a plug for mason jars. Pint-sized mason jars are cheap, will last forever, and take up very little space in your fridge or backpack. Put all the heavy stuff (roasted veg, meat, lentils, rice etc.) at the bottom, and any greens or fresh veggies on top to stay crisp. When lunchtime rolls around, dump it all into a bowl or plate (I brought one from home and keep it in my desk) and voila. The only downside is that you will absolutely look like a basic b*tch, and your coworkers will mock you.” —zebratoes3838(These screw-top canning jars are perfect for meal prep—and on sale now at the Women's Health Boutique!)
Mix up boring chicken with these 4 spice rubs:
You can save fridge space
Don’t buy a bazillion individual containers that eat up your fridge space. “One note about the meal prep process that has always intimidated me: You don't have to dole out everything into portions if you don't want. For example, instead of owning five soup mugs, I keep the soup in a big plastic container and weigh out a portion every morning into my lone soup mug, which takes less than one minute. The cooking is the real time-saving part and special containers just add to the start-up costs for people.” –nbaaftwden
Related:7 Restaurant Rules You Must Follow If You’re Trying To Lose Weight
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and style.
Jessica Migala
Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more. She is based in the Chicago suburbs and is a mom to two little boys and rambunctious rescue pup.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
How To Lose Weight
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
