5 reasons to start meal prepping

The food, atmosphere, and lack of preparation on our part are all inviting factors when it comes to dining out. And none of us are strangers to it. A 2019 study performed by Fourth.com revealed that 56% of participants dined out or bought take out 2 to 3 times a week. Another 10% said they dined out 4 to 6 times a week, and 6% admitted to eating out every day. 

Even though you are in good company, this doesn’t mean that you should keep eating out as a habit. Preparing your meals at home can be a lot healthier, cheaper, and more convenient in the long run. 

Check out five compelling reasons you should ditch dining out and start preparing your meals at home for the week. 

1) You’ll Limit Food Waste

Have you ever bought a bag of lettuce only to have to throw most of it away at the end of the week? This is a frustrating experience for anyone who is trying to eat healthily at home. 

When you meal prep, you won’t have to worry about unnecessary food waste. At the start of the week, you will utilize all of your ingredients right away and store them away to eat later. As long as you plan adequately, you won’t have any open packages of uncooked meat and veggies sitting around waiting to go bad. 

Just be sure you wrap up and store all of your meals properly, so they don’t spoil prematurely. Consider investing in a quality set of airtight Tupperware containers. Some meal preppers love using beeswax wraps, as they have antifungal and antibacterial properties and lock in moisture. You can buy a quality set of them or even create your own. 

2) You’ll Save Time

Meal prepping will take an initial time investment at the start of the week. However, you won’t have to spend time after a long workday trying to figure out what to make. Every meal will be ready for you to heat up in the microwave or eat straight out of the container. 

3) It’ll Add Variety to Your Meals

If you tend to dine out a lot, you may be caught in a pattern of ordering your favorite meal again and again. This can cause you to miss out on some essential fuel sources that your body needs. When you put thought into your food choices ahead of time, you can incorporate different food groups and nutrients. When you stick to a routine of meal prepping, your body will thank you for your thoughtful choices and the balanced inclusion of fats, grains, protein, and vegetables. 

Not only can you make your prepped meals healthily balanced, but you can also get creative with your recipes. Look up new ideas each week or get inspiration from friends so you can maintain your excitement surrounding meal prepping. 

4) It’ll Simplify Grocery Shopping

Planning out what you want to eat for every day of the week makes grocery shopping so much simpler. You’ll be less likely to wander the store aisles for items that you don’t need. Instead, it’ll be easy to make a list of exactly what you need and stick to it. You’ll save money and stay focused on your dietary goals by not buying unnecessary snacks. 

5) You’ll Learn to Control Your Portions

By setting aside every meal in a separate container, you will be able to control your portions better. Once you’ve finished the box marked as your lunch for the day, it will become easier to resist reaching for more food. 

Just be sure you’re getting enough food for each meal. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that portion sizes vary depending on factors like gender, weight, age, and activity level, so plan your portions to meet your body’s caloric needs. 

Meal prepping is a great way to add some variety to your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also works well if you are looking to improve your health and work towards saving time and money!