Eight Ways Meal Prep Makes Your Life Better

Hello Everyone!

Some of you will already know that recently I have become a big fan of prepping meals for the week ahead. I've only been doing it for my lunches, but so far it has made such a difference to my eating habits. I love spending a good part of my Sunday in the kitchen cooking and baking. I'm a big foodie, so it's quite fun for me. I was really hesitant to start meal prep at first, but now I can't imagine not doing it.

Let me just say this: meal prepping is not just for gym-junkies. Absolutely anyone can do it and the benefits are amazing. All of us can get busy with adult things and our health can sometimes take a backseat. Believe me, I know the temptations of ordering pizza instead of cooking something that's good for you. Meal prep can solve so many problems all week long and I'm here to tell you how awesome it is! 

1. Easy way to ensure clean eating

The thing with eating clean is that when you realize how much better your body feels for it, going back to processed/sugary foods is awful. With prepping your meals, you know exactly what has gone into making it and you have total control of how it's all processed. You'll have more energy and your body will love you for it.

2. Have fun trying out new recipes

 I love food, I really do. I used to bake with my Mum all the time as a little girl, and she has always made that extra effort with our dinners. In that way I was always going to enjoy cooking and creating new recipes. Through the week I am always on the lookout for new healthy recipes to try, then set out on a Sunday to do my best to make it. So far it's been a lot of fun and it's really made me enjoy cooking even more than I used to. Spending time scrolling through Pinterest looking at paleo recipes is always time well spent. Find healthy foods you want to make and you'll be looking forward to eating it all day!

3. No more "What am I going to eat for lunch?"

I find that question just as annoying as choosing something to wear everyday. We all have tonnes of stuff going on, so having one less thing to worry about each day helps more than you think. Ever since I started prepping my lunches, I've found that I have weight lifted from my shoulders each day by being organized. It's also reassuring knowing that what I'm going to have for lunch will be clean and nutritious for me. Just one less thing to worry about!

4. Spend more time doing the things you love 

By sacrificing a few hours on your Sunday, you could be spending an extra hour watching that Netflix show you're obsessed with, or get reading that book that's been sitting on your shelf for months. Personally, I love cooking so it's time well spent on the weekend when I'm in the kitchen. But after a long day at work, cooking dinner can be the last thing we want to do, right? Instead, you can just grab a container out of the fridge, heat it up, and relax the way you want to.Think of all the TV series you could get through...

5. Healthy food, any where you go 

While keeping a million containers in your fridge can get annoying, it's also a huge advantage if you're constantly on the move. Make up a really yummy brown rice or quinoa salad with lots of veges and take it with you for lunch. You wouldn't even need to heat it, just munch on it whenever it suits you. This way you won't be tempted to go and spend your money on something junky for lunch at work or uni.

6. Portion control

If you're looking to shed a few pounds, this is another reason to love meal prepping. I always have smaller containers ready to fill and measure an even amount into each of them. If I was just using a bowl at home, I would ALWAYS give myself a bigger portion than I needed. But even with a bit of portion control I never go hungry and my waistline will thank me for it.

7. It can help you save money

I think we have all been guilty of not being bothered to cook, so we order takeout instead. When you're tired and feeling a bit uninspired to make something healthy, we go for the easy option. But takeaways get expensive when you add it all up! And it's terrible for your body to process too. Having prepped, delicious meals ready to go you won't be tempted to pick up something on the way home from work. It'll help with those mid-week trips to the grocery store that always cost more than you think it will (every damn time.) That's more money towards a well-deserved holiday!

8. Preparation will help you succeed in your goals

There's no way around it: weight-loss is hard. Very hard, and it's such a mental challenge to stick to a healthy eating routine when you're just starting out. If you're getting serious about being a better version of yourself, meal prepping can really help you stick to a plan. It's like studying for an exam; if you go in without doing any revision, you're not going to succeed. Just a little bit of preparation can ensure that you develop better eating habits, and look great on the beach!

Those are all the reasons why I think meal prep makes your life better. It's certainly had a really positive effect on mine. I just wished I had started it sooner! I would have saved so much money on lunch at university.

What do you think of meal prepping? Do you love it too?
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below : )

Steph x.