Raise The Rouf Health It’s that time of the year again! Summer is winding down, kids are back to school, activities are in full swing, and schedules are packed. Fast-paced living is the reality of the lives many of us live, and it largely fuels all of the convenience we have access too, particularly when it comes to food.
Here’s the not so great part. Nearly every single convenient option, whether it be fast food, gas stations, packaged snacks and pre-made items, are doing the body a disservice, carrying minimal nutritional value and contributing to the rise of chronic diseases of all types, both in adults and children.
Such a common response I hear is, “There’s just no time to cook and make meals. My schedule is too busy.” The reality is that there is always time. It’s just a matter of what you prioritize with that time and what sacrifices your willing to make to change your health for the better. You may not be able to make home-cooked meals every meal of the week. That’s where the power of meal prep comes in, giving you more nutritious options to fuel your body and keep you full, but also still keeping things convenient throughout the week.
Whether you’re a busy parent with kids, someone who goes into work, or a college student, meal prepping can become a lifesaver for you, saving you time, stress, and your health in the long run!
What is Meal Prepping?
Meal prepping is quite literally the action of cooking meals and storing them to have on hand throughout the week! It can be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a mix and match of them all, depending on what is needed for your unique schedules! Ideally, you pick and plan on a specific day that you can spend the time prepping, a day and time that will consistency work for you, so that you can make this a long term change!
Why Should you Meal Prep?
As previously mentioned, it’s hard to find the time to make meals every single day, but we also want to avoid resorting to the convenience temptations as much as we can. Meal prepping allows us to create healthier meal options and eliminate having to resort to fast food, gas stations, etc. Not to mention, it’s also a great opportunity to learn new recipes, have fun with and improve your relationship with food, and spend quality time with those you love while doing it!
Meal Prep Basics
There is no specific “right way” to meal prep. Oftentimes, the container used depends on the meal being prepped, but it’s really an experiment more than anything. Everyone has a method that works best for them, and the more hands on practice you get, the clearer that unique method becomes! It may seem overwhelming at the beginning, not having a clue what you’re doing, but I can’t stress enough just showing up. Embrace the struggle right away, and before you know it, you’ll be feeling like an expert. Remember, anything that we are experts in now were once things we struggled with!
Wrapping Up
Trust me, I know how tempting it is to rely on getting meals delivered to work, skipping meals altogether, going through the drive-through, throwing in frozen pizzas every night. However, as an incredibly busy student myself, with a schedule just as jam-packed as the next person’s, I can attest to just how powerful meal prepping is. It allows me to dedicate my time and energy on what’s important throughout the week, rather than worrying about what to do for my next meal. You don’t have to give up the convenience entirely, but you do have to make the choice and dedicate the time, only one day a week, to prepping meals for the week ahead.
As always, feel free to share this information with anyone you feel it could serve. I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have! Have a great day and take care!
{Disclaimer: All posts on my page are for educational purposes only and are not intended to serve as medical advice, diagnoses, treatments, or cures.}
