We can get way wrapped up in the details when first counting macros. Meal prep could make your life easier, or if you overthink things, more complicated.
Helpful meal prep tips:
- Do not try and meal prep all meals. You will hate meal prepping from the get-go. This is not a stringent plan. Leave some space for some fun! It’s flexible dieting, not inflexible.
- Start small – batch some protein, some veggies, and a starch such as potato, rice, beans, etc.
- Make extras for dinner and package up for meal portions for the next few days or freeze.
- Buy precut or prepackaged veggies if you hate prepping them. Just toss the fatty dressing and croutons.
- Use prepackaged Costco rotisserie chicken breast. Bring it home, break it up into portions and freeze some.
- Use healthy cooking methods such as roasting, grilling, sautéing, baking, slow cooking, air frying, etc.
- If you add fat while cooking anything, make sure and add it to your finished meal. For example, if I sauté two bunches of asparagus in 1 tablespoon of avocado oil, I add .25 teaspoon of oil to each serving – not exact, but accounted for. If sautéing veggies, I will use the fat from the hamburger or ground turkey I just used instead of added oil.
- Cook everything separately at first to get the hang of portioning out for containerizing. This also helps if cooking for a mate since your macros will not be the same and you might need different portions. Also helps for picky kids who can build their own meals.
- Have several “go-to’s” that you can whip up easily. I share this all of the time, but my Asian Salad Mix is on permanent rotation. I use it in salads, soups, sauté’s, etc. Customize any mix that works for you.
- When you get the hang of it, advance to doing recipes in your MFP.
- Consider investing in an InstantPot. I batch-cook chicken, oats, rice, and even dog food with this thing.
- Go check out any of the Skinny Taste web resources or cookbooks. They are usually macro-friendly, super easy, and tasty.
Here are some meal prep links you might find helpful.
- Meal Prep Haven – Meal Prep 101 for Beginners
- Men’s Health – Beginner Guide to Meal Prep
- Precision Nutrition – Create the Perfect Meal Infographic
