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. Yes, my 17 year old Jack Russel is on the macros.
- Go check out any of the Skinny Taste web resources or cookbooks. They are usually macro friendly and 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