{"id":47754,"date":"2017-11-05T07:15:57","date_gmt":"2017-11-05T12:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=47754"},"modified":"2021-05-14T04:16:13","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T08:16:13","slug":"meal-prep-ideas-instagram-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/meal-prep-ideas-instagram-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Meal Prep Tips From the Best Health Gurus We Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Meal prepping<\/a> is all the rage of late, and for good reason: It saves time and money, while helping you stick to your clean eating plan<\/a> and stave off hanger<\/a>. Yet, if you\u2019ve thought about embracing this healthy eating habit, only to be derailed once you realize the time and effort \u2014 not to mention all the plastic containers \u2014 involved, we don\u2019t blame you.<\/p>\n

Luckily, meal prepping doesn\u2019t have to be a daylong logistical nightmare, full of dirty dishes, spilled quinoa and mismatched food storage containers. (Not to mention less-than-appealing leftovers.) Want to prep like the best of them? Follow these meal prep tips from some of the best think-ahead health gurus we know.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 21 Meal Prep Pics from the Healthiest People on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

20 Meal Prep Tips Worth Stealing<\/h2>\n
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Photo: @mealprepprincess<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Invest in the right containers.
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cProper <\/span>food storage containers<\/a> [allow you to] re-heat your meals and eat from them \u2014 and they last forever. I purchase glass containers that allow me to portion-size my meals easily. Additionally, I have varying shapes and sizes of containers for salads and snacks like yogurt and fruit, and zip-lock bags for dry snacks.\u201d \u2014 Erin Romeo, <\/span>@foodprepprincess<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Get in on the mason jar trend.
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\u201cI’m all about <\/span>canning jars<\/a> for meal prepping! They work for salads, soup, oatmeal, smoothies \u2014 almost anything. They are dishwasher- and microwave-safe, water-tight and sturdy as can be. I use plastic caps on mine, which are easier to clean and keep track of than the standard two-part preserving lids.\u201d \u2014 Cassie Johnston, <\/span>Back to Her Roots<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Meal Prep Like a Pro: 3 Recipes, One Batch of Quinoa<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: @mealprepmondays<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Make sure your lids match.<\/h3>\n

\u201cBuy the same brand of containers. [It] may seem trivial, but it will save time when trying to package your meals up. Matching lids can be a pain if you have three different types of containers.\u201d\u2014 Allie Whitesides, former Daily Burn<\/a> Fitness\/Nutrition Coach<\/p>\n

4. Nail down a system for collecting new recipes.
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\u201cI’ll often screenshot recipes I find online throughout the week on my phone so I have a bunch of healthy recipe ideas saved to my camera roll to choose from when it’s time to sit down and do some meal planning. When I have a little more time, I love sitting down with a few <\/span>cookbooks<\/a> and a cup of coffee on Sunday mornings to search for recipe inspiration.\u201d \u2014 Julie Fagan, <\/span>Peanut Butter Fingers<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Printable Meal Planning Templates to Simplify Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: @fitchickscook<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Go crazy with the spices.<\/h3>\n

\u201c[One of my] secrets is to prep things that I like to eat, and add spices and flavors\u2026If you don’t like what you’re eating, your diet plan will not be sustainable.\u201d \u2014 Tina Chow, @fitchickscook<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 5 Ways to Make Frozen Food Way More Delicious<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Meal
Photo: Hey There, Home<\/a> (Download template here<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Make a detailed shopping list.<\/h3>\n

\u201cI like to keep things simple… I use the “Notes” app on my iPhone to keep a running list of ingredients I need. As soon as I notice I am running out of a staple ingredient<\/a> like dried rice or chopped garlic, I’ll put it right on the list so that I remember to buy it at next week\u2019s grocery trip\u2026I try to keep my list in order of where I’ll find in in the grocery store \u2014 produce, meat, dairy \u2014 so that my trip to the store is quick and efficient. \u201d \u2014 Stephanie Troxell, MS, RD, former Daily Burn<\/a> Fitness\/Nutrition Coach<\/p>\n

8. Make your kitchen a meal prepping machine.<\/h3>\n

\u201cI pull in a foldable table, a cart [and] get my second toaster oven and other appliances out from the closet. I get equipped with my apron, I put on my headphones, and I try to\u2026meal prep for the week faster than I did last week. Within four to five hours, I can prepare food for six days\u2026 This would be impossible if I didn’t employ the strategy of turning my kitchen into a factory when meal prep time comes around.\u201d \u2014 Jon Call, <\/span>Acrobolix<\/a>, <\/span>@jujimufu<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>12 Brilliant Meal Prep Ideas to Free Up Your Time<\/a><\/p>\n

9. Stock up on meal prep staples.<\/h3>\n

\u201cI keep my pantry and freezer stocked with quick go-to items. Here’s what I always try to have on hand. Freezer: frozen fruits and veggies (less expensive and lasts much longer), frozen brown rice or quinoa (quicker cooking and no pan to wash!), frozen shrimp or salmon (defrosts quickly). Pantry: Plain oatmeal, beans, diced tomatoes, salsa, chicken or veggie broth.\u201d \u2014 former Allie Whitesides, Daily Burn<\/a> Fitness\/Nutrition Coach<\/p>\n

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Photo: @mealprepmondays<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10. Pretty up your meals.
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

“It’s one thing to have a delicious meal; it’s another to have a \u2018good looking,\u2019 delicious meal. Many times people will prepare a meal, or two, or five, but the reality is that by the third day or so that meal might not look that appealing anymore. For me, the kitchen tool that has helped change this is the cast iron grill pan. Whether you’re cooking chicken, steak, burgers, or even a sandwich, pressing it on to that pan to create grill marks makes a world of difference. Best part about it is, it can be used indoors and you\u2019ll still get the beautiful grill marks without having to go outside and turn on the grill when it\u2019s 10 below. Try it!” \u2014 Alex Torres, @mealprepmondays<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 8 Next-Level Lunch Boxes That Make Meal Prep Easy<\/a><\/p>\n

11. Utilize the weekend.
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\u201cGet your meal prepping done during the weekend so you\u2019ve got meals for the beginning of [each] week. This has helped me in getting organized!\u201d \u2014 Jenny Flake, Picky Palate<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo and recipe: Lee Hersh \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. Set a timer (and stick to it).
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\u201cMeal prepping can seem so overwhelming, and if you aren’t careful, you can spend a whole day prepping food. I’m a believer that you should keep your meal-prep sessions short. I set a timer for two hours on Sunday mornings. I get done as much as I can in those two hours, and then I go enjoy my weekend happy that I’ve prepared myself for the upcoming week. You’d be amazed at what you can get done in that time!\u201d \u2014 Cassie Johnston, Back to Her Roots<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>13 Healthy Freezer Meals to Prep Now and Eat Later<\/a><\/p>\n

13. Learn to multitask.
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhen people are first starting to food prep, they tend to focus on doing one thing at a time, which is fine, but it often takes a lot longer for them to get their food prep done and it can be discouraging. Once you’ve done it a few times and start to get comfortable, using multiple parts of your kitchen at once is a game changer. I almost always have something baking in the oven, something cooking on the stove, something in the crockpot and am working on something at the counter all at the same time. This allows you to get more done in a shorter period of time!\u201d \u2014 Lindsay Livingston, RD, The Lean Green Bean<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: @welovecleanfood<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

14. Put technology to work for you.<\/h3>\n

\u201cI use an app such as MyFitnessPal, [which makes] it really easy to record recipes and meals so that I can recall them and reuse them again in future meal preps. I can just [modify] a few ingredients and I have a new recipe with all the macros, etcetera, already calculated.\u201d\u2014 Jo, @welovecleanfood<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 5 Brilliant Apps to Make Meal Planning Easy<\/a><\/p>\n

15. Bust out your slow cooker.
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI use my <\/span>CrockPot<\/a> a TON! It does the cooking for you. It even cooks while you sleep.\u201d \u2014 Allie Whitesides, former Daily Burn<\/a> Fitness\/Nutrition Coach <\/span><\/p>\n

16. Implement time-saving strategies.
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cI try to keep a few home-made <\/span>frozen meals<\/a> on hand at all times in case I’m having a really busy week and won’t have time to cook. Something like soup or vegetable chili will freeze and reheat really well, and saves a lot of time on really busy days.\u201d \u2014 Stephanie Troxell, MS, RD, former Daily Burn<\/a> Fitness\/Nutrition Coach<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 9 Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

17. Cut corners.<\/h3>\n

\u201cBuy veggies pre-cut. Even though it costs a bit more at first, you may find you waste less and spend less time in the kitchen.\u201d \u2014 Allie Whitesides, Daily Burn<\/a> Fitness\/Nutrition Coach<\/p>\n

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Photo: @nmcleoddd<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

18. Shake things up.<\/h3>\n

\u201cEat different meals at different times every day! Some people get frustrated and think that they have to eat the same thing every day, all day. This is hardly the case! Think outside of the box. Your traditional breakfast or early day meal does NOT always have to be eggs and oatmeal\u2026 Plan your meals according to your personal goals.\u201d \u2014 Nicole Mcleod, CFT and Ron Sudol, CFT, @Nmcleoddd<\/a><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 9 Kitchen Tools Every Home Cook Needs<\/a><\/p>\n

19. Savor your kitchen time.<\/h3>\n

\u201cLike most Americans, I spend most of my work day at my desk. I try to think of my time spent cooking as a way to relax and get out from behind a screen for a bit. I know we’re all busy and have a lot of demands pulling it us in a lot of directions, but I try to enjoy my time spent cooking… it’s my “me time”.\u201d \u2014 Stephanie Troxell, MS, RD, former Daily Burn <\/a>Fitness\/Nutrition Coach<\/p>\n

20. Embrace your freedom.
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cMeal prepping isn’t just about eating healthy or improving the look of your body; it’s about freedom. When you meal prep for days in advance, you are <\/span>free <\/em>from having to make any sort of decision regarding what to eat for that time. You don’t have to determine where or when you’ll get food, you just have it. This saves psychic resources that can be put towards doing other things that are important to you, like focusing on a relationship, a career, your work or training. You no longer have to make decisions about food or focus on it; it’s been taken care of, now work and play and be free of the burden of hunger and the decision making process that comes with it!\u201d \u2014 Jon Call, <\/span>Acrobolix<\/a>, <\/span>@jujimufu<\/a><\/p>\n

Originally published February 2016. Updated November 2017. <\/em><\/p>\n

Read More<\/strong>
\n15 One-Pot Meals for Quick, Healthy Dinners<\/a>
\n12 No-Bake Energy Bites Recipes<\/a>
\n10 Easy Overnight Oats Recipes to Make Now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So many containers, so little time! Meal prep can be overwhelming \u2014 but these helpful tips from trainers, nutritionists and more will turn you into a pro.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,7],"tags":[51,317,292,71,341,388],"class_list":["post-47754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diet-nutrition","category-health","tag-food-choices","tag-meal-planning","tag-meal-prep","tag-nutrition","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2nutrition"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47754\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}