Learn
Preparing meals ahead is a great strategy for eating healthy when you have a busy schedule. Preparing food for the week can also help reduce the number of times you find yourself eating out, which can save you money!
Research shows that meal planning and prepping is associated with an overall healthier diet, decreasing your risk for heart disease and diabetes. This is because meals that are home-cooked tend to be lower in saturated fat, sodium, and calories when compared to meals purchased at restaurants or fast-food chains.
The key to successfully preparing meals at home is having a plan – find a day or two each week that works for you to plan, shop, and prep!
The handout below shows you 4 tips and tricks to prep for success!
Handout
Prep for Success
Practice
Follow the four steps outlined in the handout. If meal planning and prepping are new to you, start small with one or two meals this week.
Recipes
Balsalmic Chicken
Sheet Pan Roasted Veggies
References
- Du Y, Rong S, Sun Y, et al. Association Between Frequency of Eating Away-From-Home Meals and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2021;121(9):1741-1749.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2021.01.012
2. Ducrot P, Méjean C, Aroumougame V, et al. Meal planning is associated with food variety, diet quality and body weight status in a large sample of French adults. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):12. doi:10.1186/s12966-017-0461-7
3. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Basics of Meal Prepping. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://www.eatright.org/food/planning-and-prep/cooking-tips-and-trends/basics-of-meal-prepping
