We have all had that moment when it reaches 6 p.m., you’re still drowning in work, and dinner is nowhere to be found. It is in these moments where reaching for the takeout menu seems like the only option. While indulging in a takeout meal from time to time is by no means detrimental, this habit can create a vicious cycle that can cause you to lose money and sight of your wellness goals.
This is where meal prepping can come in. Meal prepping refers to the process of preparing meals in advance so that you can save time while keeping your meals aligned with your nutritional goals. When done correctly, meal prepping can also help to lower your expenses for the month and boost your gut health. Let’s explore the benefits of meal prepping and some tips and tricks to get you started!
Why Meal Prepping Can Be The Key to Achieving Your Wellness Goals
Whether you are looking to build muscle, increase your nutrient intake, have better digestion, or looking to lose weight, the foods you consume have a massive impact on your ability to achieve your goals. Meal prepping is a great way to keep you on track with your goals, but its benefits do not stop there.
Meal prepping can:
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Reduce Daily Decision Making: No more having to wake up and worry about what is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner that day. Meal prepping reduces the time you spend contemplating and creating the dishes that you desire. Get time back for yourself and your other responsibilities.
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Promote Better Portion Control: Overeating is a common eating habit that can disrupt digestion and cause digestive ailments such as abdominal pain and bloating. Meal prepping allows you the chance to portion out your meals and help you better identify the meal sizes that work best for you and your stomach.
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Reduce Stress: Having to figure out what to make each day can be a stress trigger for many people. Meal prepping takes the thinking out of mealtime and reduces stress levels.
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Give You More Agency Over Nutritional Value of Meals: When we get to plan our meals ahead of time, we have the ability to ensure that our meals are jam-packed with the essential nutrients the human body needs to thrive. You can prioritize nutrients that are especially important to you and your goals. For example, those who are looking to have better digestion could prioritize fiber-rich ingredients in their prepped meals.
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Reduce Your Food Expense: Planning out your meals means that you are less likely to purchase ingredients that are unnecessary. Meal prepping will also reduce your inclination to spend money on takeout throughout the week. Consider trying out meal prepping this coming week and take note of how your financial spending shifts.
Let’s dive into just how budget-friendly meal prepping can be!
How to Meal Prep Without Breaking the Bank: Budget-Friendly Tips and Tricks
Here are some ways to make meal prepping budget-friendly!
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Buy Certain Items in Bulk: Many meal bases such as whole grains, potatoes, and starches can be bought in bulk to reduce the price. These ingredients can make up a large portion of many different meals making it a valuable item to always have on hand.
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Consider Ingredients That Are Versatile: Ingredients that can be utilized in a number of different ways are the items that make up a wonderful meal prep plan. Ingredients such as sweet potatoes, black beans, and eggs are all items that can be added to a variety of different meals meaning you can make these items stretch beyond their initial use. This will lead to less spending overall.
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Use Frozen Items When Possible: Frozen fruits and vegetables are great options especially for those who live alone. Sometimes, using up a whole bag of spinach when cooking for one can feel impossible and at times this leads to waste. Freezing these items or buying them frozen to begin with will help with reducing waste and in the long run will save you money.
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Look Into Seasonal Produce: Seasonal produce is often listed at a lower price due to its wide accessibility at the time. Consider creating your meals around the time of year that you are in to take advantage of these lower prices. Eating ingredients that are in season are also a great way to get the most nutrients out of your dishes.
All in all, the preparation and thinking that meal prepping requires will help to ultimately curb unessential spending.
Bloat-Free Basics: Digestive Friendly Ingredients to Incorporate Into Your Meal Prep
While there are many amazing ingredient options out there, we would like to share with you some of our star favorites for digestion!
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Tofu - Tofu is a wonderful digestive-friendly option for meal prepping. It is a complete protein meaning that it has all nine essential amino acids that the body needs to thrive and is also a great source of protein. Its probiotic power and low-cost makes it a great option for those looking for an easy protein base to their dishes.
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Quinoa - Quinoa is a fiber-rich option making it especially helpful for those who struggle with constipation. Quinoa is similar to rice in that it is often used as a base for many dishes. Quinoa can be precooked and stored in the fridge for around three to five days.
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Kimchi - Kimchi is a probiotic-rich side dish that can brighten up just about any meal. While kimchi is not necessarily essential to any one meal, this can be a great ingredient to keep stocked in your fridge to add to meals that could use some spicing up.
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Chickpeas - Chickpeas are shelf-stable and fiber-rich making them a great option for those looking to add some density to their meal. Chickpeas work great in pasta salads and, when toasted, can be added to any salad as a substitution for croutons.
While a bloating supplement and gut health enzyme supplement helps to support balanced digestion, these ingredients are just another stepping stone to a strong and happy gut.
The beauty of meal prepping is that the personalization and creativity truly lie with you! Take some time today to brainstorm some of your meals for the week ahead. What digestive-friendly ingredients are you looking to include?