Your basics guide to meal prepping! It includes tips, tricks and my favourite places to source healthy recipes.
I’m a recent convert to meal prepping.
I decided to take the leap after I realised how much money I was spending on buying my lunches every day and sometimes dinner… and breakfast.
It was my guilty little habit of eating out far too often. The upside is having someone prepare beautiful meals for you and the experience of dining out. But the downside? You have no idea how they prepare the food and it ends up costing you an arm and a leg.
I worked out that with the money I save meal prepping that I could easily buy a Chanel handbag buy the end of the year #MealPrepForChanel.
I spend my Sunday afternoon cooking up and preparing my meals for the week. It means when I get home from a busy night at the studio all I need to do is reheat and eat. It’s that simple.
“The Professional Babe is conscious of her food choices. She wants to eat as healthy as possible so she can indulge on the weekend. Although she doesn’t mind spending her hard earned cash on food, she knows she could easily cook at home and spend what she saves on a Chanel based Christmas present to herself.”
Here is your comprehensive 9 step guide to meal prepping including some of my favourite Professional Babe approved recipe sources and a video.
The Professional Babe code of meal prepping – All recipes must be healthy, taste awesome when reheated, contain seasonal ingredients & be super easy to make.
Step 1: Work out how many meals you need to make
Before you look for recipes, sit down and work out if you’re going to prep every meal or a selection. It helps when searching for recipes if you know you need to make 8 meals. Look at how many serves a recipe makes.
Step 2: Find healthy recipes
Your recipes don’t need to be healthy, but for me it’s a must. I like to indulge on the weekend with a glass of wine and dessert, so I make sure to be rather strict throughout the week. My favourite places to source recipes from are:
Every week I try to have 2 that are completely plant based as I try to limit my meat consumption.
Step 3: Make a grocery list
From your recipes write down everything you need. Double check your fridge and pantry first as often I’ll buy ingredients I already had. Less money spent on food = more money for Chanel.
Step 4: Clean your kitchen
Get everything out of the way that doesn’t need to be there and clean your benches!
Step 5: Organise containers
I’ve cooked a meal before and then realised I didn’t have anywhere to store it or I’d left the containers at work. Get organised and put everything to the side. It’s easy then to store what you cook away as soon as you make it.
Step 6: Grocery shop
Once you have your list it’s so easy to head to the shops and buy what’s on your list. I find that I’m making healthier choices too because I’m only buying what I need.
Step 7: Distract your pets
Optional step, but pets usually get high maintenance when you decide to cook. I’ll always give my cat Audrey a feed so she’s occupied whilst I’m cooking.
Step 8: Organise your space
Get your tools and utensils ready. I make sure to put a bag on the cupboard door near where I’m preparing. That way I can slide my scraps off the chopping board and straight into the bag.
Step 9: You’re good to go
You’re ready to meal prep! I’ll either start with the easiest recipe first or one that’s a bit involved that might need to spend some time in the oven. Make sure that you won’t need to use those pots and pans if thats the case. Get strategic as this will majorly cut down your prep time because you won’t be waiting around for things to cook.
Want to watch me meal prep? I created a video for you!
“The Professional Babe code of meal prepping – All recipes must be healthy, taste awesome when reheated, contain seasonal ingredients & be super easy to make.”
Xx
Let’s be friends on Instagram!
Try some other hashtag or username