One of the conveniences of modern times is that we have constant access to a wide variety of food. Even if home cooking isn’t an option, we can still eat meals by ordering at a restaurant. And it wasn’t so long ago that we were limited to the cuisines available only in our country, but now we can eat Italian or French food basically whenever we want. We can order a full meal in a span of a few minutes as well.
While this isn’t particularly a bad thing, the immediate access to food has also made the temptation of not watching what you eat harder to resist. Our meals have become deliciously varied, but our nutritional intake has become low. Fast food and microwavable food are popular, and yet health is still a major problem across the globe.
Enter meal prep. For those familiar with cooking, meal prep is basically a strategy of preparing meals ahead of time to avoid having to cook every day. It’s a popular way for fitness enthusiasts to make sure that they’re receiving the macronutrients that they need. And while it’s not as popular mainstream as it is with elite bodybuilders, professional athletes, or those needing to go through a professional endoscopy service, it still has a number of benefits to it that everyone should consider.
Meal Prep Saves Time
A large part of the time cooking consumes isn’t actually with cooking, but with preparing the ingredients. To cook, you need to buy the ingredients, cut them to the appropriate size, mix the necessary spices, and then actually cook it. Meal prep cuts the longest portion (the ingredient gathering and preparation) and leaves you with only the cooking part. You prepare the ingredients and cut them appropriately, store them in a food-safe container, and cook them at a later date.
While preparing meals might sound like it takes a while (and it does), you’re effectively reducing the amount of time spent cooking by more than half. You’re dedicating half a day to preparing and as a result, will have more time on your hands during the rest of the week.
Meal Prep Lets You Control Your Diet
If you require a specific type of diet, or would just like to make your diet healthier, meal prep is the most effective option. Following a diet plan is a lot more convenient if you have all the meals prepared beforehand. You’ll be able to control what type of ingredients you use, how big or small the portions will be, and how often you will be eating. This is the reason why meal prep is popular among professional athletes; it allows you to make sure you consume the recommended daily nutritional intake without the hassle of preparing a meal every single day.
Meal Prep Helps You Save Money
We always hear the saying ‘home cooking is cheaper than eating out’, but it’s hard to see how much cheaper it is when you only buy ingredients when you have to cook. Meal prep requires you to buy ingredients in bulk, and as a result, often end up saving money. But the savings don’t end there- you would also have fewer dishes and utensils to clean, saving money on electricity and water. Carrying meals around with you also means you won’t be caught hungry, preventing you from having to spend for eating out.
Meal Prep is Great for Those On-the-go
It’s also great for those who don’t have enough time to cook or those who always need to travel. After all, meal prep is basically bringing your own food with you.
If you’re on constant business trips and find your stomach constantly adjusting to different kinds of food, then preparing your meals can help you avoid the hassle of always finding a place to eat. Not only does it save you time, but it also saves you during moments where you can find a place to eat.
