EASY MEAL PREP TO HELP YOUR BUDGET AND HEALTH
For years I struggled to eat healthy food and to pack my lunch for work. I honestly never thought that I could do it myself because quite frankly I was too tired and unorganized. I made nothing but excuses about why it wouldn't work for me and tried unsuccessfully many times only to fail. Then I realized one day that to become successful with my budget I would need to master healthy meal prep to stay successful on my budget.
How I Mastered Healthy Meal Prep
Easy Meal Prep
In 2016 I finally committed myself to make a few changes in my life. My weight was the highest it had ever been at 212 pounds and my budget needed improvement. I committed that year to lose weight which required me to pack my lunch and practice portion control. I am proud to say that I was successful this time at meal prep and packing my lunches. I lost weight and felt great for the first time in years. So what worked for me this time that did not work the last time? Prepping in advance, not taking it too seriously, and going simple. Each Sunday I would grocery shop and I would portion the food for the week upon arriving home. I realized that the most important thing was just simply doing it and making sure that it was ready Sunday night for the week ahead.
What is the best thing to pack when you meal prep for the week? Think simple, healthy, and things you enjoy. Saving money is great but if you buy items just because they are cheaper you may find yourself not wanting to eat what you packed or not eating healthy. For example, I often pack cut-up melon and portion this into 5 bowls for the week. I love melon and yet I am not always likely to cut it myself and portion it out. Occasionally I will buy a whole melon to save money but if I know that I will not want to do the prep, I opt to buy it precut in small amounts. My local Meijer grocery store has a great price on precut fruit and I still save significantly on eating out when I stretch $ 4 - $5 worth of cut fruit for 5 days. The health benefits of these choices make a difference too. I frequently buy fresh vegetables and since I don't mind cutting those up as much I will make carrot and celery sticks and pair them with some dip or hummus and possibly some other veggies. I often go between pre-made chicken salad, rotisserie chicken, tuna, or even a garden salad. Usually, I will pack cheese, a cottage cheese cup, or even yogurt to eat with it. Simple and healthy are exactly how I make it work. When you overcomplicate it you may more easily give up trying just as I experienced.
What Do I Need To Pack A Healthy Lunch?
I recommend buying a decent lunch bag, a good variety of containers, and some small containers for dressings, sauces, and dips. This will allow you to meal prep for the week and guarantee that you are ready each morning. These are some of my favorite items available on Amazon to help make weekly meal preparation a success. Do you pack your lunch for work or school? What makes it easier for you to stick to packing and avoid buying lunch out? My best advice is just to commit to doing it! Try to think of what you enjoy eating and find a good easy variation of that to take each day. If you have to go with some pre-made or prepared items to commit to it then do it. Being frugal doesn't always mean overcomplicating things. Even the overpriced pre-packaged and prepared convenience items at the store are usually cheaper than eating out every day. If you know that you have a weakness for that bottled beverage, food, or snack item, I encourage you to buy these or a budget-friendly alternative and take them with you. This can help cut down on unnecessary purchases and typically they will be more reasonably priced at the grocery store than a deli, cafeteria, restaurant, or gas station. Are you also looking for some budget-friendly dinner ideas why not check out this great post from a fellow blogger with great easy crockpot meal ideas
