10 Things To Know Before You Start Meal Prepping

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"TBH, the most underrated benefit of meal-prepping is all the headspace you reclaim by not wondering what you'll eat next. So, even if you do spend three hours meal-prepping on Sunday, think of all the time you'll end up saving throughout the week. There were some nights when I literally did not know what to do with the unexpected extra hour I had. (LOL JK, I watched the new season of New Girl.)" —Michelle No

"I hate to admit this, but before this plan, I ate out a lot. Like, A LOT. This plan not only saved me money, but it made me realize just how much of my money was going to food each week. (And I wasn't even thinking twice about it.) Sure, I'm still going to eat out every once in a while, but I'm way more conscious about my spending and what I choose to buy now." —Brenda Blanco

"When I first read through the grocery list and instructions for how to prep, I was overwhelmed. It seemed like it would be a lot of work, and I was nervous about the time commitment. Turns out, the meal plan actually saved me time during the week. Yes, the shopping and prepping will take you a few hours, but after that it's actually SO easy. Don't let it overwhelm you, and realize that the plan only gets easier as the week goes on."—BB

"One unexpected thing I learned is that I need to buy a cheap grocery store rotisserie chicken every week until the day I die. It's super cheap, fairly healthy, and honestly saved me SO. MUCH. TIME. Normally, I buy a pack of chicken breasts and cook one per night, but having all my protein pre-made and ready for me to pick off of every day was a game-changer. "—MN

"I've never thought to use Greek yogurt as a taco or rice bowl topping, but I literally can't stop putting a dollop of the stuff on top of every meal now. I mean, I love Tzatziki sauce (which is made with Greek yogurt), so I don't know why I'd never thought of it before. I guess that I'd just gotten in the habit of using certain ingredients in certain ways. But this taught me that it can be really versatile." —MN

"Personally, I think that you need to try out meal-prepping for at least two weeks. The first week will be tedious and time-consuming, because you'll be buying foods you may never have looked for in your grocery store before, re-reading through your shopping list, and making foods that you might later realize you don't even like. But if you keep at it, your second week will be cheaper, easier, and faster. You can cut foods you don't like, and you don't have to spend like, an hour looking for the rotisserie chicken (hot tip: it's usually at the front of the store, d'oh!)." —MN

"Pro tip: Invest in containers that seal properly and won't spill your lunch into your purse. There's no point in prepping foods in bulk if your foods dry out (R.I.P. my rice), wilt, or generally go bad by the time you're ready to eat them. Look for Tupperware that snaps shut, or if you're really trying to do this on the cheap, fit a rubber band around your container for an extra-tight fit." —MN

"OK, so maybe this sounds pretty silly — but make sure you don't forget about the food you prepped and let it go to waste! One morning, I packed up a beautiful lunch for myself to bring to work, and once lunchtime hit, I realized that I had left it on my countertop. Moral of the story: If you have to write notes, or set reminders for yourself — do it. There's no use in cooking all this wonderful food if you're just going to let it go to waste." —BB

"Think of it as an act of self care. Planning out your meals takes time, but it's time spent on YOU. Just like meditating or going to the gym, meal prepping is a simple way to invest in yourself and your health. It only takes a few hours every Sunday, and it's a nice break from the world — so put on some music and be proud that you're taking the time to treat yourself to a week's worth of great food. Treat yourself!" —BB