OnlineBookClub.org

Have you heard of the concept of meal prepping before? Do you use it? What do you like about it, what do you think its challenges are? What do you know about it?

I like meal prepping. Through the work week, I don't always have as much time to cook. So on the weekend, I like to cook a few different things, or a large quantity of something, and have food prepared for a few days. It does help to plan ahead, so you can make healthier eating choices. Without something already planned and prepared, after a long work day many people might be tempted to order in pizza. One of the drawbacks is I can only have food prepared for a few days. Something cooked on the weekend really shouldn't be eaten past Wednesday.

Steph K wrote:I like meal prepping. Through the work week, I don't always have as much time to cook. So on the weekend, I like to cook a few different things, or a large quantity of something, and have food prepared for a few days. It does help to plan ahead, so you can make healthier eating choices. Without something already planned and prepared, after a long work day many people might be tempted to order in pizza. One of the drawbacks is I can only have food prepared for a few days. Something cooked on the weekend really shouldn't be eaten past Wednesday.

Thank you for sharing! I think it can last a bit longer if frozen but not all items can be frozen/will taste good after freezing

I like the theory that it saves you time and money, but I've never been able to get myself in gear enough to actually do it. I plan meals around reusing meals and leftovers. I'll roast a chicken for dinner one night, use the leftover meat for tacos the next night, and the. I'll make soup with the carcass after that.

I am and I am terrible at it. My husband and I keep trying but I think I'm doing something wrong

I see a lot of Instagram personalities meal prepping, but I never bothered trying. I'm sure it is the best way to portion control, but I just feel like it would take a lot of time to prepare.

My way of working it is to make larger portions of things that will freeze (curries, stews, that kind of thing) when I'm cooking them for dinner, and then putting the rest in containers for another day. It doesn't feel like as much work as full meal prepping because you were making it to eat immediately anyway, but you still have the benefits of leftovers for further down the line.

I'm with Emma13. Even though there are only two of us at home now, I cook enough for 6-8 serves of a meal. We'll eat some that night and freeze the leftovers in portions to feed 1 or 2 people. My husband and I can have one of these meal on a day when we don't feel like cooking or when we don't have enough time cook. Or my daughter can take a few frozen meals back to campus with her when she visits.

I utilize the meal prepping concept to reduce the time it takes to prepare savory home-cooked meals by pre-preparing as much as possible. Essentially for me, that involves pre-seasoning meats and cutting up vegetables and greens on Saturdays. With a working family and child, weekdays become less hectic when things are prepped and cooking is all that’s required; affording me more time to help with homework thus spending minimal time in the kitchen. The challenge though is to have all the items by Friday for the coming week’s menu which in itself requires some amount of planning. My Saturdays may be busy but I wouldn’t have it any other way as the trade-off in the week is worth it.

There are times when I prep meals and it makes the cooking process much faster, however, most times I do as many others mentioned; cook larger portions and freeze extras.

yes it really helps so you do not forget a thing... plus avoiding last minute rush this making food burn or over cook...

I’ve heard that many people find meal prepping very helpful for portion control and weight loss. I like cooking based on my mood so prepping is limited to washing and seasoning meats and fish. Everything else comes together easily to make up a meal.

Meal prepping really helps me have a plan and increases my time management ability so I can spend less time procrastinating and being late to things. However, it takes more time in the moment and causes more dishes. A slow cooker is one of my best friends for doing this because it reduces the mess and I can just let it cook overnight for a large food yield.

My son does this! He recently graduated college and got his first job. Sundays, he spends time shopping and then putting together what he calls bowls for the week. I think he does 7 at a time, and 5 go in the fridge 2 in the freezer. He said that the freezer ones are so that eventually he'll have a different bowl each day of the week meaning, he'll still make 7 each week but maybe 3 will be fridge, 4 will go to the freezer, and 2 from a different weeks' prep will come out of the freezer. I thought it was clever ... proud momma moment right there

I like the idea of meal prep and having something quick and available when I don't feel like cooking. My issue with meal prepping is I like the experience of cooking my meal and eating it fresh. I don't mind leftovers, in fact I usually make extra so I can have leftovers, I just don't like the idea of all of my meals being nuked in the microwave. I have a few go-to recipes that I enjoy and don't take long to put together for those days I feel lazy.