23 August 2024

THE POWER OF PREP | 3 KEY BENEFITS OF MEAL PREPPING

When the conversation arises in regard to maximizing your training and optimizing for a healthy lifestyle, the topic of meal prepping often times enters the discussion. Meal prepping or preparing meals in advance, whether partially or completely, has so many benefits besides simply knowing what you are ingesting. My three personal favorite benefits of meal prepping are time management, weight management, and peace of mind.
To better understand why I chose those, here’s my breakdown:

When it came to time management, the winning factors were -

• Efficiency: By dedicating a portion of your day or week to meal prepping, you can save time during busy weekdays. This means you'll have ready-to-eat or easy-to-cook meals, thus reducing the time spent on deciding what to eat and cooking from scratch every day.
• Reduced Decision-Making: Meal prepping eliminates the daily question of "What's for dinner?" You won't have to make last-minute food choices, which can be time-consuming and lead to decision fatigue.

Especially, for those of us that are on-the-go often, reducing time lost making decisions, can allow us to “find” time for more enjoyable or missed activities.

“...eliminates the daily question of "What's for dinner?"”

When we are talking about the weight management benefit, it was a 3-part win -

• Portion Control: Meal prepping allows you to control portion sizes and calories, making it easier to manage your weight. You can prepare meals with the right balance of nutrients to support your goals, whether it's weight loss, weight gain or maintenance.
• Healthy Choices: When you plan and prepare your meals in advance, you have greater control over the ingredients and can make healthier choices. This can help you avoid the temptation of unhealthy options when you're hungry.
• Reduced Overeating: By having pre-portioned meals, you're less likely to overeat, as you'll eat what you've planned and prepared, reducing the risk of consuming excess calories.

Managing weight can be a difficult task, but making healthier choices and taking control over your consumption can be empowering and lead to a happier life.

This next one might be the BEST benefit of meal prepping… and that is, Peace of Mind -

• Reduced Stress: Meal prepping can alleviate the stress of deciding what to eat each day, especially after a long day of work or when you're tired. You'll have a clear plan and ready-to-eat options.
• Healthier Options:Knowing that you have nutritious, pre-prepared meals available can give you peace of mind regarding your diet. You won't be as tempted to resort to unhealthy fast food or convenience options.
• Consistency: Meal prepping promotes consistent eating patterns and portion sizes, which can contribute to a more stable and predictable routine, reducing the anxiety of unexpected dietary changes.

Extensive research shows that when we engage in activities that are less stressful and yield positive outcomes, we're more likely to repeat them, potentially turning them into lifelong healthy habits.

At the end of the day, meal prepping can improve time management by saving you time and streamlining your daily meal preparation. It supports weight management by enabling portion control and healthier food choices. Lastly, it will provide peace of mind by reducing stress, ensuring access to nutritious options, and promoting dietary consistency. These benefits can significantly enhance your overall well-being and quality of life. Added bonus, you might learn a new skill, like cooking, or at least, have the time to. So where can meal prepping benefit you the most?