Meal prepping may seem overwhelming, but it can be an important step in living a healthier lifestyle – especially if you’re getting ready to start the AdvoCare 10 Day Reset™. It can help you in a variety of ways including:
- Making healthier choices: when you are prepared with meals and snacks, it’s easier to avoid temptation. Many people choose quicker, less healthy options when they aren’t prepared.
- Save money: Planning ahead, making a grocery shopping list and having healthy meals and snacks available is usually cheaper than eating out or buying food on the go.
- Save time: Taking 1-2 hours to prep one day a week can help you save time the other six ays.
To get started meal prepping, remember to keep it simple! Plan one to two meals a day and pack healthy snacks that require minimal prep. What exactly does that look like? Here are a few steps and tips to get started:
Write it Out
It sounds simple – and it is – but take the time to write out all of your meals and snacks for the week. Find a format that works easiest for your lifestyle, whether it be a spreadsheet on your laptop, notes on your phone or even just pen and paper! If you’re doing the 10-Day Reset, you’ll find an easy format for writing out meals within your printed Guidebook under “Daily Checklists” from pages 30-49.
Grocery Shop
After your write out your meals for the week, make a grocery list and stick to it. Also, it can help to stay on the “outer edges” of the grocery store, this is typically where you will find produce, dairy, meat and other whole foods. When you go through the aisles, focus on getting foods that are high in fiber and less processed such as whole grains, nuts, seeds and healthy fats and spices to cook with. If you are purchasing condiments, be mindful of sugar and sodium content. Take a look at the food label and ingredient list before adding to your cart!
Make Breakfast Easy
Breakfast can be a struggle if you’re trying to rush out the door. Sticking with meals that require minimal ingredients and can be made quickly (or in advance) is a great way to set yourself up for success the rest of the day! Here are some of our faves:
- AdvoCare Meal Replacement Shakes are a great option to quickly mix up in the mornings! They can also be used to make overnight chia puddings. Find some of our favorite MRS recipes here on Connect!
- Overnight oats can be quickly assembled in advance. Simply add milk or yogurt to oats in a jar (with a lid) and mix in some of your favorite nut, seed and fruit toppings. Check out our favorite recipe here.
- Egg muffin cups are another great breakfast that you can make in advance. Choose a cheese, meat and vegetable and whip up a batch on the weekend. Store in an airtight container and you’ll have a high-protein breakfast ready to go!
Pick one or two proteins for the week
Having pre-cooked protein makes it way easier to increase meal variety and efficiency. Simply choose one or two proteins and cook those on your prep day. Keep them flavored with basic seasonings, so that it’s easier to add them to other dishes. We love to cook chicken in a pressure cooker to use throughout the week for basic Carb-Protein-Veggie meals., chicken lettuce tacos or chicken salad. Similarly, lean ground beef or turkey can be used in tacos, salads, zucchini pasta dishes or even breakfast scrambles.
Portion Out Tempting Foods
If foods that come in large packages, like nuts or crackers, tempt you to eat too many, put them into individually portioned snack baggies. Use the serving size on the bag or box to determine how many servings are in the container. From there, get out that many snack bags and separate everything out. This will make your life so much easier when it comes to snack time, and also help with portion sizes!
Looking for more inspiration on your path to healthy living? Check out our 5 Pillars of Wellness Resources for steps you can take to be your best!