How to Meal Prep for a Healthier Week

As college students, we are busy. And I mean really busy. For me, I feel like the workload is never ending. As soon as I turn in one assignment or take a test, I have to immediately turn around and start preparing for what’s next.

With that said, I don’t always have a lot of extra time to spend cooking, especially during the week, which is why I like to meal prep where I can. Usually when we think of meal prepping, we think of same perfectly packaged boring meals sitting in the fridge. And there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just not my style. Instead, I prefer to batch cook because it’s more flexible and intuitive.

Batch cooking is a way of preparing ingredients that you can use in many meals throughout the week to honor your cravings and create vibrant and healthy meals! Let’s jump on into my top tips:

Tip #1: Make Meal Prep FUN

Put on your favorite playlist or movie while you spend a couple hours prepping for your healthier week.

Tip #2: Make a Grocery List + Buy Foods You Actually Enjoy

When you take the time to write a grocery list before you go to the store, you will end up spending less money because you won’t aimlessly be wandering around the aisles. You’ll also waste less food because you won’t over purchase. Additionally, remember to buy foods that you actually enjoy eating and cooking. Often times, people will buy foods that they think they should be eating because they are healthy. Don’t do that because that can be very overwhelming. Simply buy what you like and find ways to make it healthier.

Tip #3: Prep a Protein + a Veggie

I like to prep a protein source and a veggie each week to make meal assembly in between classes much quicker. For protein, I love grilled chicken, baked salmon, and ground turkey with taco seasoning. For veggies, I enjoy roasting zucchini, summer squash, and sweet potatoes in the oven. I usually keep the seasonings on my veggies very simple that way I can add them to a variety of dishes. I’ll add veggies and my protein to tacos or nourish bowls or pasta to make each meal more nourishing and exciting!

Tip #4: Make Extra Dinner for Lunch the Next Day

If you like to make a fresh dinner each night, I recommend making extra so you can take it for lunch the next day. This will save you from spending money on processed snacks and greasy foods from the cafeteria or dining hall.

Tip #5: Prep Snacks the Night Before

If you have time after dinner spend a few minutes preparing snacks for the next day that way you won’t feel as rushed in the mornings. If I get my snacks together the night before, I can sleep in a little later or take extra time to make myself breakfast, rather than worrying about what I can take to class with me. This will save you lots of time and stress. I love taking apple slices, carrot sticks, almonds, and a granola bars with me for nourishing snacks. If you need more healthy snack ideas, check out this blog post.

Here’s to a healthier week! I hope you find some of these tips helpful. Let me know if you try any of them out, and how they work for you