PREPARING MEALS IN ADVANCE: 7 TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Planning the weekly menu and preparing meals in advance is very popular lately. And that’s not a bad idea at all: a home-cooked meal is generally much healthier than a quick sandwich at lunchtime.

PREPARE MEALS IN ADVANCE: THE ADVANTAGES

• Homemade meals are healthier and usually have fewer calories. Also, you are more aware of what you are eating.
• It saves a lot of time during the week. 
• It costs less than eating out.
• You can cope with hunger pangs with healthy snacks.
• You relax while cooking calmly.

How does it work? We choose one or two evenings a week (for example on Wednesdays and Sundays) and prepare snacks and meals for the long working or study days when we know we don’t have time to cook. Need  KissAnime more tips?

7 TIPS FOR PREPARING MEALS IN ADVANCE

1.TRIPLE SERVING, PLEASE

It may seem trivial, but it is very useful: if you have two or three more portions, the next day’s lunch is ready and you don’t have to worry anymore. If you have leftover pasta or quinoa that’s already cooked, you can keep it in the fridge and reuse it in a salad.

2.OPTIMAL CONSERVATION

It is better to always have plenty of containers available for storing and transporting pre-prepared meals. The ideal is to avoid plastic, for example by using glass bottles, ideal for smoothies, or glass jars for foods such as oats, fruit, and nuts. Stainless steel is great for storing salads.

3.ENERGY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: THE SMOOTHIE

Couldn’t get out of bed and now you’re late? A smoothie can be made in minutes and can be as good as a meal. Just chop some fruit and vegetables, divide them into portions and even freeze them without losing vitamins and minerals. In the morning, simply blend all the ingredients and the smoothie is ready in no time: breakfast is served!

Did you know that?

Frozen fruits and vegetables often contain even more micronutrients than fresh produce. Transportation, storage, and cooking lead to a loss of vitamins. When buying fresh fruit and vegetables, be sure to choose local and seasonal products.

4.HARD-BOILED EGGS IN THE OVEN

Eggs are an excellent source of protein and vitamins; that’s why they should never be missing from a healthy shopping list. Hard-boiled eggs are easy to make and store, and are a great snack to fight hunger pangs between meals. If you want to cook a lot of eggs without having to use two or more pots, you can use the oven: just preheat it to 170 ° C and cook the eggs in a 12 muffin mold for 30 minutes. 

5.THE FREEZER IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

You can put anything (or almost) in the freezer. If you cook large quantities but don’t want to eat the same thing every day for a week, divide the food into portions and freeze it.

6.HEALTHY SNACKS AGAINST HUNGER PANGS

For many, the desire for sweetness comes in the afternoon. Especially on long days of work or study, our body needs energy. Nuts, dried fruit, and dark chocolate are the ideal snacks for those moments when we have a peckish that feels like real hunger. And to combat the afternoon energy collapse, you can prepare energy balls on Sunday to be consumed during the week. 

7.PASSWORD: VARIETY

If you always eat the same things, you end up getting bored. Preparing meals in advance gives you time to calmly think about different foods to cook, while also focusing on healthy eating.

Advice:

You can make individual ingredients that can easily be combined later. For example, chicken or tofu goes well with rice and broccoli, but they are also good in a salad.

One last thing: if you don’t want to cook for a day or you prefer to buy something during your lunch break, that’s no problem. The important thing is to maintain a healthy routine for the rest of the week.

MORAL OF THE STORY

If you want to eat healthily and eat a balanced diet, preparing meals in advance will help you. By doing so, you will also save time and money!