Planning out and prepping your meals in advance is a great way to get organised, save time and make grocery shopping easier. But did you know it’s also a key factor in helping you reach your weight loss goals?
While planning your meals days in advance might sound like a little too much work, it’s actually going to save you a lot of time in the long run and help you create a healthier, balanced diet. Not convinced? Read on to find out how meal prepping could help you on your weight loss journey!
Control Portion Size
Preparing your meals and refrigerating/freezing individual portions ahead of time means that when it comes to actually enjoying your food there’s no risk of squeezing in second helpings and overindulging. And in addition to portion size, if you are watching your calorie intake meal prepping and portion control makes it much easier to know how many calories are in each meal.
Satisfy Those Cravings
Sometimes when we come home after a long day at work (or walk downstairs from our home office!) the last thing we want to think about is preparing a meal for the whole family. This is when we might end up grabbing a last-minute ready meal or takeout which is likely to be loaded with salt, fat and calories. Keeping your fridge nicely stocked up with healthy dinner portions that just require heating up means you will always have a healthy “fast food” option readily available to you when your hunger kicks in.
More time to Work Out!
Do you often find yourself making the excuse “I just don’t have the time” when to comes to exercise? Preparing your meals at a time that’s convenient for you can free up your evenings and give you more time to devote to taking care of your body. So instead of slaving away in the kitchen every night, you can head out for a brisk pre-dinner walk or join an online yoga class. And less time cooking and clearing up in the evening also means more time to spend with your loved ones - bonus!
Variety is Key
When we cook a last-minute meal we’re often thinking about what options are quick, what’s easy to make and what meals we can create from the foods we have available in the house. But this can mean we end up eating the same go-to meals over and over again and not giving ourselves a varied and nutritious diet. Planning out your meals for the week is such an easy way to make sure you’re eating a rainbow of fruit and veg, incorporating healthy protein sources into your meals and getting all the key nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy, balanced diet.
I hope by now you feel excited to start planning out your meals! If you need a little help on how to get started or you just need some inspiration for new dishes to try, get in touch to find out about my customised, plant-based meal plans!
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