“I definitely think meal prepping helps us with just living well in general,” says Basheerah Enahora, RDN, owner of BE Nutrition in Charlotte, North Carolina. “When we put some thought into it, we’re more likely to pick up really nutrient-rich foods from the grocery store. We have a list that’s decided in advance.” If you’re new to meal prepping, it’s important to create a plan that works for you. “People feel that a meal plan has to be this rigid structure, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that,” says Enahora. You could prep and pack everything on Sundays, like some people do, but if that’s not your style, choose a day that works for you, or spread the prep work out however makes the most sense for your schedule. Flexibility is key.
“It’s really about understanding how to put together a balanced meal and making sure you have those components on hand,” Enahora says. With some planning and perhaps a little preemptive chopping and marinating, you can easily call yourself a meal prepper and begin to see its benefits. And those benefits may be more far-reaching than you imagine. Here are some more science-backed ways that meal prepping has been shown to improve your health and overall lifestyle.
Syn adds that remembering to freeze certain fresh ingredients or batch-cooked meals can also cut back on waste. Plus, your future self will thank you for the work saved. Meal prepping and making the decision to eat balanced meals leaves room for flexibility while also encouraging you to eat food that “makes you feel good mentally and physically,” adds Modell. In other words, meal planning can help promote a sense of mindful eating. Research backs this up, with one study finding that people who used food planning strategies ate overall healthier diets compared with those who purchased and prepared foods “on impulse or with little to no planning.” The perks of meal prepping go beyond the plate and can seriously impact your life and health. So the next time you wonder what’s for dinner, consider the difference you could make by planning ahead.
