Meal Prep Tips To Help Busy People Meet Weight Loss Goals

Many people know that eating more healthily is the best way to lose weight, but often the biggest barrier to changing our diets is a lack of time to prepare nutritious meals. Despite our best intentions, the prospect of chopping, cooking and clearing up after a long day at work can be just too much, and we reach for a more convenient alternative.

Unfortunately, convenience foods are often loaded with hidden sugars and preservatives, and are low on high-quality nutritional content. This means that we pile on empty calories while not feeling full, leading to extra snacking and weight gain. This cycle can be difficult to break out of when there are so many other demands on our time.

One of the most effective ways to keep your weight loss goals on track is to prep meals in advance. This not only saves time, but also gives you greater control over portion sizes and allows you to make healthier ingredient choices. 

Here are some simple tips to help you get started. For more detailed advice, you may like to consider working with our Birmingham based nutritionist coach. 

Make a weekly meal plan

Planning out all of your meals in advance will mean that you will be less tempted to call for a takeaway at the end of a busy day, and it will also help you to save money on the grocery shop, because you are less likely to buy foods that you don’t use. 

It will also give you the time to plan well balanced meals that include lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables. 

Stick to simple recipes

There is no need to cook complicated meals with a long list of ingredients to eat well. Pick simple one-pot meals that can be prepared in batches in your spare time, such as on a Sunday morning ready for the week ahead. It is well worth investing in a slow cooker, which will allow you to cook large batches of food that can be divided up into smaller portions.

Invest in a set of meal containers

Invest in good quality air-tight containers that can be used to store meal portions in the freezer, and are also microwave safe. Label each container with the contents and the date the food was prepared so you know which order to use them in. Casseroles, chilli, and soups are all nutritious meals that freeze well. 

You can always add some fresh vegetables to the reheated meal, or extra garnishes such as sliced avocado or chopped herbs for extra flavour and texture. 

Stock up on healthy snacks

If snacking is your downfall, avoid buying highly processed foods such as crisps, cakes and biscuits, and instead make stock up on healthier alternatives such as mixed nuts, dried and fresh fruit, and natural yoghurt. Boiled eggs are also handy snacks or sandwich fillers, and a nutrient-rich alternative to processed meat or cheese.