8 Genius Meal Prep Ideas on Instagram
It may seem like there aren't enough hours in the day when you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle. You have to squeeze in a sweat sesh before the sun comes up, avoid breakroom doughnuts at the office, and then get a home-cooked dinner on the table. But we get itβthe last thing you want to do is spend time over the stovetop after a long day at work. That's exactly why we've gathered some of the best meal prep ideas spotted on Instagram.
If you're looking to save time, money, and calories, meal prepping is the perfect route to take. All you have to do is devote an hour or two out of your week to cooking and you've got yourself perfectly portioned, healthy meals to last days. Try these genius tips below to help you jazz up your next breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And while you're at it, try Prepping These Foods On Sunday To Cut Calories All Week.
Mix and Match Protein and Veggies
Never a week goes by when I'm not meal prepping. For me, it helps me have to make one less decision every day by having food already prepared for myself. I don't get bored with what I'm eating because I make sure there's a large variety of vegetables and proteins to mix and match at each meal. Meal prep isn't for everyone and that's okay β but just give it a shot if you find yourself stressing out at meal time worried about not having enough time to cook something and then resorting to snacking all day and never feeling satisfied. You don't even have to do a large meal prep, try just enough food for 2-3 days. I love a smaller meal prep when my week allows for it, but right now a larger one keeps me out of the kitchen all week long! β What's on the menu this week? β’ roasted grape tomatoes & garlic β’ roasted broccoli with @primalpalate garlic & herb blend β’ spaghetti squash with @gothamgreens pesto β’ celery fries (inspired by @christinaricewellness) seasoned with @primalpalate super gyro blend β’ bison bolognese with @raoshomemade arrabbiata sauce β’ @pedersonsfarms bacon wrapped asparagus β’ @foodbymars salmon cakes made with @safecatchfoods β’ @dartagnanfoods smoked duck breast β’ @primalpalate curry sautΓ©ed cabbage & apples in @primalkitchenfoods avocado oil β’ Instant Pot beef stew with @bonafideprovisions bone broth β’ date & @georgiagrinders cashew butter bliss balls
Rather than settling for a lackluster lunch, try batch-roasting your favorite produce and pairing them with a different lean protein each day. Leslie McDonald opts for grape tomatoes, broccoli, spaghetti squash, and cabbage. She serves them alongside delicious main entrees such as Instant Pot beef stew, smoked duck breast, bison bolognese, and salmon cakes made with Safe Catch's wild-caught fish.
Don't Cook For a Full Week
When you picture meal prepping, you probably relate it to spending hours in the kitchen cooking meals for the entire week. But if you're one to get bored of leftovers fast, FitMenCook has a simple solution: Prep just three days' worth of meals rather than a whole week's worth. Kevin Curry took just an hour out of his day to create nine meals for three daysβthree with meat, three with seafood, and three completely vegan. In addition to these daily entrees, Curry makes his morning meal from scratch and gulps down a low-carb protein shake post workout.
Prep Snacks, Too
When Rachel Paul, aka The College Nutritionist, goes grocery shopping for the week, she stocks up on breakfast, lunch, and dinner staples plus a few snacks. If you find your tummy grumbling come the midday slump, make sure to keep healthy snacks on hand to stay satiated and calm the hanger. Paul pre-portions picks such as a 1/4 cup of walnuts, one string cheese, and 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate to curb snacktime calories and cravings.
Swap Carbs With Veggies
To cut calories and feel fuller for longer, Change_Begins_With_You swaps carby picks such as pasta and crackers for spiralized and crunchy veggies. Vegetables are more nutrient-dense and have fewer calories than their grain-based counterparts. Plus, they're super versatile, so if you're getting bored of zoodles, you can try spiralizing beets, carrots, parsnips, and squash. Got a nagging hankering for rice? Try vitamin C-packed cauliflower rice instead.
Make Your Own Burrito Bowl
Love the hearty combo of beans, rice, fajita veggies, and spiced chicken but don't love the caloric wrap it's rolled in? Break out the Instant Pot and whip up a 20-minute burrito bowl that's jam-packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats to keep you from snacking before suppertime. Transform leftovers by using lettuce cups as a vessel for the hearty filling or ladling it over cauliflower rice for quick and easy meals you'll crave all week.
Toss Popcorn Over Salads
Instead of adding crunch to your salad with non-nutritive croutons, toss some popcorn over your greens. A bowl of leafy greens is super easy to prep, but forking into spring mix almost every day can get pretty boring. Swapping croutons with popcorn will bless your bowl with added texture as well as belly-filling fiber.
Get Inspired By Takeout
If you've committed to meal prep, then it's no secret that you're trying to avoid the drive-thru. But just because you've said sayonara to frequent restaurant meals, doesn't mean you can't make your own healthy spin on your go-to order. Pinch of Yum bakes chicken and veggies with a homemade sauce consisting of wholesome ingredients such as ginger, dates, and olive oil and tops the dish with sesame seeds and scallions for a Chinese takeout-inspired supper.
Try Freezer Pack Meals
Still averse to eating three-day-old leftovers? Damn Delicious stores chicken, beans, tomatoes, corn, salsa, cilantro, onion, jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, and garlic in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Then, she stores it in the freezer (where it can be kept for up to a month). And the effort is minimal: All you have to do is pop half of the ingredients into your slow cooker (and the other half in the freezer for next time). Let the machine work its magic overnight, and voila, lunch and dinner. Choose these ingredients for fresh cilantro lime chicken or concoct your own creative combo.
