Meal Prep Sunday

 

Sunday is my favorite day of the week!  I love starting my day with a hot yoga session, followed by grocery shopping and meal prepping!  I started meal prepping about 2 months ago and I couldn’t be happier!  It’s made eating healthy easy!  Every Saturday I sit down for about 30 minutes and plan out what I am going to eat the upcoming week and create my grocery list.  Once Sunday rolls around all I need to do is head to the store and start cooking!

Here are some of the reason’s why I love Meal Prep Sunday:

 

1. I’ve saved Money

 

Since I started meal prepping I’ve saved an average of $100 each week! I know exactly what I need a week at the store, I am only buying what is needed and not extra snacks.  I know we all do it, we go to the store with a very vague list of what we need and end up leaving with like $30 worth of snack we totally didn’t need!  I also don’t spend as much money eating out.  When I don’t plan out my meals I find myself doing take out at least 3 times or more a week.  

 

2. Helps me stay on track

 

The hardest part about losing weight or staying in shape has always been food for me - what can I say, I love a good cheeseburger and fries. When I am providing myself with easy healthy meals that all I need to do is heat it up or grab from the fridge! It makes it much easier to stay on track and reach my fitness goals!

 
3. Grocery shopping is easier

Normally when I go to the store, I know there are certain items I need, but most of the time I am just shooting in the dark.  I grab a little bit of this and a little bit of that and hope that when I get home I will have complete meals.  Knowing what you are going to eat in the upcoming week means that you have a complete grocery list of exactly what items you need. Now I spend less time in the store and I don’t have to go throughout the week!

4. Learned Portion Control

I’ve really started to notice how much I used to eat compared to what I should be eating. Did you know that most females only need about 1200 calories a day to maintain their weight?  Following a meal plan for about 9 weeks allowed me to see what I should be eating and what proportions of those foods!  No matter how healthy you eat if you are eating more calories than you are burning you will not lose weight.   Also when going out to eat, I know how much of my food I should be eating and can make healthier choices!

5. Taught me balance

From meal prepping, I’ve learned balance.  It’s okay to have an off meal or an off couple of days.  Life happens you don’t want to stress yourself out, that is not good for your mind or your body.  If you find yourself one night reaching for the cheeseburger or fries that is okay, just know that the next meal or the next day you start fresh, you try to make a healthier choice. There is no reason to shame yourself or get down on yourself we are all human!

Starting a new lifestyle can be hard at times, we’ve built so many bad habits over the years that it takes time to break ourselves from them. Having a communitea supporting you is also really important, I know I draw strength from my friends, family, and co-workers!  Find a friend or significant other to start your journey with you, check-in with each other!  Meal prepping can be fun with friends!  Even if you guys do it from your own homes - facetime while you meal prep or go grocery shopping with your friends!  Starting something new isn’t as scary with a support system around you and I promise no one ever regretted meal prepping and starting a healthier lifestyle!