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7 Meal Prep Hacks For Beginners!

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INSIDE: 7 Meal Prep Hacks For Beginners that will help ease you into the world of meal prep. {Post contains affiliate links} 

WELCOME! 

Meal prep can be really intimidating. But I promise it doesn’t have to be! The whole idea of “meal prep” is to have healthy meals,  pre-portioned, packed and ready to go!


So let’s do this! I have 7 tried and true Meal Prep hacks that will help you to: 

  • Lose Weight 
  • Gain Confidence 
  • Feel SO much more energized
  • Gain Control 

By the time we’re through you’ll be a MEAL Prepping Pro Rock Star! 

 

HACK #1

Love your crock pot/Instant Pot 

Meal Prep Is Easy with a Crock Pot

The crock pot/ slow cooker {tomato /tomatoe} is your friend! I LOVE to throw a bunch chicken breasts (even frozen!) in my crock pot with some seasonings and let them cook for 3-5 hours and then I’ve got my chicken cooked for the week! You really do not need to over think this! Or cut your time down even more with a new Instant Pot!! They are miracle workers – I can do all my chicken for the week and have it be perfectly cooked in an HOUR!! 

Here are some of my favorite quick flavor combos

  • Italian seasoning packets
  • ranch seasonings
  •  taco seasoning
  • a jar of salsa
  • Grill Seasonings
  • Trust me with this combo! It is good (My personal fav!) 
    1tsp. garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder
    1 tsp. Mustard powder
    1 tsp. sea salt
    1/4 tsp. thyme
     Pinch or two pepper

 OR Just add what you like the most! I try to go with a flavor that is pretty universal so it will go with whatever I plan for the week! 

Another crock pot hack – Did you know you can cook baked potatoes in your crock pot… Mind Blown right!?!? It is super EASY.

Just wash your potatoes brush them with your favorite oil I use coconut or avocado oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt! Then stab each potato with a fork a few times then wrap em’ up in tinfoil and then cook them on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 -8 hours! Potatoes have had a bad rep in the past, but they are coming back in a BIG way even the Whole 30 discerning crowd approve of them! … Can I get an Amen! I missed my potatoes! …

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

 

HACK #2

Rethink your rice cooker 

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I make my quinoa in my rice cooker! It SAVES so much time! Grease sides of the rice cooker with a little coconut oil, then rinse your quinoa in a strainer and put it in your rice cooker with a 3 to 1 ratio – (3 parts water to 1 part quinoa) and hit cook! Perfect quinoa every time! Without the mess of water boiling over onto your stove top!! Ain’t nobody got time for that!

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

Hack #3

Roast those veggies ahead of time

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Roast Veggies in the oven. I will buy a big bag of brussel sprouts from the big box stores and I just toss them in grapeseed or olive oil, with sea salt and pepper, and if I’m feeling fancy I’ll add some balsamic vinegar! Cook at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes tossing every 15 minutes. Then I eat my delightful veggies ALL week! They actually re-heat really well. Be creative, buy the veggies you love and roast them for the week! 

Still With Me!!? Hang in There more AWESOME Ways to help you lose weight and gain more confidence are still coming! 

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

HACK #4

Watch Portions 

Protions

{Image Source: myhealthoc.org }

Raise your hand high in the air if you have gained weight eating healthy?!? Be Honest! If you just stick to “Eating healthy” and think that’s how you will lose weight that’s like thinking I want to go to California but you have no map, itinerary, or plan on how exactly how you are going to get there! Portion control is a big part of weight loss and eating in the right caloric range is key! I like to use my fitness pal to help keep track of my calories + it will calculate my daily calories based on my goals. 

For portioning all you really need are your hands for measuring!

Veggies = Two hand open palms 

Carbs = A closed fist  

Protein = Open palm 

Fruits= Loosely closed fist 

Oils = 1 Thumb size portion  

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

HACK #5

Keep It Simple

Hack #5 Keep it simple (2)

Keep it simple! Don’t over think it. If you don’t have each and every meal prepped and ready to go that’s okay!! But as long as you have healthy food prepped and ready to go… you’re winning!

The simpler you make this process the more likely you are to adhere to it!

So boil some eggs ahead of time, put carrots into snack bags, buy prepackaged easy to grab healthy snacks! You want to make your fridge and pantry a one stop shop! No having to think about what am I going to eat? Just grab those snacks and foods you took the time to prep earlier in the week!

Sometimes I see the posts where every meal is planned out and put into containers for the entire week… Have you seen those? All that work looks exhausting! LOL … But knowing that I have healthy chicken prepped for the week, roasted veggies, and quinoa all cooked and ready to go makes eating healthy a snap! 

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

 

Hack #6

Schedule it! 

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We all start out with the best intentions when it comes to meal prepping and eating healthy, but life happens! Things come up and get in the way! I have found that if I make a date with myself to prep for the week it gets done! I usually set aside time either Saturday or Sunday to accomplish the task of prepping for the week. Either I work with what I have for the week, or I plan and include a shopping trip to get the weeks necessary groceries! I reward myself by watching a show on Netflix while I’m prepping away or listen to a book on Audible! {My new addiction 😉 }  

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

Hack #7

Get the Right Tools! 

Isolator Fitness Bag

Invest in a meal prep cooler for traveling, work, or taking along on a busy day! It will be a lifesaver for you. Whether you work outside your home or are a busy Mom (ME!) My hectic schedule can get in the way of my plans to eat healthy! I love my Iso Bag it helps me to pack some awesome snacks and a quick lunch and I know that no matter what my day throws at me I will be prepared!  I love that it came with all this STUFF! 2 Ice bricks which are awesome cause they lay flat, and 4 Smaller size containers, and two larger size containers. 

So really meal prep doesn’t have to be this crazy intimidating thing – You can even start small by packing and portioning your leftovers from dinner. Then start adding more and more prepped foods as you become more comfortable with it! It’s all about being a little bit better every day! I promise that meal prepping has helped me so much! It has helped me keep my weight in check, and it has helped me stay on track so that I am feeding my body with the best food that will give me energy and focus! 

CLICK HERE To Get My 7 Days of Clean Eating: Recipes + Tips!

6 Comments

  1. GiGi Eats says:

    I am registering for a crock pot, I SWEAR!

    1. Good Call! 😉 You will LOVE it!

  2. My rice cooker has a different setting for white and brown rice, and another for steaming veggies. Which would you use for quinoa?

    1. The White Rice setting works best! For cookers with settings 🙂

  3. Do you had water to the chicken to cook?

    1. No water! The juices from the chicken will keep it from getting dry! 🙂

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