Meal prepping for your third meal in your Isagenix® System may be the most overlooked approach to maintaining a healthy diet. We know it can seem overwhelming and time-consuming (who wants to chop vegetables in the kitchen for hours?) especially when you’re juggling a busy schedule. The truth is that a little planning goes a long way.
When you prep your meals, you don’t have to swing by the drive-thru, wander aimlessly around the grocery store or calculate the proper portion control. In fact, meal prep can save you time and money, help you make better dietary decisions and keep you on track with your weight wellness and health goals.
But before you get started, read these tips to help you plan and prep your meals. You’ll be surprised at how quick and easy it can be! What’s more, is that you will have extra time for the people and things you love most.
Plan and Organise
You’ve probably heard the saying ‘Fail to plan, plan to fail.’ This statement couldn’t be truer when it comes to meal prep. The first step is to think about the type of food you want to eat. Maybe it’s grilled chicken salad or prawn and vegetables. Get creative and mix up your meals. Find new recipes that will inspire you and appeal to your taste buds.
Whatever you choose, be sure to write down your meals for the week (a journal works great!) along with all the ingredients you need and take that list with you to the grocery store and consider purchasing small and inexpensive containers to help you portion out servings. This is also a simple and easy way to store your meals to transport them to school or the office.
After a nutritious snack? Try an IsaLean™ Bar, in five great flavours such as Chocolate Cream Crisp, Nutty Caramel Cashew, Chocolate Decadence, Lemon Passion Crunch and our dairy-free Chocolate Berry Bliss, they’re tasty and nutritious with 18 grams of protein and complement your Shake Days after the gym. If one is too much for a snack, try cutting it in half!
Get Cookin’
When it comes to meal prepping some of the most common foods include chicken breast; lunch meat; hard-boiled eggs; brown rice; veggies such as avocado, broccoli, cauliflower or zucchini; and fruits such as apples, oranges or pears. If you can’t buy fresh produce there are plenty of frozen options also available!
Grilling, steaming or roasting are great ways to prepare lean meats and veggies to reduce or eliminate unwanted oil. Choose healthy marinades, spices and seasonings to kick up the flavour without adding extra fat and always remember to cool and store your food to appropriate temperatures to avoid contamination from harmful bacteria.
While you may be spending a little bit longer than usual in the kitchen you can make it fun by turning on music or calling a friend. You’ll be surprised at how fast the time will go.
Pack and Store
Once you’re finished meal prepping, portion out servings, label each container with a meal name and date. If you’re feeling extra ambitious pack a few meals to throw in the freezer. You’ll thank us when you come home from a long day at work, to an empty fridge and your kids are asking “What’s for dinner?”
