Food Prep 101
There are many ways of going about prepping food, but the main take away from this post is about doing what works for you. What works with your lifestyle, the amount of time you have or the amount of time you want to dedicate around prepping the food you eat each week.
Generally prepping 2-3 times a week every 2-4 days cuts down on time in one sitting and also keeps the food tasting better when it’s stored. There are some tips and tricks when it comes to certain things like cut up veggies and fruit.
Vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli and place in an airtight container with paper towel at the bottom to collect moisture. Celery and carrots for instance can be placed in a jar filled with water and last 1-2 weeks! This is great when you want veggies or fruit to snack on for the entire week without losing flavour of crispness.
This will cut down on time to make salads, omellets, yogurt parfaits and more.
Organize Your Life
Fridge
Try and have your foods located in the same spot so it’s clear and easy to find. This will cut down on food waste and some of your more delicate items like lettuce and fruit from freezing at the back of the fridge.
Pantry/Cupboards
Make sure to have items clearly visible with the smallest at the front and larger/taller items at the back. Only buy a certain amount you’re able to eat within the expiry date as it’s better to have less and run out than too much that goes to waste.
Certain foods keep a long time and are versatile for many different recipes like:
- Pasta, rice, and oats
- Broth/stock
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste
- Dried fruit and mixed nuts
- Peanut butter or other nut or seed butter
- Baking powder, sugar, flour, and corn starch
- Oil (olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil etc._
- Spices (sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cinnamon etc.)
Shopping List
Having the staple items in your cupboard or pantry will make the weekly shopping lists easier so you save time and have less waste. Make a plan for the week so it’s easier to shop and buy what’s on sale, local, or in season.
Time
Be as efficient as possible when it comes to your organization of your spaces, but also for prepping food and shopping each week.
Aim to have your lists done ahead of time and a plan set in place for the meals at least a week in advance. This allows you to see what you have going on that week and plan the meals around your busy lifestyle.
Set aside time to grocery shop and do some simple prep and few times during the week or weekend to save yourself time when busy or the longer days when you know you’ll be too tired to cook and eat healthy!
BONUS TIP
Making yourself a weekly schedule to pin on the fridge or using a chalkboard is a great blueprint for meal planning that will save you a ton of time! It also allows for enough variety to keep things enjoyable and different each week utilizing many of the same ingredients to minimize food waste and saving you money.
