Meal prepping can have a myriad of benefits for a busy professional. However, it doesn’t mean keeping things bland by eating only unseasoned chicken breast, broccoli, and rice.
There are so many different recipes that you can choose from to give your diet some variety. Here are some tips to make your meals more exciting!
Staples
The first step is finding the main ingredients you’ll use for the week. Most meals usually center around protein. Chicken and tofu work with most diets and are great at absorbing seasonings and sauces. Chicken thighs tend to be cheaper than chicken breasts. So, keep that in mind if you are trying to be more budget conscientious. Tofu is an excellent choice if you’ve chosen a meat-free diet. These two proteins are flexible enough to work with most ingredient combinations. On the other hand, starches like potatoes, beans, and corn are just as versatile as chicken and tofu. Here’s a tip: try to buy your staples in bulk to save time and money in the long run.
Spice it up
Spices and sauces will be your best friends when meal prepping—for sauces, having an assortment keeps things lively. You’ll also want to stock up on quality portable containers that keep your food fresh. Often, food will get soggy if you leave it in a liquid for longer than a day. To avoid this, using containers specifically made to keep food fresh longer will be your best bet. Trying out different sauces and spices is a great way to experiment with other flavor profiles. Try shopping at various stores if you want to liven your current selection. International markets are a great place to start when searching for new ingredients.
Add color
Color is an element that you should remember when making delicious meals. The visual appeal of food influences your desire to eat. Food that looks appetizing raises excitement and expectations; some say it tastes better. We see clear examples of this in the food advertisements we see daily. Adding ingredients such as brightly-colored vegetables and fruits is a great way to add color to your dishes. Whether cooking up a delicious stir-fry or a tasty salad, both are good choices for trying new flavor combinations. Try vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, and radishes. As for fruits, pineapples, pears, mango, and apples are a great start!
Meal prepping can be fun, exciting, and healthy. However, it can take a lot of work to get started. Keep these tips in mind as you start your journey, and you will be on your way to excellent home-cooked meals on demand.