SAVE TIME AND EAT HEALTHIER BY PREPPING
MEALS IN ADVANCE

1. Invest in some good containers

You're going to need a variety of sizes and shapes, which can be found at virtually any grocery or department store. The style of your containers matters, too. Plastic containers work, but if you're making hot food (or if you're environmentally conscious), opt for glass. Glass storage containers will also have a longer lifespan. 

2. Start small Start with a mini-prep

Prepare only your lunches or dinners for the next three to four days. At first, make a healthy recipe that you know you love -- you'll be more inclined to eat it without getting tired of it (and you won't be stuck with four days worth of meals that you can hardly stomach). Try this routine for a few weeks, taking the opportunity to flex your creative muscles by testing different recipes. 

3. Practice safe storage

Some people fail at meal prepping simply because they do not know how to maintain the freshness of their food. For reference, cooked chicken breast will last three to four days in the fridge, cooked salmon between five and six days, and cooked vegetables up to four days. Remember the freezer is your friend. Pasta sauces and soups freeze extremely well and can be stored frozen for up to six months. Also, try pre-portioning your smoothie ingredients (such as banana, spinach, berries, and avocado) in freezer bags. In the morning, just add your liquid and blend. Finally, wash and cut all of your vegetables, even if you're not planning to use them immediately. When you get home from work, you're more likely to choose that carrot stick over a chocolate bar if the carrot is pre-prepared.  

4. Grow your skills

Once you've mastered the mini-prep, you should have a good idea about which recipes and containers work for you. To become a bonafide meal-prepper, you'll want to set aside a few hours a week (it doesn't have to be a Sunday!) to buy groceries and make your meals. The purpose of meal prepping is to be prepared for those times when you're at work or school, or otherwise away from the convenience of your home kitchen. While it does replace vending machine meals and fast food runs throughout the week, meal prepping is simply a supplement to all  of your fresh home-cooked meals and an occasional night out at a restaurant.