Meal Prep. This is how easy batch cooking works!

Meal Prep - Practical batch cooking for a healthy, balanced diet.

If you are out and about all day, varied and balanced meals often get neglected. Food from the kiosk or the canteen is rarely healthy and often not tasty either. Even if you have special dietary needs or don't want to spend money on food on the go, healthy eating usually falls by the wayside. The new food trend Meal Prep, i.e. batch cooking, is the solution.

What is Meal Prep?

Meal Prep means batch cooking. For example, you cook all your dishes on one or several days of the week. On the other days you can then enjoy the prepared dishes. Preparing food in advance has various advantages and allows you to eat tasty, healthy food even when time is short.

What do you need for batch cooking?

Basically, you need no more and no less than for conventional cooking for the same day. But there is one thing: you need food storage containers and jars, and plenty of them. You can fill these with the prepared food. Afterwards you can enjoy the meal wherever and whenever you want. It is also advantageous if the containers are microwave-safe. Then you can heat the food directly without transferring it. Salads in jars look especially tasty and appealing. After all, as they say, we eat with our eyes, even when batch cooking.

Which foods are especially suitable for batch cooking?

However, not all foods are suitable for batch cooking. You need to pay attention to a lot when putting meals together. On the one hand, a healthy diet includes a balanced combination of foods: vegetables, carbohydrates and proteins should all be included in one meal. Furthermore, it is important that the foods are suitable for Meal Prep. Some foods quickly turn mushy.

When it comes to vegetables, you are spoilt for choice. Colourful, healthy and tasty. Basically, anything you like is suitable for batch cooking. You can, however, pay attention to which vegetables are in season. This not only has a positive effect on the price but is also environmentally beneficial.

Various types of lentils and beans are good sources of carbohydrates. Whether red lentils, black Beluga lentils, kidney beans, black beans or white beans, your taste decides! Side dishes such as potatoes, couscous, bulgur or quinoa are also particularly suitable for Meal Prep. Wholewheat pasta is also suitable, but regular pasta is less so. It has the disadvantage of quickly becoming mushy. This affects not only the taste but also the appearance. Rice is the better choice here.

There are also many options for protein sources in Meal Prep. Chicken or turkey breast are possible choices. Mozzarella or other types of cheese are also very suitable. For vegans, tofu, seitan or falafel balls are suitable. So, whatever your dietary needs or preferences, you are guaranteed to find something for you when batch cooking.

How does Meal Prep work?

Preparation is key. First, you need the utensils described above, such as food storage containers or preserving jars. Then it makes sense to plan the whole week in advance. You should think carefully about what you want to eat on each day of the week. Food blogs, cookbooks and much more are good sources of inspiration. Once you have created your weekly plan for Meal Prep, it's time to get down to business. Now you go shopping. With your shopping list, you can buy the individual Meal Prep ingredients at the health food store, the supermarket or the weekly market.

Careful selection of ingredients is essential for batch cooking. This saves money, is environmentally friendly and also healthy. Then you can start batch cooking. If you cook dishes whose ingredients overlap, you save time and your effort is considerably lower. When stacking the Meal Prep dishes in the fridge, you should also plan ahead. It costs nerves when you always need the container at the very bottom.

What advantages does batch cooking offer?

Meal Prep offers you various advantages. Firstly, you save money, because batch cooking is considerably cheaper than going to a snack bar, the cafeteria, a restaurant or the canteen every day. So if you practise Meal Prep, this has a positive effect on your spending.

The workload is considerably lower than if you cook every day. Many ingredients only need to be prepared once, as they appear in various meals. In addition, after batch cooking you only have to do the washing up once.

When batch cooking, you can prepare meals that are considerably healthier than if you eat out. Losing weight is therefore just as possible with Meal Prep as a healthier, more conscious diet.

Who is Meal Prep especially suitable for?

Meal Prep is especially suitable for you if you value a healthy and active diet. Food from canteens or kiosks is then not for you. Instead, you have the opportunity to prepare your food in advance according to your nutrition plan. Meal Prep is the chance for a health-conscious diet.

Batch cooking is also suitable for you if you prefer special diets. A vegan diet, for example, is not always easily possible everywhere. You can effortlessly batch cook vegan dishes at home and no longer have to fall back on makeshift solutions such as chips etc. Of course, Meal Prep is also suitable for other dietary needs such as a gluten-free, vegetarian or other diet. Batch cooking is the solution.

What other tips should you keep in mind?

If you want to try the Meal Prep trend in the future, you should also keep a few tips in mind. Then you will not want to miss batch cooking.

1. Use spices and herbs for more flavour variety.

2. Prepare large portions and freeze some to last for weeks when you have no time to batch cook.

3. Use a variety of foods with which you can prepare various Meal Prep recipes.

Conclusion - The batch cooking trend as your chance for a balanced and healthy diet.

Meal Prep is a trend that is finding more and more appeal. If you value a healthy and balanced diet and, in addition, have no time for daily cooking, Meal Prep is the opportunity and chance. After all, you benefit from batch cooking in many ways.