Meal Prepping for Beginners: A Podcast

[Speaker: Frankie Wulf] My name is Frankie Wulf and today I’ll be sharing tips about meal prepping for beginners. Meal prepping is a useful way to save time, money, and improve your overall nutrition. I grew up in a household where leftovers were a staple. Having two parents who both worked full-time meant there wasn’t time to cook fresh dinners. As a full-time college student working two jobs, I’ve found myself with similar time constraints. On top of a lack of time, I’ve also got a limited budget. Enter meal prepping. 

[Sound of chicken being fried in a pan.] 

So, where to start? In my experience, meal prepping is best done at night. The goal is to cook a big dinner that can be packed away and reheated for lunch and dinner the rest of the week. Almost any food can be meal prepped, as long as it’s got a shelf life (when cooked) of at least 3 days. Foods that spoil quickly, like leafy greens and raw fish, should generally be avoided. When in doubt, I’d recommend referencing the refrigeration guidelines set by the FDA to play it safe.  

Other than shelf life, recipe yields are something to take note of. You’ll want to find recipes producing four portions at minimum. I usually search for budget-friendly recipes designed to feed families. You can find meal prep recipe ideas in books (I like The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook by Toby Amidor) or online (my favorite recipe-sourcing websites include BudgetBytes and The Pioneer Woman). They’re easy to follow and make delicious results.  

[Sound of water being boiled in a pot.] 

The cost-effective and time-saving nature of meal prepping makes it a suitable way of preparing food for anyone, regardless of what point of their life they’re at. Meal prepping has benefits for everyone. And if you’re still not convinced, try meal-prepping for yourself and experience the results in real time.