Meal prepping is trending everywhere this January, and for good reason. It’s a practical way to stay organised, save time, and eat healthier. Whether you’re a busy professional, a parent juggling endless to-do lists, or simply someone who loves good food, meal prep can make your week infinitely easier. By using the right tools—like microwave-safe, stainless steel, freezer-friendly containers—you can simplify your cooking routine while maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. With a few pro tips and some strategic planning, you’ll be meal-prepping like a seasoned chef in no time.
Why Meal Prep?
Meal prep offers a range of benefits that make it an essential practice for anyone looking to simplify their life and eat healthier. It’s more than just a food trend—it’s a lifestyle change that can help you save time, make healthier choices, stick to your budget, and take control of your portions. The beauty of meal prepping lies in its flexibility: whether you’re working from home or on the go, meal prep makes it easy to have healthy meals at your fingertips whenever you need them.
Portion Control: Whether you’re trying to lose weight, maintain a balanced diet, or simply avoid overeating, portion control ensures that you’re sticking to the right serving sizes for your needs.
Save Time: Cooking everything in one go means less time spent in the kitchen during those busy weeknights. By dedicating a few hours to meal prep on the weekend, you can significantly cut down on the time spent cooking during the week. This leaves more time for other activities.
Healthier Choices: When meals are already prepped and ready to go, you’re less likely to grab an unhealthy takeaway or quick-fix meal. With meal prepping, you have full control over what goes into your food, which means you can create healthier meals that align with your dietary needs and goals.
Budget-Friendly: Meal prepping helps avoid those expensive last-minute food choices that can quickly add up. By planning and shopping for your meals in advance, you can buy ingredients in bulk and reduce food waste, making your grocery trips more cost-effective.
How to Get Started with Meal Prep
Getting started with meal prep can seem intimidating at first, but with a little organisation, it quickly becomes second nature. By following a few simple steps, you can set yourself up for success and make meal prepping a seamless part of your weekly routine. The key is to plan ahead, invest in the right tools, and cook strategically to set yourself up for a week of healthy meals.
Cook in Batches: Dedicate a set time to cooking, whether it’s a couple of hours on the weekend or an evening during the week. For example, you can roast a big batch of vegetables, cook grains like quinoa or rice, and prepare proteins all at once. Once everything is cooked, it’s easy to assemble your meals and store them in your containers. By batch cooking, you save time and effort, ensuring that healthy meals are always ready to go.
Plan Your Menu: Start by deciding what you want to eat for the week. Aim for a balance of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks that will keep you satisfied and energized. Make sure to consider your schedule, cooking time, and nutritional needs. For example, if you know you’ll be busy during the week, prep meals that are easy to grab and go, like salads or grain bowls. It’s also helpful to think about how you can repurpose ingredients throughout the week to save time and reduce food waste—such as roasting extra veggies to use in multiple meals.
Shop Smart: Once you’ve planned your meals, create a grocery list that reflects the ingredients you’ll need. Shopping smart means looking for fresh, seasonal produce and versatile ingredients that can be used in multiple meals throughout the week. This will help you save time and money while reducing food waste.
Invest in the Right Containers: High-quality containers are essential to a successful meal prep routine. Investing in durable, eco-friendly options, such as our stainless steel meal prep containers, ensures that your meals stay fresh and organised. These containers are built to last, making them a smart choice for anyone looking to make meal prep a regular part of their routine. Our meal prep containers are microwave-safe and freezer-friendly, so you can store your prepped meals in the fridge or freezer and easily reheat them whenever you need.
Meal Prep Container Must-Haves
Microwave and Oven Safe: Choose containers that are microwave and oven safe for easy reheating. Whether you’re heating up lunch at work or enjoying a home-cooked dinner, these containers make meal prep even more convenient.
Freezer-Safe Containers: Freezer-friendly containers are essential for long-term storage. You can prepare meals in advance and store them in the freezer for later use, ensuring that you always have a nutritious meal on hand, even on the busiest days.
Leakproof Lids: Leakproof lids are a must-have for dishes like soups, curries, or any meals with sauces. They help prevent spills and messes, making it easy to transport your meals to work without worry.
Available in three shapes and multiple sizes, the Meal Prep Sets are fully customizable for how you want to use them; ideal for the whole family or different meal types.
Tips for Success
To make your meal prep routine even easier, here are a few top tips to stay on track:
Mix It Up: Avoid meal prep fatigue by rotating your recipes weekly. Changing up the ingredients and meals you make will keep things exciting and help prevent you from getting bored with your lunches and dinners.
Keep It Simple: Focus on recipes with overlapping ingredients to save time and reduce waste. For example, if you’re roasting sweet potatoes for one meal, roast extra for another meal. This way, you’ll save time without compromising on taste or variety.
Don’t Forget Snacks: Snacks are an important part of meal prep, too! Pre-cut veggies, portioned out hummus, or homemade energy bites are easy, healthy options that will keep you satisfied throughout the day without reaching for unhealthy options.
Ready to transform your weekly routine?
Start meal prepping with Black+Blum containers—designed to keep your meals fresh and your week stress-free. With our range of microwave-safe, stainless steel containers and thoughtful design features, you’ll be able to prepare meals in advance without sacrificing quality or taste. Explore our collection today to find the perfect fit for your meal prepping style.