Whether it be for health reasons, busy weekdays, or just yummy meals, here is a meal prep guide for college students. If you’re anything like me you’ve spent your college years eating the most unhealthy foods known to man. On some days, I lived off of Haribo gummy bears and caramel popcorn. On other days, I ate Chinese takeout. I started to hate to eat but more importantly, I hated what I was eating. I was living in a dietary nightmare. I decided to find an alternative to buying takeout and eating cafeteria food. I came across the idea of meal prepping.
What is meal prepping?
Meal prepping is preparing your meals ahead of time. You prepare your meals with healthier and unprocessed ingredients.
Why is meal prep important?
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You save a lot of time. You no longer have to worry about what you are going to eat or when you are going to eat it
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You can eat healthier
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You’ll save money by not eating takeout everyday
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You won’t stress as much over food
How do I get started?
First off stick to the basics! You can start by prepping with familiar recipes, for example chicken and rice. This is a common recipe and for a healthier spin you can swap white rice to brown. Meal prepping is all about planning. Pick a day you want to prepare your meals, whether it be for the span of a week or a few days.
Set a budget
In order to meal prep you need to set a budget and in order to set a budget you need to know what meals you are preparing. This will help you narrow down what groceries you will need.
Here are a few pro tips for grocery shopping:
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Buying frozen produce
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Sticking to your shopping list
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Opt for vegetarian meals
Simple meal prep ideas:
Spoon University created a list of affordable meal prep ideas. Check out the list below!
Start the year off strong with healthy alternatives! You deserve to achieve all of your goals and it starts with a balanced diet!