Eating healthy can be challenging, especially during a busy week! One of the best ways to keep healthy eating habits going all week is engaging in healthy meal prep in advance.
But, of course, it can be boring to eat the same meal all the time. Read on to discover how you can work on balancing nutrition and find flavor in the art of healthy meal prep.
How to Meal Prep Healthy
1. Use Healthy Fats
Fat is one of the main ingredients that can make food taste good. But not all fats are created equal, and several fats are actually good for you.
The best fats for you are unsaturated fats, which can be found in nuts, avocados, and seeds. Using these ingredients in your healthy meal prep can add some flavor without compromising your health!
2. Use Healthy Oils
Healthy oils add a great flavor but often get a bad rap. Like fats, not all oils are part of healthy meal prep, and you’ll need to be careful which ones you add to your meals.
Whenever possible, cook your meal prep in olive oil, flaxseed oil, or avocado oil. These oils are loaded with unsaturated fats and low on the ingredients you should avoid such as trans-fat.
3. Skip the Cream
Many recipes call for “cream.” Often they call for heavy whipping cream or cream cheese, but these ingredients, although tasty, are far from healthy.
Any food that is labeled as cream shouldn’t actually be considered dairy in your meal plans because the unhealthy fat and sugar contents outweigh the health benefits of these foods.
Instead, add regular dairy to your meals or lactose-free dairy in the form of yogurt or cheese, as both of these ingredients are healthier than adding cream ingredients.
4. Portion Your Protein
While protein is an essential aspect of every meal, most Americans consume too much protein to the point where it can have a harmful effect on the body.
The body only needs 5-7 ounces of protein daily, which is much smaller than most protein portions sold in-store. For example, the average chicken breast is 6 oz., but some can weigh up to 10 oz., meaning if you have a larger size, this portion should be divided into two meals.
Having a kitchen scale on hand as you perform your healthy meal prep can be helpful and will ensure your portion sizes are correct for your specified diet and nutritional goals.
5. Load Up on Veggies
The great thing about vegetables is that they are generally low in calories and fat. So, you can eat as much as you want. Additionally, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to be at its best.
Vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups based on their nutrients: dark green; red and orange; beans, peas, and lentils; starchy; and other vegetables. For a healthy meal prep, you’ll want to load up on all greens, bright and colorful vegetables. Incorporating beans, peas, lentils and starchy vegetables will depend on your dietary and nutritional needs because they can be higher in calories and carbohydrates.
Need Help With Healthy Meal Prep?
As you can see, healthy meal prep requires knowledge, time and special cooking skills! If you find that you aren’t able to keep up with consistent meal prep, consider giving Farm Fresh Meals a try!
Farm Fresh Meals is a healthy meal prep delivery company that can deliver healthy and balanced meals directly to your door. You can purchase a la carte or subscribe and save!