Weight loss stories permeate the Internet. There are people who cut weight drastically, cutting down sometimes by hundreds of pounds. A large part of that is fitness but doing right by your health also takes into account nutrition.
Meal prep is the act of cooking food beforehand, preparing it in portions, and setting it aside for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in the future. If you don’t like cooking, there are also prepared meal delivery services available. These weight loss meal delivery services will prepare healthy foods to help you lose weight.
Here are some easy meal prep ideas for weight loss:
Meal #1: Oatmeal
Oatmeal can be cooked in large batches and set aside for later. It’s also easy to customize. Peanut butter, apple, walnuts, strawberries and other berries, and even chocolate all work well individually in oatmeal. Try to find a few different oatmeal recipes you can use. Also, oatmeal’s very low-calorie and in the right portions will provide the fiber you need to stay full.
Meal #2: Berry Shakes
Berry shakes are great easy meal prep ideas for weight loss. Berry shakes are easy to make in a food processor and can be made in large batches. Berry shakes are filled with antioxidants and are a key post-workout meal you’ll love with all-natural sugars as well. With your cup of berries, mix in a banana, some orange juice, Greek Yogurt or almond milk for a low-calorie alternative, and a half cup of pineapple.
Meal #3: Yogurt Parfait
Yogurt parfaits can be calorie intense when you eat a lot but fortunately, parfaits are small. A mixture of Greek Yogurt topped with oats, seeds, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries is enough to kickstart your day and get you off on the right foot. You can also prepare it way beforehand without any of the ingredients becoming soggy.
Meal #4: Vegetable Salad
Salads are a fine way to prepare a healthy nutritious meal that can last you days. A vegetable salad comprises of ingredients like lettuce, carrots, cucumber, celery, green pepper, and additional optional veggies such as broccoli and baby spinach. This is a very low-calorie dish, affordable and when topped with a little dressing is the perfect snack.
Meal #5: Greek Salad
Greek salad is another salad that comes packed with protein and energy-giving nutrients. Couscous, cucumber, red onion, bits of tomato, peppers, and chickpeas are a great starting point. There are a lot of ways to customize a Greek salad. Try some stuff out. Remove what you don’t like. Add what you do. This isn’t about adhering to a strict recipe. It’s about finding fun, tasty meals you feel excited about.
Meal #6: Poached Chicken
A lot of us eat meat. If that’s you, poach not only some chicken but a lot of it. Chicken when poached is lean, high in protein, and adaptable to dishes all the way from breakfast salads to dinnertime dishes a la rice. By boiling chicken, you also avoid breading chicken which increases salt or deep-frying it which adds a ton – A TON! – of calories and fat that you don’t need.
Meal #7: Chickpeas And Rice
Chickpeas and rice are high in protein, comes strong in carbs, and is not too calorie-intense so long as it’s consumed in appropriate amounts. In terms of a meal that’s going to be tasty and filling, you’ll love going to rice and chickpeas which can be adjusted in taste with herbs and spices.
Meal #8: Glazed Meatballs on Rice
Glazed meatballs are easy to prepare in bulk. They’re also easy to calculate in terms of the amount of calories in them. That said, you want more on your plate than meatballs. Add some rice, mixed in with green onion and a low-calorie sauce. As a side, add some carrots or a small portion of vegetables. These can be prepared in small portions and set aside in the fridge for whenever.
Meal #9: Quinoa Salad
Quinoa salad or a quinoa bowl uses quinoa as its base and is then topped with things like corn, beans, slices of avocado, a squeeze or two of lemon, and lettuce. It’s sauce-free and is a juggernaut of healthy fats, carbs, veggies, and it keeps calories relatively low in reasonable portions.
Meal #10: Soups And Bone Broth
If you struggle to keep your appetite under control, feed it. Bone broth is packed with lots of collagen and minerals. If you don’t like pure bone broth, use it as a base for a soup. Though prep meals are typically those which can’t spill, the occasional soup can do a lot of good for one’s waistline.
Meal #11: Vegetable Sandwich
With a sandwich, it’s a little tricky. You don’t want to add sauce directly onto the bread unless you’re sure it’s not going to get soggy. A vegetable sandwich works with cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, shreds of carrots, some onion, cabbage, and/or some avocados. A vegetable sandwich, like a salad, is very adaptable and low-calorie.
Meal #12: Broccoli And Cauliflower
Steamed broccoli and cauliflower aren’t the tastiest of dishes but they come with lots of fiber, nutrients, and more. Cauliflower is also a fine ingredient that can be broken down to form vegetarian or low-calorie dishes. There are no shortage of creative ways one can employ cauliflower. In terms of broccoli, it’s also a healthy green that’s filling. You’ll want to keep both in your fridge raw or steamed.
