The best meal prep containers

(CNN) —  

People are consuming extra meals at house and are dealing with new meal prep challenges. In line with Supermarket News, 55% of consumers polled in a research referred to as “Covid-19: Reinventing How America Eats” stated they’re consuming at house extra steadily due to the pandemic. As we head into a brand new yr, we spoke to 4 meal prep consultants to assemble these meal prep suggestions and methods that may aid you store smarter, make your cash go farther, save time and eat more healthy.

The entire consultants we spoke to agree that an important a part of meal prep is the planning.

Allyson Spungin, an authorized private coach, vitamin coach and nationally certified NPC competitor, says, “Have a plan! Map out your meals and snack concepts earlier than grocery buying or ordering on-line.” Jessica Woo, who calls herself the Bento Field Lunch Queen, agrees. “Routine is the whole lot,” she says.

Apps like MealPrepPro and Prepear can assist you get meal plans, recipes and buying lists organized; for those who’re an individual who prefers handwritten lists, a meal planner with a built-in part for a corresponding buying listing can assist you retain observe of what you propose to cook dinner and what it’s essential purchase in your subsequent grocery retailer run.

This planning pad makes meal prep easy. That includes a tear-off buying listing and area for weekly meal planning, this pad sticks proper onto your fridge to maintain you on observe.

Whereas all of the consultants agree on the significance of planning, there are completely different approaches to meal prep, they usually careworn that meal prep isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition — and that it’s not all about weight-reduction plan. “I encourage folks to think about meal prep as an act of self-care versus a way of sticking to inflexible meals guidelines,” Cara Harbstreet, a registered dietitian who focuses on intuitive consuming, says. “In case you strategy it like this, your motivations for sticking to it shift to one thing that eases stress or eliminates chaos, and that may be very empowering.”

Spungin designates at some point for cooking and, to make it much less aggravating, suggests scheduling meal prep for a day whenever you don’t have a number of different issues to do. “Not a leftovers particular person? Choose two prep days,” she says. “For example, Sunday for the primary a part of the week and Wednesday for the second half.”

Woo builds her meal prep into her present schedule. “I prefer to meal prep when I’m already cooking dinner or lunch,” she says. “Cook dinner as if you’re cooking for seven folks and you may freeze particular person meals,” which might be defrosted for a fast lunch or dinner.

These three-compartment plastic containers are nice for somebody who’s entering into meal prepping as a result of you’ll be able to portion out your meals, microwave them, then throw the container within the dishwasher when you’re performed.

A stainless steel bento box like this one is nice in your pockets and the atmosphere. It comes with three detachable compartments that you could swap round to plan your meal precisely the way you need it.

Having a wide range of different-sized containers is at all times handy. Go for this set of 38 from Rubbermaid, made with lids that snap onto the bottom so that you simply received’t lose them.

Holding meal-size parts within the freezer may also assist to maintain boredom at bay. Kevin Curry, the founding father of FitMenCook, says, “The No. 1 tip I’ve for people who find themselves new to meal prepping is that it does NOT must be boring. Boring recipes make it rather more difficult to stay to a meal prepping routine.”

Don’t let anybody let you know that meal prep can’t be scrumptious. Seize this book by writer Chungah Rhee for some inspiration in your upcoming meals from breakfast to consolation meals.

The thought of cooking all of your meals directly might be fairly intimidating. Creator Cassy Joy Garcia desires to assist out with that in this book that gives steering on methods to make batch-cooking easy.

Spungin gives one final piece of recommendation for many who are new to meal prepping: “Don’t. Get. Hungry!” She stresses the significance of keeping nutritious snacks on hand, which can assist to forestall poor meals decisions made out of starvation. The wholesome snacks may even aid you keep away from digging proper into the meals you’re storing away. Individually packaged snacks are a handy selection, however shopping for snacks in bulk and storing particular person parts in reusable silicone storage bags will lower your expenses and lower down on packaging waste.

For somebody who desires a savory snack, give Mission Meats Grass Fed Beef Sticks a attempt. They’re sugar-free and excessive in protein to maintain you happy til your subsequent meal.

Nuts are a perfect wholesome snack as a result of they comprise wholesome fat and a very good quantity of protein. This variety pack of almonds, walnuts and cashews is certain to turn into a family favourite.

In case you’re one to take snacks on the go, ditch your conventional plastic luggage now. The Stasher silicone storage bags are a game-changer to maintain your meals contemporary with out the waste.

The consultants we spoke to provided a few of their favourite suggestions, methods and merchandise for profitable meal prep. Additionally they advise that you simply begin small and keep versatile as you incorporate this new behavior, because you’ll study as you go. “Pay attention to what works and hold at it,” Spungin says of studying methods to put together meals in a manner that works for you.

1. Take inventory: The entire consultants careworn the significance of protecting your kitchen stocked with the necessities of profitable cooking. Spungin suggests investing in basic cookware, storage containers, measuring tools, spices and cooking oils. “That manner all you want is the meals,” Curry provides. “And don’t neglect a quality cutting board and chef’s knife!” Try our picks for the best kitchen knife sets here for those who’re out there for a brand new set.

2. Preserve it easy: Woo encourages new meal preppers to start out small. While you’re simply beginning, she says it’s a good suggestion to plan one every week at a time “so that you don’t overwhelm your self.” Likewise, she says that new cooks ought to stick to simple recipes. “Get snug doing the fundamentals,” she says. “Begin with simple recipes you’re snug cooking, and it’ll get simpler with time.”

Timing is usually a battle for many who are newer to cooking or who aren’t used to prepping many objects directly, however a kitchen timer can remedy each issues.

3. Small home equipment, massive payoff: The consultants we spoke with all love small home equipment to make meal prep simpler on them. A method Woo makes issues simple for herself is utilizing a food chopper to chop up a variety of greens directly, which might be cooked or saved uncooked.

Curry additionally depends on small home equipment. “I couldn’t dwell with out my Instant Pot Duo Plus and my Breville Smart Oven.” Spungin, too, swears by the Immediate Pot in addition to her air fryer, each of which she says are main time-savers. “The Immediate Pot is nice for cooking meals in bulk like soup, chili, stew, and so forth. and you may gradual cook dinner whereas tackling different components of your prep.” An air fryer may additionally be a very good choice for those who’re trying to make your favourite meals with out the surplus oils or energy, versus different cooking strategies like deep-frying.

4. Get energetic: Curry stresses the significance of studying to multitask within the kitchen. “After I’m meal prepping, I’ve received three, 4 or typically 5 issues on the go. I’m sweating. I’m hopping across the kitchen like I’m Remy from ‘Ratatouille.’” Prepping on this manner, he says, not solely saves him a variety of time, nevertheless it additionally makes meal prep a extra participating and fulfilling exercise. Turning on music or a favourite podcast when you prep can assist to make the time go quicker and switch it into enjoyable.

5. Consider the fridge as a buffet: “One useful trick I discovered was to think about my meals as an meeting line relatively than particular person, totally ready meals,” Harbstreet says. The meeting line strategy gives extra choices and suppleness. When storing ready meals, Woo says it is best to “hold your heat objects and chilly objects in separate containers so it’s simpler to reheat your heat objects.”

6. Bulk up: Cooking in bulk — and utilizing these small home equipment like an additional pair of fingers — will mean you can assemble meals all through the week with ease. “I decide a few protein sources like rooster and shrimp, carb sources like rice and candy potatoes [and] have fat readily available like olive oil and avocados to mix for meals,” Spungin says.

7. Grasp an important meal of the day: “Breakfast meal prep can typically really feel essentially the most difficult,” Harbstreet says, “however silicone baking cups mean you can make baked oatmeal, muffins, mini frittatas and extra.” Woo swears by Mason jars for in a single day oats — and, she notes, they’re additionally nice for storing salads and soups.

8. Lower corners with abandon: Meal prep doesn’t imply cooking each single factor from scratch — and, actually, the consultants agree that it is best to search for shortcuts to avoid wasting money and time. “Simply since you didn’t personally cook dinner the meals your self doesn’t imply it may possibly’t have a spot in your meal prep routine,” Harbstreet says. Canned items like beans, corn and diced tomatoes; frozen greens; and rotisserie rooster had been objects that the consultants pointed to as time-savers.

“Simply observe good label literacy and look out for added salt or sugar,” Curry says. Small acts like opening, draining and rinsing canned beans to toss in a salad or rice bowl can save time and power when it’s essential pull lunch or dinner collectively shortly.

9. Give leftovers new life: Curry has one other suggestion for combating meal prep boredom and saving a while: “Don’t be afraid of leftovers. Get inventive with them! One in all my favourite issues is experimenting with a batch of leftover rice to see what sort of fast, low cost and attractive dish I can put collectively.” To stop meals waste, Harbstreet says to label your prepped meals clearly so you know the way lengthy you need to take pleasure in them.

10. Costume it up: Lastly, don’t neglect a sauce or dressing! They will play an enormous function in added taste to a meal and can assist to maintain boredom at bay. “Experiment with a special sauce or dressing every spherical of meal prep,” Harbstreet suggests, noting that even when the fundamentals of the meal don’t change, “you’ll be shocked how novel and thrilling your meals might be with that straightforward change.” Storing dressings and sauces separately may even assist to maintain salad greens and contemporary veggies from getting soggy.

Try our picks under for a wide range of meal prep containers that’ll aid you incorporate these suggestions into your each day routine and hold your meals contemporary.

We will’t wait to get our fingers on this versatile bento box by Lovina. It options 4 compartments and even a sauce cup to hold our full meal in a single useful container.

This insulated lunch container can hold liquids cold and hot for as much as 12 hours. Have this able to meal prep a hearty soup this winter.

We now have our eyes on this set from Bentgo, not solely as a result of the containers are cute, however in addition they embrace an non-obligatory divider to create a fourth compartment. Customization is essential for meal prep containers that may final you from week to week.

Glass containers like these are useful for those who want to shortly see what’s inside. Nevertheless, these aren’t partitioned in order that they’re greatest suited to issues like pasta or casseroles which might be served individually.

The white and bamboo end of this bento box caught our eye, however fortunately it’s as practical as it’s trendy. It incorporates a sauce cup, reusable utensils and two movable dividers in your smartest meal prep but.

This set of storage containers includes a built-in lid vent to keep away from extreme splatter within the microwave whereas warming your meals up. Reviewers imagine this set is a good worth for 42 items complete.

Salads is usually a ache to meal prep, because you usually don’t need to mix all of the elements till you’re able to eat. Check out this round container in your subsequent meal prep, that even includes a plate and dressing cup for a takeout worthy salad.

Collapsible meal prep containers are useful for whenever you end your meals however don’t need the bowl to take up an excessive amount of area on the way in which house or in your cupboards.