Meal Prep Like A Boss With These Essential Tips

Meal prep can be simpler and faster than you think.

Woman reading a recipe on a digital tablet while cooking

By Kimberly Wilson · Updated November 4, 2020

Meal planning and prepping can help you improve your diet quality while saving you time and money along the way. Have you ever wanted to start, but just don’t know where to begin or can’t find the time? It’s easy and doable with the right playbook to get you going.

That’s why we enlisted chef and author Elizabeth Karmel for help — not only does she know her way around the kitchen, but she also offers up a few tips on meal prepping the right way. According to her, there are three things to keep in mind while you’re prepping. The first, “Serve light appetizers so your guests don’t get full before the main dish you prepared,” she says.

For her other essential tips Karmel says, “When you’re thinking about your menu, make sure to present three solid dishes – a starter, a main dish that includes one vegetable and a “star” of the plate, and then a dessert. Don’t feel like you need to cook five side dishes – unless it’s Thanksgiving!”

Meal prep can be simpler and faster than you think. And because any good chef is only as good as his tools, these are some must-have tools to navigate the kitchen and rock your meal prep recipes like a boss.

10pc Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set

Any meal prep plan starts with a good cookware set. That’s why it’s important to invest in a quality one that will last you for a good while — one that’s well beyond your short-term health and wellness goals. The 10pc Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set, offered at Marshalls is not only affordable, it’s great quality.

Holstein Housewares Omelette Maker

Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day, now you can start them off right. With the Holstein Housewares Omelette Maker, you can make two fluffy omelettes in just a few minutes. Simplify the most important meal of the day, and also get a hearty breakfast in at the same time. All you need to do is pour in your mixture, walk away and come back to a full breakfast!

Nutri Ninja Pro Blender

Smoothies can be one of the healthiest and easiest meals to make. Not only are they filling, but they help curb any sweet tooth as well. Make them in advance with the Nutri Ninja Pro, and enjoy them for the week with this top-rated Pro Blender, which functions as its own smoothie carrier thanks to the serving-sized cups.

Cristel Tulipe 4 Qt. Stainless Steel Stew Pan

“The Cristel Tulipe 4 Qt. Stainless Steel Stew Pan with the glass steaming attachment is one of my favorite combinations for cooking,” says Karmel. “It’s great because not only do you have a heavy duty pot you can use for everything, but the steamer attachment can steam everything from pot stickers to broccoli.” The lid that comes with the pot is made of glass, so you can easily monitor the food and avoid over and/or undercooking.

H101 Easy Clean Slow Juicer

You can maximize the benefits of juicing by dedicating time for preparation and adding it to your weekly meal plan. And while we know juicing can often seem arduous, the H101 Easy Clean Slow Juicer is designed with user feedback in mind, and features a simplified method of operation for convenient use and redesigned strainers for easier and faster cleaning than ever before. So all you need to do is put a lid on it so you can take a liquid meal with you on the go.

Nest Hub Max

To make cooking even easier (and more delicious), bestselling author, entrepreneur and chef, Ayesha Curry’s recipes are now available on the Hub Max featuring Google Assistant—so you can get step-by-step help cooking on Smart Displays, all while preparing your meals in the kitchen. This takes meal prepping to the next level!

Radical Pan

With an innovative high-rise lip and non-toxic, non-stick coating, cooking just got easier, less messy, and healthier with the Radical Pan. The lip of the saute pan has an extended height on one side forming a backboard that makes it easy to flip food with a spatula against it, or you can shake the pan and flip the food around with ease just like a professional chef. Also, the nonstick surface of the pan reduces the need for added fats to prevent sticking.

Ozeri Precision Pro Stainless Steel Digital Kitchen Scale

Keeping a food journal and using a food scale is the best strategy to lose weight — especially if it’s digital. It’s extremely easy to underestimate portions and over time inadvertently gain weight, often blaming this on age and a slowing metabolism instead. This scale is a steal at under $20, and displays results in grams, ounces, pounds, or kilograms.

BlendJet

For those looking for a meal prep on “the go” option, the BlendJet portable blender fits in your purse and allows you to blend smoothies, protein shakes and anything else when you’re not at home. No longer do you have to worry about watered down smoothies by the time you get to work or the gym!

Essenza Plus

Does coffee count as meal prep? Absolutely! Since it’s an essential part of your day, it’s important to plan for it just as you would any meal. And with Nespresso’s Essenza Plus, you can make yourself perfect for an espresso, a lungo, an americano or even a tea (with the hot water option). To fully match your tastes, it comes in two distinctive shapes and three colors. To top it all, it even has a smart reordering system at the touch of a button!

TOPICS: health and wellness healthy eating Meal Prep