Meal prepping is the process of planning and cooking meals in advance so that you can easily and conveniently have healthy, pre-planned food at your disposal.

Meal prepping is a way of life for some people as it significantly reduces the time they spend cooking. It is also an excellent way of using up leftovers as well. It is said that meal prepping can help Americans save an average of $215,000 for retirement. The revenue of the Meal Kit industry is expected to grow by over three times from 2017 figures and reach almost $7.6 billion in 2024.

Meal-prepping may be beneficial for those with a busy lifestyle whether they are students, working parents, or workaholics.

How meal prepping saves money

1.    Less food waste

Meal prepping is all about saving time, money, and effort. When you use food that has been prepped in advance, waste is very much eliminated. So too is the risk of getting sick from food that was not prepared correctly. It also saves time because days are planned from what you have made.

When done properly, meal prepping can help save ingredients by using them within days rather wasting away passed their expiration date. It also helps ensure that you have enough food in the fridge and pantry at all times.

Food waste is a serious issue in our society. Meal prepping not only saves money but also helps reduce the environmental impact of food production. You can save money and reduce your impact by meal prepping each week for recipes such as soups, salads, and pasta dishes.

2.    More control over food budget allocation

Constantly going to the grocery store to buy ingredients and snacks here and there can add up. Another advantage of meal planning is that it creates a better budgeting opportunity by allowing for more control over food costs. You have more control over how much food you buy per week and what types of foods are on your weekly shopping list.

Another way meal prepping helps cut cost is by allows us to take advantage of the grocery store offers on a regular basis.

3.    Save money on energy usage

In the modern world, energy costs have risen to become a concern for many people. When meal prepping as part of a daily routine, you may see a reduction in energy consumption thus lowing energy bills. Another way it helps save money is less water consumption. Money saved is money earned. Meal preppers can do this because they are able to cook food in batches instead of using kitchen appliances every night.

4.    You can buy food in bulk

The benefits of buying food in bulk for meal prepping can be seen in many ways. Here are a few of them:

• Bulk buy deals are great ways to buy items at fraction of retail price.
• You can eat healthier and feel satisfied.
• Fewer journeys to the grocery store are needed. You can purchase all of the ingredients for the meals and avoid having to make unnecessary trips to the grocery store, which can save money.

5.    Less eating out

One of the most significant benefits of meal prepping is that we can have quality at low cost. This also means less eating out – something we all know is not as healthy for our waistlines.

Eating out can also be expensive. 64% of Americans eat out at least once a week at an average cost of $71. This adds up to $1,775 a year. That could get you a nice vacation instead.

It is also worth noting that there are fewer risks of the food being contaminated or made with high levels of additives since it is all made at home.

How meal prep can be done more economically

Plan recipes based on available sale items

If you’re not sure what kind of food to cook during the week, try searching for recipes online that use items in your grocery store’s sale bin.

For example, if you’re meal-prepping chicken for a whole week, search for healthy chicken recipes online and choose whichever one looks best for the ingredients included in your grocery store’s sale section.

Incorporate healthy grains when possible

Grains can be used with many different recipes. You don’t need to buy separate ingredients for different types of meals as you would with meats, poultry, and vegetables.

Grains are one of the most inexpensive and nutritious food that can prepared ahead of time. They are also easy to cook and make a wide variety of dishes, such as soups, breads, salads, and casseroles.

Reuse ingredients for similar dishes

If you are wondering how to meal prep cheaply, you might want to consider using the same ingredients for several different meals. You can use an ingredient like rice for side dishes and main dishes like rice bowls, stir-fry, curry, and more.

Some other examples of versatile ingredients might be,

·       beans,

·       quinoa,

·       eggs,

·       and kale

Invest in good reusable storage containers

Meal prep containers are a great investment because they will save you money in the long run. Unlike regular Tupperware, these containers are reusable and can be put in the dishwasher to clean.

There are also a variety of different types of meal prep containers out there that fit different budgets and tastes- so there should be something for everyone.

Other factors that can make meal prepping a good financial decision

More time for other activities

Meal prepping allows us to cook for the week ahead so that we can focus our time on other parts of our lives like working, socializing, or doing other tasks. You can provide your family with a variety of fresh meals each day without having to worry about being stuck in the kitchen every night for hours. As they say, time is money. Every hour spent not concerned with food prep can be allocated to other productive activities.

A healthier diet

For many, the biggest hurdle of healthy eating is often associated with time constraints. The process of preparing meals in advance may help in maintaining a healthy diet. Having food readily available helps avoid unhealthy temptations.

Meal prepping is also beneficial for those with dietary restrictions. It may also lead to weight loss as well as benefits like increased energy levels and lower risks of health problems.

Weight loss

Meal prepping can be an effective way to lose weight since it lets us prepare balanced and healthy meals. It takes the guesswork out of what to eat as well as knowing what ingredients go together.

A main advantages of meal prepping is that it can provide variety to one diet. You are able to cook as many meals as you want and eat them whenever you feel like it. In this sense, meal prepping can help reducing the temptation of overindulging in unhealthy foods.

Eco Friendly

Meal prepping is a great way for busy individuals to prepare healthy meals without sacrificing taste or nutrition.

It also reduces waste by minimizing the amount of food that goes bad and ending up in landfills. In addition, meal prepping saves money because it cuts down on wasted food costs due to buying too much or forgetting what you bought.

Meal Prep vs. Frozen Meals

Meal prep has many advantages over frozen meals. Both in terms of cost and healthy variety. Meal prep allows people to choose what they eat while frozen meals usually have limited options and aren’t customizable as meal prep.

Meal prep is an essential part of today’s busy lifestyles because it helps people save more.

Taking the time to prepare meals allows the freedom to eat well without sacrificing on the essentials. As a result, meal prep allows you to spend less money on food overall while eating healthier and improving their health.

Conclusion

The benefits of meal prepping are numerous, and the convenience is worth it. The main benefit is that it saves time. It gives you convenience because all your meals are ready to go when you are too busy or tried to cook from scratch.

Meal prepping has many advantages for people who work long hours like parents and students who need fast and easy breakfast for school the next day or college students who need quick lunch options for their busy schedules.

The tips above will help you prep in a way that is healthiest for you, your family, and your bank balance.