Why I Don’t Love Meal Prep
Meal prepping has become a popular trend, celebrated for its efficiency and convenience in ensuring a week's worth of meals are ready to go. However, despite its widespread praise, I find myself veering away from the typical Sunday meal prep routine. Instead, I choose to prepare extra portions during dinner, ensuring leftovers for the next day. This approach to meal planning might raise eyebrows, but for me, it's a choice rooted in a desire for freshness and variety in my diet.
The idea of dedicating a chunk of my Sunday to meticulously preparing meals for the entire week just doesn't resonate with me. While I understand the appeal of having everything neatly organized and ready to grab from the fridge, I can't help but feel confined by the lack of spontaneity and flexibility that comes with traditional meal prepping.
One of the main reasons I opt out of meal prep Sundays is my preference for fresh foods. I enjoy the process of cooking and savoring meals made with ingredients at their peak. By preparing extra portions during dinner, I ensure that I'm consuming meals that are not only nutritious but also bursting with flavor. There's something satisfying about enjoying a meal that was cooked just hours before, rather than one that has been sitting in a container for several days.
Embracing leftovers allows me to incorporate variety into my diet effortlessly. Instead of being confined to eating the same meal multiple times throughout the week, I can enjoy a different dish each day. This variety not only keeps me from getting bored with my meals but also ensures that I'm getting a diverse range of nutrients from different food sources.
That being said, my version of "meal prep" isn't completely devoid of planning and preparation. On Sundays, you'll find me planning out what I may want to cook for the week or in the kitchen whipping up healthy muffins or homemade hummus. These serve as convenient and nutritious options for quick bites throughout the week. Whether I'm reaching for a handful of chopped vegetables or spreading hummus on whole grain crackers,
