As college students in the 21st century, we all live extremely busy lives. Between our studies, work, exercise, and social lives, healthy eating can get overlooked.
There’s nothing wrong with grabbing a Subway sandwich or other fast food every once in a while if you’re on the run. However, eating out all the time can add up quickly, both nutritionally and financially.
While it might seem like a hassle, spending a few hours once a week preparing your meals will save you a ton of money in the long run.
In this column, I’m going to share some actionable tips to help you meal prep and eat well while maintaining a full and fulfilling schedule.
The first component of preparing meals for the week is planning. Take a look at your calendar to figure out what days you need to pack a lunch, how many meals you need to prepare for the week, and when you might be having a meal out.
Once you have a feel for your schedule, you can begin to plan your meals. I like to base mine around one protein source, one carbohydrate source, and a vegetable (although, admittedly, I slack on the veggies sometimes).
As I said earlier, meal prep saves you money in the long run, but it does require a bit of an upfront investment.
An air fryer and rice cooker are two essentials that will help you streamline the food preparation process. I also recommend purchasing a meat thermometer to avoid the dreaded food poisoning.
You’re also going to need containers for your meals. Plastic ones will do, but if you have a little more cash to spend, there are nicer glass or stainless steel options that will last longer.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from friends who regularly meal prep is that their food lacks flavour. This can be easily combated with good seasoning. Find a few spice blends that you like and rotate through them. Seasoning might make all the difference between sticking with this and stopping because you don’t enjoy your food.
Finally, a recommendation on grocery shopping: buy your carbohydrates in bulk. Costco will be your best bet here. I buy an eight-kilogram bag of rice that lasts about 10 weeks for $25.
Now that you have all the tools to meal prep, spend some time on Sunday trying it out. Your wallet will thank you.