Just about everyone I talk to realizes how important it is to eat a healthy, clean diet.  And (almost all) of those same people understand that to be successful, you have to prepare your meals.

Yet, when I bring up meal prepping…people cringe.  You’d think I told them they have to run a marathon every day.  It’s kinda funny.

Don’t get me wrong…Meal Prepping is work.  But aren’t all things that are “good” for you?  It’s worth the effort though, I promise!

Here are 5 simple tips to help make it much easier:

– Keep It Simple: If you do not like to cook, or are extremely busy…be realistic.  Pick 2-3 recipes to prepare for the week…and double the recipes.  I’d suggest a breakfast and 1-2 lunches/dinners.  After they have been cooked, put half of each in the freezer.  Now you have meals for the whole week.

On the flip side, if you love to cook and have time to do it…maybe you can pick 4-5 recipes for the week.  You can heat up any leftovers the next day.

– Pick A Day:  If your schedule is hectic, pick a day that you have a couple hours of downtime.  For most people that’s on a Sunday.  Enlist the help of your family for cutting fruits and veggies.  Then start preparing.  You can knock out 3-4 days worth of meals within 2 hours.  Imagine how much smoother your week will be knowing that you don’t have to worry about what to cook.

– Have A Plan B:  Things will not always go according to plan…especially if you have kids.  Trust me, I have 3.  There is always a monkey wrench ready to be thrown in your schedule.  If you have your meals already prepped, it helps A LOT.  But if you get caught with nothing, have a Plan B.  My go-to is a Rotisserie Chicken and steamed veggies.  That’s gonna be so much healthier (and cheaper) than going out to eat.  Figure out what works for you, and pick it up at the grocery store.

– Be Adventurous: Don’t be afraid to try a new vegetable.  Or maybe a new way to cook it.  You may be surprised.  In the last year I have learned to really enjoy brussel sprouts and cauliflower.  I would have also never thought that roasting a vegetable would be make it taste that much better (like green beans).

– Use Technology: Technology can definitely be a time-suck.  But every once in a while, something comes along that can make life a lot easier.  I think Grocery pick-up/delivery is here to stay.  While it may take a little extra effort the first couple times to get your order in…the time it saves from actually going to the store is tremendous.  And if you re-invest that time in meal prepping, you’ll come out a winner.

As an added bonus, you will be less likely to impulse buy things that are not good for you.  You should also save some money.  So…take advantage of it!!!

So there you have it.  Put those 5 tips into action, and reap the rewards.

If you need help coming up with a simple clean eating plan, I’d love to help you!  CLICK HERE to learn about me and how I can help you.

Sean Millhouse is the owner of Fitness 101.  He has been an Ace-Certified Personal Trainer for over 20 years…and has helped thousands of Spring/Klein residents achieve their health and fitness goals.