Research has shown that individuals who plan their meals are more likely to stick to their diets than those who don’t. Despite what people may think, there are many ways to meal prep and not all of them involve spending a whole Sunday afternoon in the kitchen. Explore the most popular meal prep methods to find the one that works best for your lifestyle.

Make-Ahead Meals

Simply prepare a large meal that contains 4–6 servings. Divide the meal into individually portioned containers for later in the week. When you’re ready, reheat and eat!

Batch Cooking

If you have limited time to cook during the week, prepare a few pounds of chicken or ground turkey for different recipes throughout the week. You’d be surprised how many meals you can make with a big batch of protein.

Ready-to-Cook

Ingredients Cut down on cooking time in the kitchen by preparing your ingredients ahead of time. Simply chop veggies, mix spices, or marinate meat in advance to save time when you’re ready to cook.

Pro Tip: Don’t Forget to Use Your Slow or Pressure Cooker

Slow and pressure cookers can be helpful for meal prep, especially if you don’t have time on busy weeknights. These tools allow for more freedom in the kitchen, so you can meal prep while simultaneously finishing other chores or daily tasks.