Meal Prepping is the new fast food

We all want to eat well, feel energized and be healthy, but who has time? With proper planning, eating good-for-you food is easier than you think! Meal prepping, short for meal preparation, is the concept of planning and preparing your meals in advance to set you up for success during the hectic workweek. Meal prepping has numerous benefits - it can save you time and money, resulting in less stress. What's more, research shows that it may help in achieving a healthy weight because it allows you the opportunity to choose high-quality foods and because the meals are packaged in advance, it helps with portion control, too. The following is list of tips to help you with meal planning.

Get Inspired - Spend some time looking for recipes, whether it be new recipes or some of your old favorites. What are you hungry for? What haven't you made in a while and would like to cook again? Ask family members for meal ideas. What would they like to eat?

Look Through Your Cupboards - What do you already have on hand? Do you have foods that are nearing expiration?

Get Organized - Once you've come up with some ideas, now you can generate a grocery list. One way to stay organized at the store is by aligning your list with your path within the store. For example, if the first department in your grocery store is produce, make sure your list starts with fresh produce. This will help you stay on track and save time in the store as well.

Get Prepping - Now that your shopping is complete, try to prepare most of your week's meals in advance - chop your veggies, cook your rice, grill your meats, make your sauces, etc.

Don't Forget About Freezing - The freezer is your friend. Make a double batch of your favorite sauce and freeze half for later. Make a double batch of soup, stew, casserole, beans, etc. and throw it in the freezer. After a month or two, those leftovers will look brand-new!

Have a Well-Stocked Pantry - Meals are easier and quicker to prepare if you keep your pantry well-stocked. Don't run out of olive oil at inconvenient moments. Have spices ready to dress up your dishes quickly.