{"id":18250,"date":"2018-09-06T11:22:59","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T15:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/burnbootcamp.com\/?p=18250"},"modified":"2022-08-17T03:00:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T07:00:15","slug":"person-trainers-top-tips-to-make-meal-prep-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/burnbootcamp.com\/person-trainers-top-tips-to-make-meal-prep-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal Trainer’s Top Tips to Make Meal Prep Easier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eating healthy throughout your hectic week can be a real struggle. How easy is it to grab some fast food on your way home or skip a meal altogether? If you want to see results from your workouts, you have to fuel your fitness goals correctly. The secret? Meal prep. <\/span><\/p>\n

Most often when people hear meal prep, they think it\u2019s time-consuming and will tie them to eating the same meal every day. With these top tips from Burn Boot Camp personal trainers, you\u2019ll learn how to successfully meal prep delicious food more efficiently!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

1. Prep Ingredients, Not Meals <\/b><\/h2>\n

The top meal prepping advice from our Burn Boot Camp personal trainers? Prep ingredients rather than meals. Make large batches of your choices of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables, storing them in their own individual containers, rather than portioning them out and combining them ahead of time. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI prep ingredients to later make into meals. I\u2019ll make rice and quinoa in an instant pot, saut<\/span>\u00e9<\/span> peppers and onions, roast veggies and sweet potatoes and grill a bunch of chicken. Throughout the week I mix them together differently based on what I want and need to eat,\u201d shares trainer KC Nolan of Burn Boot Camp Manchester, MO<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Meal prepping ingredients, rather than dishes, gives you greater flexibility with your meals throughout your week. It allows you to adjust the amount of food you add into your meal based on what your body needs that day. Maybe you did a more intense workout, or didn\u2019t workout at all, so your body will need more or less carbohydrates, protein and fat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love to prepare two or three different types of lean proteins. This gives me the ability to ask my kids what they would like to eat without actually having to cook during the week. To reheat, I find best results using an air fryer or toaster oven,\u201d says trainer Lauren Badia of Burn Boot Camp Huntersville, NC<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Mix It Up<\/b><\/h2>\n

Not all of us like to eat the same meal for lunch and dinner five days in a row. And how are you supposed to know on Sunday what will satisfy your hunger Thursday at 7PM?<\/span> Meal prepping ingredients instead of meals also allows you to mix things up during your week. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrepping the same meal to eat the entire week makes it too easy to throw it in the garbage and grab some quick and easy junk food instead. I tell all my clients to find six different recipes they like that can be made from the ingredients they meal prep and then alternate what dish they eat each day,\u201d says Cody Burns, Head Trainer at Burn Boot Camp Verona, WI<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I tell all my clients to find six different recipes they like that can be made from the ingredients they meal prep and then alternate what dish they eat each day.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI love making different bowls throughout week with different flairs! I\u2019ll have containers of black beans, chickpeas, chicken, grass-fed beef, brown rice, cauliflower rice and lots of chopped veggies stored in my refrigerator. Each night I\u2019ll combine them differently, with different herbs and condiments, to keep my meals exciting. I might pair black beans with cauliflower rice and chicken with some salsa and taco seasoning for a delicious taco bowl. Or I\u2019ll toss some brown rice, chickpeas and veggies together with coconut aminos (a healthier version of soy sauce), garlic and ginger powder for an exotic Asian bowl,\u201d shares trainer Michelle Siner of Burn Boot Camp Concord, NC<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI keep my protein prep pretty simple and mix it up as I go. For instance, I\u2019ll throw a bunch of chicken into a crock-pot and shred it once cooked. I\u2019ll switch up the way I eat it each day, from chicken lettuce wraps to chicken salad to buffalo chicken to teriyaki chicken stir-fry\u2014the options are endless. I love this method because I\u2019m saving time by meal prepping my protein but still have variety in my meals throughout the week,\u201d says Andrea Larkins of Burn Boot Camp Collierville, TN<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping different spices and condiments on hand makes it extremely simple to spice up your dish. Tahini, coconut aminos, salsa, high-quality balsamic vinegar (which is low in sugar), honey, flavored hummus, whole-grain Dijon mustard and marinara sauce are always great staples for adding a boost of flavor. Pair these with your favorite herbs and spice blends to whip up a low-calorie sauce or dressing. Some great pairings include: <\/span><\/p>\n