I see a lot of people "meal prepping" for an entire week and I sometimes have to ask....is it really necessary? I enjoy eating foods that are cooked fresh so preparing all my meals a week in advance just doesn't sound appetizing to me. It's true that healthy foods doesn't always look good and it's not convenient for the average working person to cook every day but I think there has to be some kind of compromise to being able to enjoy fresh foods even when you want to eat healthy.


Unless you're preparing for a figure/bodybuilding contest, I can see where advance meal prepping is crucial because there really is no room for error. But for the rest of us, eating healthy doesn't have to be a chore.  Whether a guy or girl, there is no gender separation in this century when it comes to cooking so keep these simple tips in mind as they work for everyone:

1. Shop weekly. If you want to do any kind of prepping, do this, because you can shop for a week's worth of meals to save time. Plus you can take advantage of weekly sales at your local market. With the groceries you buy, you don't always have to cook them in advance. Set aside days for which meals you want to prepare, using the most perishable foods first.

2. Set aside time to cook. Let's face it, this is a lifestyle so if you want to live a healthy, clean eating lifestyle then you have to make changes, not just food choices but schedule adjustments.

3. Keep ingredients simple. Yes, when you look up recipes you often find lots and lots of ingredients and frankly, you really don't need them all.  Modify the meals to your taste and play around with them, don't beat yourself up if you don't have basil seasoning or cumin or thyme.

4. Buy what's on sale. If you're stuck with what to make, shop for what's on sale and create a meal using those ingredients. There are always lots of produce and meats on sale so take advantage of it!

5. Shop ethnic markets. If you are lucky enough to have asian markets near you, go take a visit. They often carry exotic fruits and vegetables that you normally can't find at American markets, and they are often cheaper too.

Do this as a starting point to eating and healthy eating and you will find that meal prepping isn't as bad as you see or read in the media. I have more tips to follow in another upcoming blog so stay tuned!

Eat Clean, Train Mean & Supplement in Between!