5 Products You Need to Meal Prep

So you’ve finally booked your first beach trip of the season, but you still haven’t started your New Year’s diet? Meal prepping is great way to stick to your nutrition goals, think through your food and not be left hungry at the end of the day and ravenously grabbing whatever looks good at the nearest restaurant. But what will you need to get started?

A Trusted Source

Whether you’re a cookbook kind of a person or a look-it-up-on-my-cell-phone-at-the-last-minute kind of individual, you’ll want to have a trusted source of information on your side. Look for cookbooks, blogs or even social media accounts that specifically cater to those wanting to meal prep. Then, you can narrow your search even further if you have specific dietary needs.

Glass Containers

To properly portion out your food, you’ll want to invest in some good-quality, glass containers. These can be cheaply purchased on Amazon if you’re looking to save a few bucks. Go for glass, so you never have to worry about heat or even those unsightly plastic Tupperware stains. It may be helpful to buy containers with dividers, too, if you plan on meal prepping meals with more than one component.

A Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

Anything that will help you cook quickly in big batches with minimal clean up and work is welcome. While you might find it fun to bust out all your pots and pans the first few weeks to make elaborate work-time lunches, you may not find it so appealing the fourth or fifth time around. A slow cooker makes it easy to put together a big batch of not just soups or stews, but also pulled pork, chicken or a variety of things. Instant Pots likewise are quick, easy and friendly to big batches, whether you’re making enough hardboiled eggs to last your family through breakfast for the next week, or just want to bake a whole chicken in a flash.

Non-Stick Sheet Pan

Don’t want to invest in a slow cooker or other large, counter space-sucking device, but still would like to cook in big batches? Start as simple as a non-stick sheet pan (or two). Fill them up with your favorite veggies and the protein of your choice, add some seasoning and roast them in your oven for several meals at once.

Digital Scale

If you’re really into sticking to your numbers, a digital scale can ensure you’re spot on, every time. More accuracy means better results. Plus, they’re not as expensive as you think. You can get one at just about any grocery store for less than $20.