Planning meals is an essential skill for living a healthy life that you can learn at any age!
The Benefits of Meal Prepping
Meal prep is when you plan and prepare meals ahead of time to avoid the hassle of cooking nutritious meals every day from scratch. There are many benefits to meal prepping:
- Improved confidence and decision-making skills
- Less stress knowing you have the whole week of meals ahead of you prepared
- Mindful spending of time and money on ordering, shopping, and cooking
- More variety and healthier options for meals by cooking at home
Evaluate Your Lifestyle
If you haven’t planned meals before, here are some things to help you slowly build your healthy routine:
- Know yourself and choose meals that you will actually enjoy, so you don’t waste food and give yourself an excuse to eat poorly
- Start by planning for two to three days in advance before working your way up to the whole week
- Choose recipes that are easy to prepare and less elaborate, such as slow cooker meals
- Plan balanced meals that support your dietary needs, such as diabetes or managing your heart health
- Consider food that supports your personal goals, such as maintaining your weight
- Aim for smaller, more frequent meals, including snacks in between
- Break the prepping process up into stages if you don’t want to do all of it in one day, such as shopping one day and cooking the next
- Cook your meals in batches by making a large dish and portioning it out in multiple meal containers for the week
Thoughtful Spending
Make your dollars count on your meal-prepping journey by:
- Establishing your budget for grocery shopping and special outings
- Factor in your meal plan for dining in your senior living community
- Investing in a few useful kitchen gadgets that make cooking easier, such as a blender or a slow cooker
- Using helpful apps to find the best deals for quality food or delivery needs
Mindful Shopping
Be thoughtful about your grocery shopping so you get the most out of your money and efforts:
- Buy non-perishable foods in bulk
- Create an organized shopping list with categories for your food to make the trip more efficient and help you diversify your meals
- Get your nutrients with dairy, fats, fiber, fruits, lean proteins, vegetables, vitamins, and whole grains
- Stay hydrated every day by stocking up on water and water-rich foods like cucumbers and watermelon
Stay Organized
Reduce the need for frequent trips and always eat what’s fresh with these tips:
- Have food on hand for last-minute meals or cravings by stocking your pantry with broths, cereal, cooking oils, dairy, herbs, nuts, rice, spices, frozen foods, and canned goods like beans, sauces, and tuna
- Keep older items to the front and their replacements behind them, so you use them while they’re still good, such as lining up yogurts in the fridge by expiration dates
- Regularly check the expiration dates on all your food, and label anything you cook with the date you made it
- Use airtight individual serving-sized containers that are accessible and safe for the dishwasher, freezer, and microwave
Want to make the most of your meals? Check out our free ebook, Nutritional Culinary Tips for Seniors!
At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.