Nearly 1 in 3 US adults say they prepare meals ahead of time every week. Perhaps surprisingly, US adults aged 50 to 65 are more likely to plan their weekly meals than other age groups. Meal prepping is also more common among women than men.

What is meal prepping? It’s simple. Meal prepping is preparing meals and dishes at home before you need them.

For example, you could make a week of lunches at home on a Sunday to take to work for the week. Not only does this help you make healthy choices, but it can save you money in that you’re not eating out!

If you don’t meal prep, now is a great time to start. Meal prepping can help you lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, reduce food waste, and help control your food budget! 

Want to know what kind of advantages you can expect from pre-preparing your weekly meals? Then check out this meal prep guide for the top seven benefits of meal prepping you need to know!

1. Lose Weight

One of the biggest benefits of food prepping is that you can better manage portion sizes. Studies show that paying attention to portion size is one of the best strategies for preventing weight gain and obesity.

When you meal prep, all your lunches and/or dinners are pre-portioned. You can store each pre-prepared meal in the fridge or freezer. That way, they are ready when it is meal time!

Additionally, meal prepping reduces daily stress centered around figuring out what to eat. This may, in turn, help you cut back on foods that cause weight gain. Stress is associated with diets higher in calories and unhealthy fats.

2. Get More Variety

Another science-backed benefit of meal prepping is the improved nutritional value. Home-cooked meals tend to contain more fruits and vegetables. People who frequently eat at home also consume higher levels of nutrients like:

• vitamin C
• vitamin A
• Folate
• Fiber
• And a whole host of micronutrients
• Not to mention a whole lot less preservatives. 

Of course, meal prepping isn’t the only way to increase your micronutrient intake. Weight loss systems like ChiroThin incorporate natural supplements and dietary modifications to help you lose weight and keep it off for good.

3. Cut Costs

The average American household spends an average of $60 per week on 2–3 takeout or fast food meals. That equates to over $3,000 per year on eating out! If you eat out more than a few times a week, this cost can quickly add up.

Home-cooked meals are a much better value for your dollar. In today’s economy, this is becoming more and more important. You can make one serving for as little as $3. The more often you cook, the more you save, too, because you will accumulate staple items in your pantry over time.

Of course, the exact cost per meal will depend on your ingredients. You can slash home-cooked meal prices by choosing frozen and canned vegetables (we prefer frozen to canned). Another strategy is to buy less-perishable items in bulk (Costco is our go to for this!). For great prices on fresh fruits and veggies, Michelle loves to shop at our local Aldi store. They have an amazing selection of fresh fruit and veggies and staples that she keeps in our pantry. 

4. Increase Your Lifespan

Did you know that eating more meals out may decrease your lifespan? The reverse is also true. In one study, those who ate out less than once per week lived longer than those who ate two or more daily meals away from home.

Our lifespans are a product of our genetics and our environment. Yet, lifestyle factors such as diet also play a role. Eating a healthy diet rich in fiber, unrefined carbohydrates, and whole foods may help you live longer.

5. Save Time

Do you prepare your meals from scratch every time you are hungry? Making lunches and dinners at home is great for your health. But if you do not incorporate meal prep, you could be wasting countless hours in the kitchen.

You can knock out all your lunches and/or dinners in one go when you meal prep instead. This is one of Michelle’s superpowers! Shoot her an email to schedule time to chat with her about how she can help you in this area! Plus, this also means you will have fewer dishes to deal with throughout the week.

When you first start meal prepping, you may not feel like you are saving time at all. The more you practice your cooking skills, the less time it will take you to prepare meals once a week and the more time you’ll save.

6. Improve Diet Quality

A healthy diet is one rich in high-quality foods. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, high-quality foods are unrefined and minimally processed and include fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Home-cooked meals are usually rich in these whole food ingredients. They will help you feel more energized and maintain your waistline. In fact, focusing on high-quality foods is a better weight loss tactic than cutting calories alone.

Another way to improve the quality of your diet is to supplement the nutrients you may be missing in your diet. We’re here to help in this area! Reach out with any questions you may have.

7. Reduce Waste

Did you know that one-third of the food produced each year gets thrown away? In the US alone, the average adult throws away one pound of food every single day. That means some people throw away even more food!

One of the main reasons households throw away food is due to spoilage. When you meal prep, you will use up your ingredients. That way, you can prevent spoilage and reduce your household’s annual food waste output.

Coming back full circle, reducing food waste will also save you money. After all, throwing away food is like tossing your hard-earned money into the garbage.

Meal Prepping Is Not the Only Way to Lose Weight in 2023

Meal prepping is a great way to lose weight for good. This strategy can also save you time and money, reduce food waste, and even increase your lifespan. Yet, meal prepping isn’t the only effective weight loss strategy out there.

ChiroThin is a doctor-supervised weight loss program that incorporates powerful supplements with easy-to-implement diet changes.

Are you ready to get started on the path to a healthier you? Click here to read more about how we are using the ChiroThin protocol to help our community live a healthier, more vibrant life!