Meal Prep Is the Missing Link in Your Fitness Regimen. Here’s Why

I’m the type of person that needs as much structure as possible to make sure I get everything done. This applies in the kitchen as much as it does in the gym. And this why you should be including meal prep as a part of your routine.

It takes the guess-work out.

Deciding what you’re going to eat on the fly is dangerous. That’s where planning ahead comes in. Preparing your weekly menus will make decisions at home and at the grocery store a lot easier. When you know what you’ll be eating, you’ll know exactly what to buy, what you can cook ahead of time, and how much time you need to set aside each day to feed yourself. You won’t have to think so hard about what you have room for every day and can much more easily allow yourself room for a few cheat meals every now and then without getting yourself off track.

It steers you clear of danger.

Eating fast and healthy can be hard. When we don’t prep, we have a tendency to only listen to our stomach. So we lose sight of where we’re at with our caloric intake, and if that quick microwave meal is really what we should be eating. Having a plan in place and preparing whatever food you can in advanced leaves far less room for that to happen in the first place.

It keeps you on track with attaining your goals.

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: abs are made in the kitchen. And it’s true. No matter if you’re trying to gain weight, lose weight, maintain, or recomp, there is no better way to do that than through meal prep. It’s the only way for you to guarantee that what you’re putting into your body is exactly what you need to achieve your fitness goals.

It compliments your training.

Fitness is a lifelong habit to build, and meal prep fits into everything you’re already doing perfectly. It offers you more structure and discipline. It gets you even closer to your goals than working out does alone. And it further promotes the overall healthy lifestyle you’re after.

It teaches you a lot about food.

There’s no better way to learn about diet and nutrition than spending time in the kitchen. Meal prep requires a lot of research and practice. Starting out, you may just focus on the basics, like caloric intake and macronutrients. But once you have those down, you might find you want to learn more about what forms of protein are best (in general and for your body, specifically) or what vitamins you need to get more of and what foods will provide them. Eventually, you’ll probably know enough to help your friends and family eat healthier as well.