Simple Ways To Eat Healthily With Minimal Food Prep

As many as one in every eight people in the UK do not cook for themselves, according to a survey by YouGov. Although 25% of survey respondents indicated that they make most of their own meals from scratch, our busy lifestyles often make it difficult to find the time to prepare food that is not only tasty, but healthy too. Luckily, there is no reason why you can’t indulge in delicious and nutritious meals, even if you don’t have the time to prepare them yourself from scratch. Not only can you save time by purchasing meal kits or doing food prep once a week, but you can also learn how to make healthier food choices when dining out. 

Meal kits make life easier

Meal delivery kits can be a saving grace if you are looking to prepare healthy dinners but don’t have the time or energy to do so from scratch. The meal options available to you will depend on the delivery service you sign up for. While some providers focus on specific types of cuisine, others cater for a variety of dietary needs, including plant-based, gluten-free and Paleo. Meal kits don’t only save you time, but also the headache of having to contend with long queues at the supermarket, as everything needed to prepare delicious food is delivered to your doorstep. Furthermore, an increasing number of companies are now prioritising sustainability in meal kits, so there’s less reason to be concerned about unnecessary waste. You can now easily try out new healthy dishes and flavour combinations without having to go to a restaurant or find a suitable recipe to make it yourself.

A bit of prepping goes a long way

If you battle to find time in your busy schedule to prepare healthy meals from scratch, consider prepping your meals ahead of time. Meal prepping not only contributes to healthy eating by ensuring that you have healthy food choices readily available, but also by allowing you to control your portion sizes better. Although there are various guidelines you can follow when doing meal prep, you should also feel free to experiment with new recipes and ingredients. You can choose to prepare entire meals, such as healthy soups, stews and curries, in bulk before portioning and freezing them, or simply prepare certain elements of a meal. You can also make stock, broth, tomato sauce, and stir fry mixes in advance. Pop the portions in the freezer, and use them as required to cut down on your meal prep time.

Buy healthy restaurant or takeout meals

After a busy day, making a restaurant reservation or stopping for takeout is far easier than having to prepare a meal from scratch. Thankfully, there is no reason why you can’t eat healthily when dining out. Most restaurants have started offering healthier menu options to their customers. You can also make healthier choices by steering clear of creamy sauces, choosing salad or veg instead of chips as a side, and starting off your meal with a small salad or broth-based soup. When getting takeout, avoid fried foods such as chicken strips and nuggets, and don’t feel pressured into super-sizing anything.

Our busy lifestyles often prevent us from taking time to prepare nutritious meals. Thankfully, there is always a way to get your hands on healthy food, even if you don’t have the time to prepare it from scratch every time.