Meal-prepping is not just for health freaks and gym-goers. It’s genuinely a useful tool for anyone— especially lazy people, like me.
Not everyone at this university has a meal plan, and it’s very difficult to find time to cook and eat food from home. Meal-prepping takes one small step out of the equation, making life that much simpler during the chaos.
Not only does this apply to college students, but anyone with a full-time job experiences exhaustion after a busy workday. Cooking is the last thing on anyone’s mind after a long day, so we usually rely on fast food, takeout and frozen food to get by.
Instead, I think we should just rely on pre-cooked refrigerated meals ready to eat. Its as simple as going to the grocery store and buying a protein source, rice and veggies in bulk. Cook it and put it in four or five containers. Well, maybe look up meal ideas on TikTok or Pinterest for some nutrients and flavor, but at its heart, that’s all meal-prepping is.
To plan and execute meals ahead of time makes one day miserable, but the rest of the week relaxed and easy-going. Bonus points if the food cooked beforehand is a delicious, flavorful meal to look forward to at the end of every day.
It takes time to reach that point though. At first, meal-prepping may seem stressful and overwhelming. It might feel easier to go and buy food from a restaurant, but the struggle of learning to cook is a necessary one.
For one, it saves money in the long run. It may feel expensive to buy a four-pound package of chicken breast plus sides and seasonings all at once, but that $50 purchase saves you from five McDonald’s trips at $15 each. Also, a meal-prep doesn’t have to mean buying meat; it can be a salad or even a high protein dip.
Money is valuable, and so is time. The time it takes to drive to McDonalds is also costly when added up. Unless that time is spent catching up with friends in the car or spending much-needed time procrastinating on a stressful writing assignment, it’s wasted time.
Many college students struggle to find time to eat, which leads to skipping meals accidentally which is bad for your energy. Having nutritious food at hand throughout the week will help decrease feelings of drowsiness.
On the topic of high energy levels, it’s no doubt you’ve heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It depends on the person, but it is genuinely good advice to start the day off right with an easy breakfast already prepared.
Meal-prepping does not have to be elaborate. It can be stocking the fridge with individual yogurt cups if that’s your go-to breakfast. It can be a simple jar of overnight oats or cut up fruit ready to throw in a smoothie blender.
If a college student is on the verge of burnout, it is a rule of thumb to start simplifying the day. Take one decision out of your busy schedule and prep food before you get ‘hangry’.
