Braxton Gilbert Fitness

Containers

Without a doubt, the number one thing you need to help with your meal planning is a variety of containers. You’ll find that containers come in all shapes and sizes, and we recommend buying a selection of them to fit every type of meal. For your lunches, you can place them straight into lunch box size containers, whereas dinners for your whole family may need something a little bit larger. A good container will help to keep your food fresh for longer and ensure that it doesn’t go off before you have time to enjoy your delicious meals. This is one of the best investments you could make for meal planning and is also an eco-friendlier option than dining out.

A Measurement Scale

If you are new to cooking or looking to improve your cooking skills, we recommend investing in a high-quality measuring scale. When you are following a new recipe that was recommended by any type of trainer, you need to ensure you are getting the measurements right. While it can be tempting to just throw in ingredients as you feel, this can lead to the wrong portion size and consuming too many calories. A good measurement scale will come in handy every time you are cooking. Try to find one that’s easy to read and which can take a fair amount of weight to prepare meals for a large group if needed.

A Meal Planning Spreadsheet

For anyone who is just looking to start meal prepping, you’ll want to think about finding a way to plan your menu for the week. We recommend investing in a tear-off notebook or a whiteboard for your fridge. You can then place your menu in a prominent position so that you can share it with your family. You’ll no longer have to answer the question of what’s for dinner, and you will reduce decision fatigue by planning in advance. The more you plan your meals when training at Braxton Gilbert Fitness, the more likely you’ll be to have an idea of what you want to eat each day. A little trial and error will be needed when you first start meal prepping, but from there, you’ll soon get into the rhythm of this worthwhile activity.

Cutting Boards

We’ve seen so many kitchen countertops get damaged by sharp knives over the years. Invest in a set of non-skid cutting boards to protect your kitchen counters. These will come in handy for cutting meat, vegetables, fish, and anything else which requires a sharp knife. You don’t have to spend a fortune to find a good cutting board, as they are readily available in stores and online. Try to find a set with a few different sizes, and you’ll be on your way to protecting your kitchen surfaces for many years to come.

A Good Set of Knives

When cutting tough foods, you might be tempted to try and make do with the knives you have in your kitchen. If you are struggling to cut through meat or vegetables, it’s time to invest in a set of sharper knives. A high-quality set of knives can last a lifetime, and you’ll find that they are one of the best gifts you could give anyone who’s just starting to meal prep. Make sure you find a set of knives that come with a sharpener so that you can keep them in top condition no matter how frequently you use them.

A Food Processor

A food processor makes blending your ingredients much quicker and easier than it would be by hand. None of us have the time of day to be doing everything manually, as this time would be better used with different types of trainers in our gym. Purchase a good-quality food processor that comes with a warranty so that you don’t have to worry about it breaking within a few months. You might also want to find some form of smoothie blender, which would be ideal for a quick breakfast on the go. While you don’t need to clutter up your kitchen with endless gadgets, you’ll find that a few of these devices can save you endless hours of cooking time.

An Instant Pot

If you are really dedicated to your meal planning, splash out on an Instant Pot. This device makes cooking quicker than you could ever imagine. When you are making all of your lunches and dinners for the week ahead each Sunday, you can use this to speed up your cooking time. In just a few hours, you’ll have a huge range of meals ready for your family. People are blown away when they first use the Instant Pot by how quickly it cooks meat and other complex dishes. You’ll be impressed by how versatile this machine is, meaning you can use it to create delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinner.

By investing in the meal planning supplies we shared above, you’ll find that you can create healthy and delicious meals for your whole family. When you are trying to fit in more training sessions at Braxton Fitness this year, meal planning is the way forward. You’ll find that by batch cooking at the start of each week, you save hours in the kitchen after a busy day at work. In no time at all, this will become part of your weekend routine. You’ll find that you can make healthier choices and feed your family nutrient-rich dishes just by taking the time to plan ahead a little more for the week.