Arguments for and against meal prepping

I've started meal prepping a few weeks ago, and it's just fantastic! I'm much more into healthy food now and it's saved me a lot of money. I want to share my experience with meal prepping with this community, so please feel free to comment!<br><br>Argument for meal prepping:<br><br>- Money: When I eat out or order takeout, I spend heaps of money on a meal that I wouldn't spend if I cook for myself, even if I make something elaborate. You get to buy your ingredients in bulk, so you waste less money on buying small packets or individual ingredients for a meal you won't eat again.<br><br>- Healthy food: Meal prepping is all about making healthy food. Some people prefer cooking at home and skip meal prepping. However, when I cook at home, sometimes I end up having a sweet dessert after dinner, or adding a few slices of cheese, or having a glass of wine. Sometimes I even skip healthy portions or put too much sauce on my meal. I find that when I meal prep, I am more aware of my eating habits and find it much easier to avoid snacking on things that aren't good for me once I'm done with dinner.<br><br>- Time: I honestly love meal prepping because it saves me so much time. I cook my food on the weekends, and then I just reheat and eat. It's so easy. I don't have to spend hours each day looking for healthy recipes, buying ingredients, or even cooking for hours. That's something that I wish I knew before I started. Sure, it's hard to get into the habit, but it gets so easy after a while. <br><br>- No food waste: You can make a casserole with leftovers you have, or use ingredients that you've already bought. I hate wasting food because I know how hard I worked to buy it, and there are so many people out there who need it more than I do. <br><br>- Convenience: This is another reason why I love meal prepping. I'm a full time college student working 30 hours a week, and I have my hands full with volunteer work and everything else, so I just prefer not to stress about food. It's so easy to eat healthy, and not have to worry about what I have for dinner when I'm already so busy and stressed out. <br><br>- Healthy portions: I used to eat massive portions of food, especially if I cooked at home. However, I've found healthy food portions are a lot easier to keep track of if you meal prep. You make batches of food, so it's easier to judge a portion size and healthy calories. You don't also find yourself eating more than you should because you have so much food. <br><br>Arguments against meal prepping: <br><br>- Variety: I find that I prefer cooking at home because I have a fulltime job and a busy schedule as a college student. I find that if I eat the same meal every day, I just get sick of it. This is because when I meal prep, I only make one recipe, and I end up eating it for the whole week. It's not that I don't enjoy variety, but I find that I have a hard time cooking different meals during the week. However, if I were to cook at home, I can make a different meal for each day, so I don't get sick of a recipe. <br><br>- Tastes better: I've found that eating out or cooking at home can be a lot more enjoyable than meal prepping. I find that food tastes a lot better when it's fresh. When I cook, I prefer cooking dinners that are fresh, and not pre-cooked, so I can just eat when I'm done. When I meal prep, I find that my food doesn't taste as good when I'm done. That's not to say that meal prep isn't nice food, it's just that it's not the best way to eat. The fact that I have leftovers also ruins the food for me. I love eating a meal that's freshly cooked, and I find that I have a hard time eating leftovers. <br><br>- Cooking time: It's true that there's not as much cooking time during the week when you meal prep, but it takes so much time to get everything ready in the weekend. I love cooking, so I don't mind spending time in the kitchen, but I've found that meal prep takes a lot of time. You have to cook your meat, rice, potatoes, etc, as well as all the prep work of chopping veggies or marinating. I find that once I'm done, I don't want to spend any more time in the kitchen, so I end up ordering takeout. <br><br>- Expensive ingredients: I find that when I meal prep, I have to buy ingredients that are good for 5 days a week. I usually buy ground turkey, chicken, or chicken breasts. I've found that these ingredients are more expensive than what I would buy if I cooked at home or ate out. I also have to buy rice, potatoes, etc, so that I have enough food for the whole time. So while it's cheaper for me to meal prep, I've found that I have to put in more money, especially if I'm new to this. Sometimes I also end up with a higher grocery bill at the end of the week, because I'm more aware of my eating habits. I know if I'm craving pizza, I have a hard time resisting, so I find that I'll make dinners that are healthier for me, but also more expensive. <br><br>- No fast food/takeout: I love eating out, and ordering take out. I'm a college student, so it's a lot easier for me to just order take out than to have to cook a meal at home. I find that I have a hard time resisting cravings, if they're there, but meal prepping gives me a hard time eating out. However, there's nothing wrong with enjoying fast food, and I've found that I am less likely to want to order food in the week. However, I also find that I won't eat as much fast food, because I have so much food at home, and I don't want to waste it. I've also found that if I do eat out, I find it harder to keep track of my calories and healthy eating habits. I've found that there's nothing wrong with eating out, but if you're eating out all the time, you may want to consider meal prepping. <br><br>Overall, meal prepping has improved my life incredibly! I love how I can just eat healthy, home cooked food with no stress, and I can just relax and take breaks during the week. I've found that it's easier to lose weight if you're eating healthy food, you have a lot less cravings, and you're saving money. I've also found that it gives me a lot of confidence, because I love my body! I know I'll always have ups and downs, but I feel so much better when I know that I'm eating healthy. I've also found that it allows me to be more active, and do the things I love, like horseback riding or taking my dogs for a walk. I find that I have more time to do the things I love, and I can always make healthy choices.