My prepared food always goes to waste
suedeliajane
Posts: 6 Member
Anyone else have this problem? I spend a decent amount of time on planning/shopping/prep, and end up not eating half of it because 1. forget about it 2. don't want to eat it -or-3. plans change. I feel like my brain is melting when I try to figure out meals to fit my macros and end up not eating it anyway. #frustrated #iamlikeachild
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Make it freezable, label it and at least it can be there when you need something fast or non-thinky at a later date.11
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Plans must be flexible enough to adapt to situations beyond your control.
Write down somewhere what you have made and when you are going to eat it, that's part of the planning. Prepare yourself mentally for eating it; to do this consistently, you have to make meals you actually want to eat. Don't overthink - have simple "templates" for every meal (for instance, most of my dinners are just "protein+starch+veg").2 -
That's why I don't meal prep. If I eat something tasty that I actually want to eat, I'll be much less likely to binge on cookies later. And 3 day old chicken typically doesn't cut it.
The only thing I make big batches of is soup, lasagna, shepherd's pie etc... and you can always cut them in individual servings and freeze them.4 -
If you're losing interest, you might be a bit ambitious with your quantities and may need to cut back a bit. Maybe make half of what you've been prepping so far and see how that works7
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I have this problem sometimes, usually because I'm just not hungry. If you miss a preplanned meal, stick it in the freezer for next week. If stopping and buying other foods is the issue, don't carry cash and give your credit/debit cards to a family member or leave them at home....if you don't have money, you have to eat what you've preplanned.2
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kommodevaran wrote: »Plans must be flexible enough to adapt to situations beyond your control.
Write down somewhere what you have made and when you are going to eat it, that's part of the planning. Prepare yourself mentally for eating it; to do this consistently, you have to make meals you actually want to eat. Don't overthink - have simple "templates" for every meal (for instance, most of my dinners are just "protein+starch+veg").
Overthinking is my biggest flaw...plus I would have to remember where I wrote it all down. LOL!
Alatariel75 wrote: »Make it freezable, label it and at least it can be there when you need something fast or non-thinky at a later date.
I don't know what it is about reheated frozen food...the texture is gross to me. maybe i am doing it wrong?1 -
What kind of stuff are you prepping ahead of time? I'm not big on prepping large batches of stuff and would say maybe it's just not something you need to do. Maybe having a few options available at all times rather than specifically prepared meals would be better.1
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suedeliajane wrote: »Anyone else have this problem? I spend a decent amount of time on planning/shopping/prep, and end up not eating half of it because 1. forget about it 2. don't want to eat it -or-3. plans change. I feel like my brain is melting when I try to figure out meals to fit my macros and end up not eating it anyway. #frustrated #iamlikeachild
Do you need to prep food in advance? Why did you want to do it? If it doesn't work for you then you can stop.
Are you planning and prepping meals you wouldn't ordinarily eat? Maybe that is an issue. If you like sandwiches and you are prepping salads every day you probably aren't going to enjoy that. If you hate reheated food then you might be better off prepping food that is not heated. If you are used to eating something different every day and you are trying to prep the same food every day that could be a problem.
Maybe you'd do better planning quick prep meals or prepping ingredients that you could add to recipes to speed things up.
If this is new to you maybe start with prepping fewer meals a week until it becomes a habit.
I plan dinners. I have a list on my refrigerator. I don't have to have them in order. I cross off the meals as I have them. I don't really prep meals in advance except having dinner leftovers for lunch.
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I normally only prep my meats and just wake up early and do my veggies/ sides. i cant meal prep because I get too bored of it. my taste changes daily and im not going to force myself to eat something I dont care for.4
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"Do you need to prep food in advance? Why did you want to do it? If it doesn't work for you then you can stop. "
I was feeling alone in the world and was hoping someone was in the same boat or had been and found a solution;)
I get a kind of paralysis by analysis when planning out the week. As I read through these comments I am starting to see that part of my problem may be how picky I am. I have always thought I was a pretty open minded eater, but I think I need to reevaluate. I hate reheating food. So the typical BB template chicken/rice/veg is gonna be out.
Thank you for the perspective. Getting in the habit of putting the day together in the morning, is a good idea.
Thank you guys for the tips and perspective!
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Im the same way. I will prep a meal whether I freeze it or refrigerate it and I end up not eating it because I dont really like stuff made 2 days before or more. For some reason l guess I think it wont taste the same. I guess its more of a mental thing for me. Same goes if I open a bag of chips I havent touched in a few days I kind of get freaked out n think there are germs and stuff growing on it. Idk im wired weird when it comes to meal prepping.1
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I plan dinners. I have a list on my refrigerator. I don't have to have them in order. I cross off the meals as I have them. I don't really prep meals in advance except having dinner leftovers for lunch.
This. I plan fortnightly meals and shop accordingly. Some veggies I'll pre cut and freeze and others are meant for on the day prep/cook/serve raw. Meats, I'll marinate > vacuum seal > freeze.
I love the flexibility and freedom.
ETA: Pre cooking in bulk and packing meals away feels restrictive and torturesome.4 -
I find that it helps for me to do meal prep twice a week (or more depending on time). I make sure all my veggies and fruit are washed and cut up (depending on what they are) and I will make meals for 3-4 days. Then change it up and make something different on food prep day #2. I find this helps keep things diverse and there are not as much leftovers to get sick of/waste.2
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I used to religiously make enough for dinner that I could have for lunch the next day, then I got into prepping. I only really prep lunches, otherwise I end up frustrated at eating the same thing. I tend to make batches of rice salad or some form of base, which I can vary by adding different proteins to. So I might have feta one day, chicken the next, all with the same base mix. Keeps it varied. Or I throw together a smaller batch of soup - enough for two days rather than five.1
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I don't prep meals, I prep ingredients. So on Sunday, I'll cook off a bunch of chicken shred some, cube some strip some and store it in the fridge. I'll cook up a big batch of grains, mix with a little olive oil, and refrigerate. I'll clean and possible chop fruits and veggies. Boil some eggs. During cold weather I might make a big pot of soup or chili and refrigerate or freeze small portions. Then when I'm making lunch or dinner, I decide at that time how any of these are going together, what sauce or seasoning, etc. I also have a freezer full of bags of frozen veggies and some "convenience foods" to use as part of my meal if none of the other stuff is working for me on its own.
I think finding what works for you can be the hardest part - don't give up!7 -
exactly why i dont meal prep. Its just not for me and thats ok. i dont like leftovers and my taste changes or our plans change.4
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That happened to me a bunch of times. I forget that i froze some meals.
Write a big note & tape it to the handle of your fridge. You can't miss that.
Now i only cook meals for 3 servings or 3 days, instead of 5.
I usually pack my cooler in the morning w 2 meals & 2 snacks & 2 liters of h2o. The night begotten, I enter on MFP everything I'm going to pack, then revise it the next day as needed.
whatever i don't eat before i get home becomes dinner. I'm happy to say I've still been losing 1 lb per week. Lost 20 this year after i broke my year long plateau.5 -
i basically use my freezer as a great big version of that closet where you stash stuff you just don't feel like dealing with right now.
it works out. a week or two later i've forgotten all about how i wasn't into whatever it was, and/or i'm hungry enough i don't care what i eat, so i fish something out and discover that it's actually great. so further down the road, yes it does save me from eating something that's less-great for me.4 -
suedeliajane wrote: »
i choose 5 dinners and get the ingredients for them.. the ingredients usually will make other meals as well. each day i just make whatever we are in the mood for. I always have rice, pastas, beans, lentils ect in my pantry.1 -
I'd suggest not worrying so much about the macros and instead cooking what you like (within reason, of course).
My strategy when cooking is to plan for the leftovers to be breakfast at work within the next day or two. I'll supplement that with different items as appropriate. (Tonight's pork chop is going in with some frozen veggies; I'll toss'em in the microwave and I'm good to go until lunch.)1 -
suedeliajane wrote: »
I buy what I feel like eating at the time (depending on what's on sale too), but usually 3 kinds of protein or so, maybe potatoes or something, and I always just stock up on frozen veggies when they are on sale. 90% of what we eat can be ready in 15-20 minutes, and typically we make extra so we can have leftovers for 2 nights too.
If I feel like having something that takes longer to cook, I plan it for a non busy night and buy the stuff for it, but otherwise it's really just throwing sausage/steak/chicken on the Foreman or some fish in the oven for 20 minutes and frozen veggies in the microwave.
When I know it's going to be a busy week, I buy stuff like precooked sausage or ham steaks that will keep for a while. Typically though, if I buy protein I make sure that I have 4/5 days to use it.
We keep pasta, rice, spices etc in the pantry too.
We're 4 in my family though. If I was alone, I'd probably cook big batches of stuff and freeze most of it. I really don't like eating the same things too much.0 -
I don't meal prep.
I don't know what I want to eat until shortly before I eat so the meal prep idea doesn't work for me at all.
I also don't cook.
The closest I ever come to "meal prep" and "cooking" is when I'm in the mood to put together a slow cooker meal. I'll make enough for 2 dinners for my husband and me. But that only happens a small handful of times a year.
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Most meal prep meals can be put in the freezer with the right containers. It's something I'm bad about as well but I've been getting better. Being able to take meals out of the freezer to thaw over night prior to use means they last WAAAAY longer and less goes to waste. Also, try to make foods you like, dieting shouldn't be miserable and if your meals are exciting it makes the process way easier to follow3
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kommodevaran wrote: »Plans must be flexible enough to adapt to situations beyond your control.
Write down somewhere what you have made and when you are going to eat it, that's part of the planning. Prepare yourself mentally for eating it; to do this consistently, you have to make meals you actually want to eat. Don't overthink - have simple "templates" for every meal (for instance, most of my dinners are just "protein+starch+veg").
I totally agree with this. I am single so meal prep is a bit of a challenge, sometimes, when prepping for only one person. However, I have nailed it after a while.
I eat the same thing every day, every meal, for a week. It doesn't bother me at all to do so. I also make sure whatever I have is mobile. So a lot of my snacks can come with me where ever I go. I also invested in a great lunch bag - it's from ISO Fitness if you're curious - and it has its own ice packs and such so everywhere I go I can ensure my food stays cold if I need it to.
I make sure I prepare foods that travel well - in case I am on the go - and ones that are quick to eat, and easy to digest if I'm in a crunch.
It's not easy, because so many people are amazed at how prepared I am and how little I actually eat out. But if you really want to do it then you can. If you know you are busy one week - so say you know on Wednesday you're definitely going to be eating out - then only prep for the other days of the week. Plans change all the time, but if you want to stick to it then the best thing you can do is prepare things that can flex with you.
For example some of the things that are a staple in my meal prep
Carrots & Hummus (carrots are amazing because as a veggie they stay good for a decent amount of time)
Apple and PB (or any nut butter of your choosing)
Banana Oat Muffins - Recipe from Pinterest (I make this in batches of 12, and usually 4 - 6 batches at a time then freeze them and pull one or two out the night before)
Home Made Protein Oatmeal - quick rolled oats, chia seeds, chocolate chips, protein powder (vanilla, usually) PB and some water. Super easy to batch make too and freezes very well.
Crackers & Hummus - I prefer Luke's Organic Multigrain & Seed ones from Costco. Also for hummus I buy the pre-packaged individual ones from Costco. There's 16 portions in a box for like $5 . . . it's a pretty good deal.
Cheese String & Apple
Cheese & Crackers
Yogurt & Berries - I prefer greek yogurt but whatever you like, really.
As for bigger meals, as others have said make things that you can freeze so that if you don't end up eating it you have it for next week. Good luck, and feel free to reach out of you'd like
ETA because I forgot: Maybe meal prep isn't right for you, and that's really ok. It isn't for everyone and it sounds like you're pretty picky. If it isn't for you then it isn't. Spend your time on something that is for you. However if you really feel like meal prepping is the route you want to go, you just need to focus on it and have the discipline to say to yourself that you spent X amount of hours (or dollars, if money is tight) doing all this work, you aren't going to eat out and you'll bring the food with you. You already have lunch, dinner, snacks, etc at home so you don't need to buy anything else, or you brought your snack with you and you don't need to get that doughnut (or whatever). It takes discipline if it's something you really want to do.
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