Let’s be real—meal prepping isn’t always fun at first. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unmotivated, or just plain annoyed at the idea of planning and prepping meals, you’re not alone. Here are some common reasons why meal prepping feels hard—and what we can do about it!
1. You’re Missing the Right Tools
Sometimes it’s not you—it’s your kitchen.
Game-changing gadgets:
- A veggie chopper for fast, uniform cuts
- A salad spinner to quickly clean greens
- Airtight glass containers for storing meals (reheat-friendly!)
- A digital food scale to portion meals easily
These small tools can save you time and reduce frustration—and make prep feel smoother.
2. It’s a New Habit
If meal prepping doesn’t feel “natural,” that’s because it’s a new skill. Just like learning to drive or riding a bike, it takes a little repetition.
Pro tip: Start small. Prep just one meal a day, or one protein source and a veggie. Build up from there.
3. Your Recipes Are Too Simple, Too Complex, or Take Too Long
- Too simple = You get bored (hello, bland chicken!)
- Too complex = You get overwhelmed (so many ingredients!)
- Too long = You give up (time is precious)
Balance is key: You want flavorful, time-efficient meals that don’t require a culinary degree.
Try this: Use ChatGPT for meal inspiration! Just type:
“Give me 3 easy 30-minute high-protein recipes with chicken, rice, and broccoli.”
Boom—instant ideas tailored to your grocery list! Be sure to also check out our other module “How to Use Chat GPT For Meal Planning”
4. You Miss Your Favorite Foods
Good news: You don’t have to give up what you love. We just make it a bit healthier.
Example:
🍝 Craving spaghetti? Try zucchini noodles with turkey marinara. It gives you the same comfort, with fewer carbs and more nutrients.
💡 Final Tips:
- Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for prepared.
- Make it fun—play music or watch a show while you prep. This is a strategy called Habit Stacking– Take one habit that’s already formed (watching Netflix) and pair it with a new habit you want to build (meal prepping). This can be done for all new habits you want to build. Another example of this is taking a walk in the morning to get your morning coffee from your favorite coffee shop! (Established habit- getting your favorite coffee + New habit- taking a walk)
- Keep a few “emergency meals” in the freezer for extra-busy weeks. This is especially true for veggies. I always like to keep frozen veggies stocked to be able to add to meal prep if I’m surprised that my lettuce has gone bad before I was able to finish it. I’ll also keep extra meat in the freezer to be able to throw it together quickly!