How to food prep for successful weight loss

Weight loss can be difficult in January. It's dark and cold and you are probably struggling to get in the swing of things again after the Christmas celebrations. This can make it hard to stick to any New Year's resolutions you may have set, such as losing weight.

Kicking off your weight loss journey can be difficult if you are working long hours, you're tired, and you would rather just cook something quick when you get home at night! And this is why meal preparation can be key to a successful weight loss journey. It encourages you to consider correct portions for each meal and sets you ahead of the game with a healthy meal for when you are feeling tired during the dark January days.

Here are a few steps to meal preparation:

1. You don't have to do a lot of cooking ahead of time

Simply preparing food, i.e. chopping vegetables for salads or other healthy recipes, can save you time and ensure a smoother cooking experience for lunchtime or dinner. It means that you can get home during the week and put your food straight in for cooking with minimum hassle.

2. Don't overcomplicate it

If you just want to stick to simple, healthy recipes then do so! Don't feel the need to be pulled into complicated fad recipes that will take you hours to prepare. Simply stick to portion control, cook what works for you, and choose to refrigerate or freeze where appropriate. For example, you can choose to cook simple, healthy things with meat and veg, in big portions for the week, in a slow-cooker. 

3. Write a shopping list at the beginning of every week

Meal preparation lets you focus on what you are cooking and when. Making a shopping list, detailing meals per day, encourages you to only buy what you need in the supermarket. As such, it gives you more focus to ignore all those sugary snacks, whilst providing you with a healthy balanced diet for the week.