To achieve an optimal level of physical health and wellness, you need more than just a good training routine and physical therapy. A strong body begins with a healthy diet, and when you’re juggling work, school, personal training and your physical therapy sessions, nothing makes life easier than a little bit of meal prep to start your week. In fact, meal prepping is often recommended by professional athletes and our physical therapist. You can find meal prep tips on social media, in the classroom and from our physical therapist, but what are the true pros and cons of preparing all of your meals ahead of time?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Meal Prepping?
When most physical therapy patients hear the words “meal prep” they envision kitchen counters lined with rows upon rows of plastic food storage containers. Most of the time those containers will hold a portion of veggies, carbs and some sort of protein — what our physical therapist sees as a balanced and healthy meal option for any time of the day.
Typically, those who prepare their weekly meals ahead of time do so on Sunday, before the work week begins to make sure they have plenty of time to get things right. For those who are just beginning the process, it’s a good idea to give yourself three to four hours to shop, cook and pack. As a good rule of thumb, our physical therapist recommends preparing a meal plan for the month as a great way to avoid repeating meals every week and stay organized.
6 Reasons You’ll Love Meal Prepping
- You’ll take care of the majority of your cooking for the week all at once, leaving more time to commit to working out and physical therapy during the remaining six days.
- You can rest easy knowing you have healthy and fast meal options that you can grab on the go.
- You can curb emotional eating and avoid wasting time while you decide, “What’s for dinner?”
- Cooking on Sundays can be much more cost-effective than cooking 10 or more meals each week. Just do it before your physical therapy appointment!
- You’ll probably only have to hit the grocery store once or twice a week at most. This leaves plenty of time for other activities like dinner with friends, meeting with your physical therapist and other social engagements.
- It’s much easier to meet your nutrition goals when you prepare ahead of time.
6 Reasons Why Meal Prep Can Be a Drag
- You have to dedicate a few hours of your weekend to shopping and cooking.
- It can get boring if you don’t try new recipes and mix things up.
- If you really want something to eat that isn’t already prepped, you’ll have to take time out of your day to cook.
- You can sacrifice a bit of creativity in the kitchen to help meet your nutritional needs.
- If you aren’t the best cook, you could struggle to keep your meals balanced and fun to eat.
- You need to be organized to save on time and avoid unnecessary food waste. But remember, practice makes perfect!
Enjoy a Health, Happy and Active Lifestyle
A balanced diet is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Along with a good workout routine and regular physical therapy sessions, you can help to ensure that your body is operating at peak performance.
Whether you’re training for your next half-marathon or simply want to make sure that you’re preventing possible injuries, contact The Fitness Lab in Highlands Ranch & Greenwoods Village, CO, today to see how our physical therapist can help keep you in top shape.
