Ultimate Guide To The Best Meal Prep Containers


Welcome to your meal prep container guide!  Meal prep containers are a fantastic way to store food and to keep your food fresh, which means more healthy food in your belly, an easier time reaching your healthy lifestyle goals, and less wasted food (which will save you time and money)!
When I was growing up, our method of food storage was very lacking.  We’d store prepared foods, like spaghetti, on paper plate, covered with aluminum foil or loosely covered plastic wrap.  Food did not stay fresh, was messy, and didn’t seem like a legit way to save food.  Often times, we didn’t even eat out left-overs, and I think that’s why.
Then, when I first moved in with Dustin.  I got so excited when our parents gave us all their old Tupperware containers they didn’t use because I wanted to fix the paper plate and seran wrap problem.  We got all sorts of plastic containers with different lids that would fall out of the “container drawer” and you couldn’t even find the dang lid you needed because it either melted or was the only one and was hiding.
NONE of this was helpful to meal prep or keeping food fresh for any decent amount of time.
As I started my clean eating journey, however, I learned more and more about “meal prep containers.”  We ordered some plastic ones online that were cheap and we used the heck out of them.  Since we were meal prepping for either the two of us or including the kids, we needed a lot of storage.  These were also great because you could transport  them and we even bought a special refrigerated meal prep container duffle bag that had spots to hold the actual containers.
Hopefully, the info I have shared below will help provide you with answers to all your meal prep container questions. In a nutshell, here are the portion control topics we’re gonna cover in this post:
What To Look For In a Meal Prep ContainerBest Type of Meal Prep ContainersAre Plastic Meal Prep Containers Safe?Plastic Meal Prep Containers: Pros + ConsAre Glass Meal Prep Containers Better Than Steel Meal Prep Containers?Steel Meal Prep Containers: Pros + ConsGlass Meal Prep Containers: Pros + ConsHow Big Should My Meal Prep Containers Be?How Many Meal Prep Containers Do I Need?Lacey’s Meal Prep Container RecommendationsMeal Prep Recipes To Get Started Feel free to jump to any sections that may be of interest.
So, let’s get started!
What To Look For In a Meal Prep Container From my experience, I’ve learned to look for the following characteristics in a good meal prep container:
microwave-safedishwasher-safefreezer-safe durablesee-throughair-tightleak-proofeco-friendly Ideally, a good meal prep container will have most, if not all, the above characteristics. As I’ve really gotten into meal prep, I learned the best option for me was a glass meal prep container with an easy-to-lock lid. More on that (and why!) is later in this post!
Best Type of Meal Prep Containers I’ll dive deeper into each of the categories below, but here’s a quick table to understand the different types of meal prep containers at a glance.
PlasticSteelGlassMicrowave-SafeX*XDishwasher-SafeXXFreezer-SafeXOven-SafeXSee-ThroughXAir-TightXXEco-FriendlyXXLightweightXX * If BPA-free
Are Plastic Meal Prep Containers Safe? A big question about plastic meal prep containers is “Are they safe?”  The answer is yes and no.   The main issue with plastic containers is they can contain BPA  (Bisphenol A) and some of that can actually leak into to your food, especially if the plastic is heated. While you’d have to come into super large quantities of BPA and other harmful plastic components to be at risk of serious health danger, it is possible.
Plastic Meal Prep Containers: Pros + Cons Benefits of Plastic Meal Prep Containers lightweightless expensive than steel and plastic containerssee-throughmany shapes and sizeskid-friendly Negatives of Plastic Meal Prep Containers possibly contains BPA that can leak into your food when heatednot very durablenot eco-friendly That being said, if you choose BPA-free plastic meal prep containers and/or don’t reheat your food in your meal prep container, plastic meal prep containers may work well for your needs.
Are Glass Meal Prep Containers Better Than Steel Meal Prep Containers? While I prefer glass meal prep containers over plastic and steel, that doesn’t mean the others aren’t safe or good to use, with some exceptions.  A big benefit to using non-plastic containers, like glass and steel meal prep containers, is they avoid those plastic-related toxins and they are also greener because they reduce the amount of plastics being produced.
Steel Meal Prep Containers: Pros + Cons Benefits of Steel Meal Prep Containers lightweightdishwasher-safemany shapes and sizeskid-friendlygreat for cold foods and snackseco-friendly Negatives of Steel Meal Prep Containers not dishwasher-safenot microwave-safenot freezer-safe Steel containers are lightweight, durable, and can work great for foods, like salads, cold foods, nuts and small snacks, but they aren’t microwaveable, which is a problem for me.
Glass Meal Prep Containers: Pros + Cons Benefits of Glass Meal Prep Containers microwave-safe dishwasher-safefreezer-safe durablesee-througheco-friendly Negatives of Glass Meal Prep Containers heavier than steel or plastic can break easier than steel and plastic So I choose glass meal prep containers because they are BPA free, clear so I can see what’s in them in the fridge without having to open them, microwaveable, dishwasher-safe, eco-friendly, and I think they make my food look the best, too – which is important if you’re caring about enjoying your meal.
The only real downside to glass is they are more breakable and they’re heavier.
How Big Should My Meal Prep Containers Be? Size is important for your meal prep containers, but will depend a lot on how you plan to do the majority of your meal prep.  Ask yourself the following questions when determining what size meal prep containers you’ll need:
Do you plan to portion out individual servings for one person to grab and enjoy?  Do you plan to keep large quantities of food cooked in bulk, like rice, quinoa, or grilled chicken, so you can grab a portion for yourself and reheat separately?  If you plan to portion out your meals, it’s best to get smaller, one-serving size containers so you can easily reheat your food quickly and you don’t have to fuss with anything, which is a big part of how I use meal prep containers.   
However, if you’re prepping your food in bulk, I’d recommend looking into larger sized containers, since you won’t ever really be reheating the entire portion and you’ll just use it to keep your food as fresh as possible, while you take from it during the week.
I also recommend testing out different container sizes before going all in and buying a gazillion of the same one so you can experiment while you figure out your perfect meal portion size.  Eating the right portion sized meals is integral to maintain, lose or gain weight.
How Many Meal Prep Containers Do I Need? The next question is how many do you actually need?  This answer is, again, going to be determined by how you plan to use them.  Questions to consider when deciding this are:
How many meals per week do you plan to meal prep? Do you plan to do 5 meals per week? Less?  More?How many meals per day do you want to store?  Are you storing just lunches?  Or also dinners and even breakfasts and snacks? How often do you plan to meal prep?  Once a week so you need all your containers available at that time or twice a week so you only need half of them ready to be used?How often do you want to have to wash your containers?  The less you have, the more often you’ll have to wash them so you have enough…unless you buy extra to account for that.How many people are you prepping for?  The more people, the more containers you’ll each need. GENERAL RULE: The more meals per day AND the more meals per week AND the more people you’re prepping for, the more containers you’ll need (and vice versa).
For example, in a typical week, we meal prep a minimum of 2 full meals per week for both Dustin and I (usually just our lunches and dinners).  That means we are using a minimum of 20 containers – 10 for me and 10 for him.  I also keep extras on hand to hold any additional left-overs or foods for the kiddos.
Lacey’s Meal Prep Container Recommendations Based off years of testing, here are the main types of meal prep containers I prefer and what I use them for:
1. Glass Meal Prep Containers Glass Meal Prep Containers: We use these for lunches, dinners, and general bulk meal prep.  They are our number one used container and I highly recommend them.  We have about 40 of these but you don’t need that many – I just also need them on hand to make meal prep videos for you guys!  At any given time, especially early in the week, about half of them are being used.
2. 1-quart Mason Jars 1-quart Mason Jars: We use these when we meal prep salads.  They’re perfect for storing make-ahead salads since they keep the lettuce at the top (you can learn how to make these in my video).   I also use them for storing liquids, like iced teas, infused waters, and even soups.
3. 16-oz Mason Jars 16-oz Mason Jars: We use these for make-ahead freezer smoothies, overnight oats, and chia puddings.  They’re great for those, and I also use the re-usable lids as well for these.  
4. Re-Usable Silicone Storage Bags Re-Usable Silicone Storage Bags: We use these for storing cut veggies or cheeses in the fridge, and they can also be used to freeze foods, like chicken pot pies or tomato sauce. They are flexible and replaced our plastic storage bags.
BONUS HELP: These re-usable mason jar lids are life-changing.  Once size fits all and they come in a large pack so it super handy.  If you’ve ever dealt with mason jar lids that are metal and are hard to clean and eventually get rusty, you’ll absolutely love these dishwasher-safe, re-usable lids.
I also have others I use occasionally here and there which you might see in my videos sometimes, but these are the core group of what I find to be super valuable and helpful.
Meal Prep Recipes ALSO here are some of my FAVE meal prep recipes to get you started using your new meal prep containers!
Make-Ahead Dinners
How to Meal Prep + 30+ Easy and Delicious Meal Prep IdeasBreaded Shrimp Meal PrepEasy Instant Pot Pulled Pork 4 Ways | Perfect for Meal Prep!Ground Turkey Meal Prep: Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash NoodlesEasy Vegetarian Meal Prep: Chipotle Chickpea Taco BowlsSlow Cooker Shredded Chicken Meal Prep Make-Ahead Salads
4 Easy Mason Jar Salad RecipesChicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad Make-Ahead Breakfasts
6 Best Overnight Oats Recipes & Easy Make-Ahead Recipes5 Best Chia Pudding Recipes7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies For Fall As You Get Started…. Keep in mind these have been added to my collection of meal prep containers over a long period of time, and they’re an investment I’ve made in the health and well-being of myself and my family.  Don’t get worried and think you have to buy all of them right now.  The main idea is that you cook clean, healthy food first.  This is just a way to make that life even easier to keep you on track.  The more healthy food you have available to grab and go, the easier your healthy lifestyle will be….even if it’s just one meal prep container at a time.
Got more questions?  Check out my YouTube video and leave your question in a comment!
The post Ultimate Guide to the Best Meal Prep Containers appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.


* This article was originally published here

Artikel ini hanyalah simpanan cache dari url asal penulis yang berkebarangkalian sudah terlalu lama atau sudah dibuang :

http://merahhaticintaku.blogspot.com/2019/11/ultimate-guide-to-best-meal-prep.html

Kempen Promosi dan Iklan
Kami memerlukan jasa baik anda untuk menyokong kempen pengiklanan dalam website kami. Serba sedikit anda telah membantu kami untuk mengekalkan servis percuma aggregating ini kepada semua.

Anda juga boleh memberikan sumbangan anda kepada kami dengan menghubungi kami di sini
Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide Top Best Foods To Eat In Tokyo

Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide Top Best Foods To Eat In Tokyo

papar berkaitan - pada 5/11/2019 - jumlah : 458 hits
In this Tokyo Food Guide you ll find our recommendations on 20 top best foods to eat in the city From the best sushi to the latest food craze to iconic street foods these are the unmissable foods you must try when visiting Tokyo It is no ex...
Credit Ratings Reaffirmation The Best Answer To Critics Lim

Credit Ratings Reaffirmation The Best Answer To Critics Lim

papar berkaitan - pada 28/10/2019 - jumlah : 214 hits
Lim Guan Eng 8211 Bernama file photo KUALA LUMPUR Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says Malaysia s reaffirmation of its sovereign credit ratings is the best answer to critics that the present government does not know how to manage the economy ...
Jokowi Ingin Ibu Kota Baru Jadi The Best City On The Earth

Jokowi Ingin Ibu Kota Baru Jadi The Best City On The Earth

papar berkaitan - pada 7/11/2019 - jumlah : 307 hits
Jokowi punya mimpi Ibu kota baru bisa melebihi Dubai Uni Emirate Arab yang memiliki jargon kota paling bahagia Setidaknya ibu kota baru harus menjadi kota terbaik dan paling inovatif di dunia
Tg Piai Polls The Best Testing Ground To Gauge Mca S Chinese Support Says Tok Mat

Tg Piai Polls The Best Testing Ground To Gauge Mca S Chinese Support Says Tok Mat

papar berkaitan - pada 7/11/2019 - jumlah : 341 hits
The Tanjung Piai by election will the best testing ground for Barisan Nasional to gauge how well MCA could garner back Chinese support says Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan We want to see how is the acceptance and support towa...
Dr M Says Won T Step Down As Pm In 2020 May Be The Best Man For The Job Now

Dr M Says Won T Step Down As Pm In 2020 May Be The Best Man For The Job Now

papar berkaitan - pada 6/11/2019 - jumlah : 352 hits
When Palma asked Dr Mahathir to address conspiracy theories that he did not plan to leave the prime minister s post he explained that he needed to be careful in appointing a successor due to his previous mistakes Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahat...
Hit Parade The Best Eicma Bikes Of 2019

Hit Parade The Best Eicma Bikes Of 2019

papar berkaitan - pada 11/11/2019 - jumlah : 545 hits
In the moto world EICMA is the Greatest Show On Earth Held at the gigantic Rho Fiera exhibition center in Milan it s spread over several pavilions and you can easily walk several kilometers a day without seeing everything on display All the...
How To Choose The Best Insulation For Your Property

How To Choose The Best Insulation For Your Property

papar berkaitan - pada 5/11/2019 - jumlah : 267 hits
Choosing insulation for your property helps you product every part of the house or building Plus you may need to add insulation to an older building that has a draft is inefficient or is not The post appeared first on
What Is Temaki And Which Restaurant Makes The Best Temaki

What Is Temaki And Which Restaurant Makes The Best Temaki

papar berkaitan - pada 5/11/2019 - jumlah : 371 hits
hai assalammualaikumWhat is Temaki and Which Restaurant Makes the Best Temaki Gone are the days when people used to stick to the same old regional diet Today more and more people are trying new and exciting recipes Some of these recipes are...
Ngo Kebajikan Banyak Membantu Rakyat Malaysia

Pakw Calculator

Remaja Malaysia Dipenjara Seumur Hidup Di Uk Taksub Alat Penukul Dan Pembunuhan

Using Predictive Analytics To Enhance Forex Market Timing For Malaysian Traders

Got Back Pain Time To Straighten Up

Banjir Rakyat Asing Di M Sia Apa Teruk Sangat K Jaan Ni

Speed Read The New Royal Enfield Bear 650 Scrambler And More

Tips Memasak Sayur Supaya Lebih Sedap Dan Berkhasiat


echo '';
Biodata Terkini Penyanyi Illa Sabry Peserta Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11 GV11

Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Senyawa iQIYI Malaysia

Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Project Projek Exit Astro Originals

Pelajari Asal Usul Nama Makhluk Seram Kisah Fiksyen Barat Yang Terkenal

10 Fakta Filem Kahar Kapla High Council Yang Ramai Tak Tahu Prekuel Drama Project Projek High Council


7 Sunnah Bayi Baru Lahir Hingga Usia 7 Hari

Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas 2024 An Exquisite Showcase Of Design

China S President To Host Official Dinner For Anwar

I Bought A Toy Like Vape Online Mp Tells Dewan Chamber

Drama One Cent Thief 2 Lakonan Syafiq Kyle Azira Shafinaz

Rasa Masakan Korea Soondubu Jigae Beef Di Dubuyo