Page 56 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2017

PLAN AHEAD
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photos courtesy of Brianna Spalding and Nick Foto
Meal prepping isn’t new, but it’s certainly becoming more popular. Once a staple only for serious athletes and bodybuilders, the trend has become a norm, with tips and tricks all over Facebook and Pinterest.
FOR THE WEEK
So what’s got everyone buzzing about meal prepping? There are a few key benefits to preparing meals in advance: saving time, saving money, and eating healthier. While it may appear very time-consuming at first, consider the time spent prepping and cooking each day. Combining all of that into one set-aside meal prep period can actually be a huge time saver! “The effort that you put in will be returned in results,” said Nick Foto, deputy program manager at the Mississippi State Port Authority who enjoys meal prepping for his wife and himself. “You can save time, and money, boost your health, lose weight and many more positive things.”
“I spend about two hours each Sunday prepping lunches and snacks for my family for the week ahead,” said Brittany Jacobs, who is a stylist at Chuck Kelly Salon, wife and mother of two. “I also go ahead and do prep work such as chopping veggies or marinating meats for the meals we’re having for dinner the following week which saves me so much time in the evenings. Since dinner takes less time for me to put together now, it gives me more quality time with my family.”
Aside from saving time by multi-tasking, preparing meals in advance can also be a big money saver. Having menus and a set grocery list in mind will help you
stay on track when you hit the store. You can also buy items in bulk and take advantage of your freezer. When planning for an entire week of meals, buying five pounds of chicken doesn’t seem so outrageous. If you don’t
use everything that week, you can always freeze the
56 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • November 2017
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
HEALTHY LIVING money saver MEAL
PREPPING