You’ve committed to the Lazu Keto 21 Day Challenge, but the endless task of finding keto-friendly meals, counting carbs, and cooking can be overwhelming. That’s where meal planning and prep come in!
By dedicating time each week to strategise, budget, and prepare your meals, you’ll save time, reduce stress, and be able to easily stay on track with your weight management goals.
There are many ways to meal prep, including preparing individually-portioned meals, prepping ingredients and batch cooking. Experiment with each method to find what works best for you. Planning ahead doesn’t just save time – it can also save money. By meal planning around sales and repurposing leftovers, you can cut costs while still enjoying delicious, healthy meals.
The Lazu keto 21 Day Challenge focuses on a high-fat, low-carb intake to trigger and maintain ketosis – a metabolic state where the body burns fat for energy instead of carbs. While its benefits are widely sought after, successful adherence is not always easy for everyone, with one of the key reasons being lack of preparation.
Simply “winging it” won’t cut it. The keto diet is highly restrictive and requires a solid plan for success. This is where meal prep can make all the difference. By dedicating some time at the beginning of each week to plan and prepare your meals, you’ll not only save time and effort, but also avoid impulsive food choices that might throw you off track. Say goodbye to the stress of counting carbs on a late night, or resorting to unhealthy takeout options.
Follow our keto meal prep ideas and soon you’ll be conquering the keto diet with ease!
Individual meal preparation
Individual meal preparation involves preparing single serving meals instead of cooking in bulk. This meal prep method often involves preparing one or two different meals, typically for the next day.
Ingredient prepping
Ingredient prepping involves washing and chopping vegetables, marinating protein, and storing them in containers until they are ready to be cooked. This method allows you to simply take out the prepped ingredients when it’s time for dinner and cook them, saving both time and effort. It’s the perfect meal prep method for those who are limited on time and prefer a less time-consuming approach to batch cooking.
Batch cooking
Batch cooking involves cooking a large amount of food at once, often on a set day or over the weekend. With this method, you can portion out your meals for the week ahead and store them in containers for straightforward access and convenience.
Set a day for meal prep
Dedicated prep time will help you establish a habit and make meal planning and prepping a regular part of your lifestyle.
Stock up on staples
Maintaining a variety of keto-friendly staples at hand, you can quickly put together low-carb meals. Pantry staples include olive oil, almond flour, nuts, seeds, Greek yogurt and cream
Remember the Snacks
Meal prep isn’t just about your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacks make up an important part of our diet, and you will be setting yourself up for failure by not including them in your meal plan. Prepping healthy snacks ahead of time can help you avoid unhealthy cravings. Nuts, baby carrots, celery sticks, and other low-carb veggies make great keto snacks that require little to no preparation.
Prepping on a Budget
Eating healthier and saving money might seem like two distant goals, but meal planning on a budget is here to bridge the gap. When you plan ahead for your meals, you not only get to be more intentional about what you eat, but you also get to hunt for the best deals in town. Trust us, your wallet will thank you.
Planning your meals around sales and discounts is a pro-tip that not only saves you money but also nudges you to outdo yourself in the kitchen with creative ingredient combinations. Meal prep on a budget doesn’t have to be boring either.
Repurposing leftovers is a game-changer. Transforming last night’s roasted chicken into a tasty salad or reviving cooked ground beef with lettuce wraps are just some fantastic ways to bring variety to your meals while reducing food waste.
Meal planning on a budget is not only healthy and cost-efficient but also offers opportunities to experiment and be creative in the kitchen. So, go ahead, and make the most of your budget!
Top Tip – Invest in quality containers
Invest in quality containers that can store meals safely and efficiently.
With any of our meal prep methods it’s a good idea to invest in high-quality plastic or glass containers that are both microwave and dishwasher-safe. Look for compartmentalised options to keep your ingredients separate and fresh until mealtime.
