If you have ever talked to someone about nutrition or anything food-related, meal prep (preparing food ahead of time) is something you have probably heard, and maybe even tried.

I am not going to lie, meal prep is kind of a big deal and a big piece of figuring out how to eat better consistently.

Some people shot down the idea immediately with something like, “I don’t have time to do that.”

Or maybe they do not know where to start or how to cook that well.

Either way, I am going to give you a real-world example of how it works and a cool recipe that you can make after you prep.

Let me take you back to Monday, which was yesterday and show you how this all unfolded.

I had a two-hour break between my morning appointments. I met my wife somewhere so I could grab Eli and he and I went over to the grocery store. Just two wild and crazy guys cruising the aisles.

After I finished up that, I went back to the gym for a couple of appointments and a workout.

I went back home for another short break. In between making a phone call and getting the kids off the bus, I crushed some meal prep.

First up, I got my egg omelets going. If you don’t know what I am talking about, check it out: Quick and dirty breakfast.

Once they were in the oven, I cleaned and cut up some chicken. I cut into thing strips, kinda like you find in fajitas.

I put the omelets and cooked chicken in the fridge. Let’s fast forward back to today.

I get home around 6 pm after working at the gym. Kids have been fed thanks to our awesome babysitter but I have to, basically, wrestle three alligators to get them to bed.

Done. And all my limbs are intact.

Like Mary Poppins, I float downstairs. Now, I am hungry.

But wait, I did that prep yesterday, so let’s put that hard work to work.

Here’s what you are looking at:

• chicken I cooked yesterday

• sliced onions

• minced garlic

• beet noodles

• fajita seasoning

Here is all you have to do:

1. Put a little butter in a pan.

2. Saute the onions for a minute or two. Sprinkle with a little fajita seasoning.

3. Saute the garlic for about 30s.

4. Saute chicken for a minute or two. Sprinkle with some fajita seasoning

5. Add in a couple of handfuls of the beet noodles.

The whole thing cooks in 5-6 minutes. And damn, was it good.

Let me know what you think or what other options you used instead of beet noodles.

Until next time,
Dr. Tom

Other relevant posts:

Does meal frequency matter?

Protein bites [recipe].

Protein popsicle recipe.

Protein smoothie cheat sheet.