What is Smart Meal Prep for Beginners about?
Smart Meal Prep for Beginners is a beginner-friendly meal prep cookbook with recipes, shopping lists, and weekly plans for making healthy meals ahead. It focuses on ready-to-go breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks that are portioned and stored for the week.
Who is Smart Meal Prep for Beginners by?
Smart Meal Prep for Beginners is by Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN. She is a registered dietitian and recipe developer.
How does this book help with meal prep if I’m just starting out?
It starts small and removes guesswork. The book includes six progressive weekly meal prep plans that begin with just three recipes and build up to six recipes as you get more comfortable.
Will this book help me save time during the week?
Yes, the book is designed to save time on busy weekdays by having meals cooked, portioned, and stored in advance. It also gives a prep order for each week so you know what to cook first and when.
Can this book help me eat healthier and control portions?
Yes, portion control is built into the meal prep system. The recipes include serving sizes, and the book explains how to pack balanced meals with lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables or fruit.
Does Smart Meal Prep for Beginners include full weekly meal plans?
Yes, it includes six one-week meal prep plans. Each plan shows what to eat on each day and includes a meal plan, shopping list, step-by-step prep instructions, and the recipes for that week.
How many meals do the weekly plans make?
The weekly plans are written for one person. Depending on the week, they include combinations of breakfasts, lunches or dinners, and sometimes snacks.
What kinds of recipes are in this book?
The book includes make-ahead breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, sauces, and side dishes. Recipes range from overnight oats and yogurt parfaits to chicken bowls, stuffed peppers, lasagna, soups, salads, and freezer-friendly meals.
Are the recipes in Smart Meal Prep for Beginners healthy or diet-focused?
The recipes are built around balanced meals with whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables, fruit, and portion guidance. The book also includes nutrition information for each recipe, including calories, fat, protein, carbs, fiber, sugar, and sodium.
Does this book include shopping lists?
Yes, each weekly meal prep chapter includes a shopping list. The lists are organized around the ingredients needed for that week's prep.
Are the instructions step by step?
Yes, the book gives step-by-step cooking and prep instructions for each weekly plan. It also explains the recommended cooking order so beginners can prep multiple recipes more efficiently.
Can I freeze meals from this book?
Yes, many recipes include freezer instructions. The book regularly notes which meals can be frozen, how long they keep, how to defrost them, and how to reheat them.
Do I need special containers or equipment for this book?
You will need single-serve storage containers for portioning meals. The book also recommends features to look for, such as stackable, leakproof, BPA-free, and microwave-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe containers.
Does Smart Meal Prep for Beginners work if I don’t want to prep every meal for the week?
Yes, the book specifically says you can go at your own pace. Some plans cover just breakfast and lunch, and the author encourages starting with three recipes instead of trying to prep everything at once.
Are there options for different eating styles like vegetarian or gluten-free?
Yes, many recipes are labeled with dietary tags such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. The book also includes examples like a flexitarian prep and a sample weight-loss prep.
If I want grab-and-go meals for work, will this book help?
Yes, that is one of the book's main uses. The meals are designed to be packed into single servings so they are ready to grab, take to work, and reheat or eat cold.
