I credit much of my weight loss success to food prep: I dedicate a little time each weekend, usually Sunday afternoons, in order to save a lot of time and effort during the week…and to better ensure that I eat healthy throughout the week.

It’s important for me to have things portioned out, even the healthy foods like grapes, peppers and carrots. I’m much more likely to make the healthier choice if it’s quick and easy in the moment. And though snacking on these types of foods is a better choice than potato chips or candy, mindless eating is mindless eating, so having them individually portioned is important to me.

I try to incorporate a protein and a veggie into my daytime snacks each day, in order to feel satisfied and prevent me from eating junk between meals. My morning snack is a hard-boiled egg with veggies, and my afternoon snack a container of Greek yogurt and veggies. On a typical week I have a selection of baby carrots, green & red peppers, cucumbers and sometimes celery. I probably wouldn’t take the time during the week to wash and cut all these foods, so prepping them ahead of time is critical.

I also prep my fruit for the week, usually to include things like bananas, grapes, apples, oranges and sometimes melon or strawberries. I find that the snack size plastic bags hold exactly a cup of grapes, which is a good thing as they are one of my favorites and I can easily sit down with a bag and eat thoughtlessly!

Once all of the fruits and veggies are washed and bagged individually, I’m set to go for the week! Packing lunches or grabbing a snack is quick and convenient. Mid-week I also make a large batch of oatmeal for end of week/weekend breakfasts. I divide the pot into individual servings in plastic containers that I can easily re-heat in the microwave. It also makes for a great grab-and-go breakfast if you’re in a hurry.

What kind of food prep do you do? Do you prep once a week? More often? Do you find that it helps you to make better choices?