Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle or simply get fit, it all starts with a healthy diet. Meal management containers, fitness meal plan bags, and fitness meal cooler bags are a convenient yet fun way to indulge yourself into healthy eating and a healthier lifestyle.
With proper meal planning and prepping you can keep yourself from eating boxed, pre-packaged foods and unhealthy junk options. All you need is good quality containers for fitness meal prepping and the will to start off. It might seem intimidating and time taking in the beginning but once you get a hang of it, you will be surprised by the amount of time and money you save. Plus, you will feel much healthier too.
Why Meal Management Containers Are a Healthy Choice
Meal management containers are a great start to healthy food choices. These small, lightweight, portable containers allow you to plan and prepare your meals in advance and enjoy them on the go for quick meals and dinners when you are tired after the day or don’t have time for preparing a meal from scratch. Planning and prepping in advance is a real game changer when it comes to food habits. Here are some of the reasons why meal management containers are a good healthy alternative to pre-packaged, frozen food.
Plan and Prepare Your Meals In Advance
Meal prep containers are air tight food containers that allow you to not only plan but also prepare your meals in advance. Meal prep containers come with as well as without sections and compartments. You can arrange and add the foods of your choice in all the different section. Enjoy a healthy, nutritious, home made meal every time with just a little planning and time management ahead.
They Help You Save Money
Meal prep containers let you add in whatever you want to a meal. You design and prepare your own meals from fresh produce, fruits, vegetables, and meats. Therefore, you save up a lot but not spending on junk foods and pre-packaged frozen food.
They Keep the Food Fresh
Meal prep containers come with airtight lids. These lids seal the food inside the box keeping it fresh. Airtight seals not only keep the food fresh by keeping the air out and the food fresh, but they also help avoid leaks and spills.
They Are Reusable
Meal prep containers are plastic fitness meal boxes. They are completely washable and reusable, saving you a lot of money on disposable containers in the long run. They are microwave and freezer safe. This means these containers for meal prepping do not melt in the microwave or chip away and crack from freezing under sub-zero conditions. You don’t have to worry about durability. this saves you a lot in the long run.
They Are Dishwasher Safe
Cleaning up after meals often seems like a chore. After all, nobody wants to stand at the sink washing up all the food containers and lids once they are done with the healthy, delicious meals. It might put some of you off your meal prepping goals. That is why meal prep containers dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe. Once you have downed all the food in those cute containers, simply toss them in the dishwasher to have them ready for the next meal prep.
They Are Made From Food Friendly, BPA-Free Plastic
Meal management containers are always made from premium quality, food grade, BPA free plastic. Bisphenol A is a harmful chemical that poses multiple health risks. Use of this chemical is quite common in the plastic industry to make it look shiny and good quality. However, the food grade plastic used for fitness meal boxes and meal management containers is BPA free and completely safe to pack and store food.
They Are Stackable
Fitness meal prep containers not only pack and store food keeping it fresh for longer, but they are also easy to manage and stack for convenient storage in the fridge. The design of these meal management containers is space saving for easy stacking and storage. This allows you to prepare meals for your whole family and conveniently stack them in the fridge for later use.
They Are Available In Multiple Sizes for Portion Control
Meal prep containers are available in multiple sizes, shapes, and designs to suit your specific needs. They come with multiple sections to portion out your packed meals according to your specific diet. Add carbs, proteins, vegetables, fruits, nuts and even gravies and dips in multiple sections. You can adjust the quantity in different sized meal prep containers. From bento boxes for kids to adult Japanese style bento boxes, they are available in a variety of sizes as well as design to fit your specific needs.
They Are Available In a Variety of Cool Colors
Meal management containers are usually available in a variety of cool colors. whether you are an organization freak or just love colors, you can color coordinate your meals to the days of the week or even color coordinate by food type. Add vegan meals to a green box and protein high meals to a red on or set orange for Mondays and yellow for Tuesdays. If you are using a bento box for kids use their favorite color so they don’t get bored and add in their favorite foods along with a sweet treat so that they always look forward to their meals.
Tips To Make Fitness Meal Plan Bags and Meal Prep Easy and Fun
Whether you are training for fitness or fun or simply want to eat healthier meals, meal management containers are an ideal way to eat healthy in the busy, fast-paced lifestyles. In order to prepare good fitness meal bags and boxes, it is always better to plan and prepare ahead. This way you will not feel the urge to order a take-out last minute when you are simply not in the mood or just too tired to cook after a full day at work. Here are a few tips and tricks to make fitness meal plan bags easier to work around, so that you always stick to healthy eating.
Make Weakly Meal Plans
Meal planning might seem trivial but this is the most important step toward sticking to healthy eating, this is especially true if you are new to fitness meal plan bags. Make a list of your favorite healthy foods. Make sure the recipes are simple and quick to make. Include foods that you can prepare in bulk and store for later use. Decide what you want for every meal of the day including snacks. And make the daily plans for the whole week. This will save you a lot of time and stress later in the week. It keeps you from pondering on what to eat next and then figuring out how to prepare it. Once you have the menus for a few weeks you will know how to mix and rotate those meal plans for the coming weeks so you never get bored with the same food routine.
Make A Grocery List and Stick to It
Once you have planned all your meals and snacks see what you already have in the pantry, fridge, and kitchen and what you need to buy. Jot down a precise yet complete grocery list and then stick to it. Indulge in impulse buying only if you think you can adjust it somewhere in your current weekly fitness meal plan bag. Steer clear of the junk aisles so you don’t have to use your will power to avoid buying them and later use your will power to avoid indulging in them, ruining your whole fitness meal plan bags.
Add In a Couple of Snacks for Each Day
When you plan your meals and make the grocery list, don’t forget to add your daily snacks into the meal plan bag. add two snacks a day, one between breakfast and lunch, the other between lunch and dinner. Keep the snacks simple. They keep you fuller and healthier. At the same time, they provide you the energy for daily routine while keeping you from eating too much for the main meals.
Keep It Simple
Make sure you keep things simple. After all, when you are preparing everything once a week, it is important that it’s manageable and easy to do. Save yourself the time by choosing simple snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, boiled eggs, simple smoothies, and shakes. Moreover, go with the main dishes and meals that are quick and easy to cook. Prepare in bulk and stock up whenever and whatever foods you can from your menu. This will make things easier to manage in the long run.
Keep it Tasty
Taste is the key when you want to make the switch to a healthier lifestyle. You will be bored too quickly if the food is bland and you don’t enjoy the taste. In fact, you are more likely to indulge in junk food if you don’t enjoy the taste of the healthier food fitness meal box. That is why it is crucial to always keep the taste in mind and prepare food that you actually like and will enjoy eating. Healthy food can be tasty and delicious too. You just need to fix the right recipe and use your favorite ingredients.
Add in Smoothies and Shakes
Smoothies and shakes are a fun and delicious way to add flavor to your meals with all the goodness of fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk. They keep you well hydrated. At the same time, they are an excellent source of healthy vitamins and nutrients. They are filling yet fun to make and drink up. So whip up some good recipes and enjoy great taste with all the natural goodness.
Batch Cook, It Will Save Time
Cook in batches whenever you can. Prepare in bulk and roast vegetables, grill chicken and bake potatoes all at the same time whenever you can. It will save you a lot of time and effort. Also, use hacks and shortcuts if you like. It can save you a lot of time.
Nutrition Tips To Keep In Mind For Your Fitness Meal Plan Bags
Good nutrition is the key to a healthy lifestyle along with regular exercise. If you regularly train for fitness, then you must get your fitness meal box right for the best results and performance.
Never Skip the Carbs
Carbohydrates are the real fuel for the body. When you eat carbs, your body transforms them into glucose and stores them in the muscles as glycogen. Your muscles then convert this glycogen into energy as and when needed. Your body naturally stores enough glycogen form the food you eat for your daily physical activity. However, if you plan some high-intensity activity, remember to load up on carbs at least three to four hours before the workout. This way, your stomach will have enough time to empty out before the workout. At the same time, the carbs will provide enough energy supply to the body to perform at its best.
Eat a diet rich in carbs. In fact, ensure that 70% of your total calorie intake comes from the healthy carb option. This may include bread, cereals, pasta, fruits, and vegetables. However, avoid eating the sugary, processed and refined foods including the starchy foods as it speeds up the dehydration process.
In case you are into intense or long training routines, replenish on your carbs, minerals, and water. Take light snacks and fluids every 20 to 30 minutes and don’t forget to reload on carbs after high-intensity workouts. Though many trainers, athletes, and fitness freaks go with sports bars and sports drinks, fresh fruits, fresh juices, whole grain snacks, and salads are the much healthier options.
Get Enough Proteins
Proteins may not provide the energy to your body, yet, they are the real muscle builders. So, if you are working on developing strong muscles, whether lean or bulky, proteins are essential. You need around 1.2 to 1.4 grams of proteins per kg of the body. Strength training athletes may need up to 1.7 grams of proteins per kg of the body weight. Make sure your protein intake is optimal yet it should not increase this level either. This is because too much protein can put a strain on your kidneys. Moreover, eating fresh food is always preferable over processed options and supplements. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, lentils are some of the best sources of protein. They come loaded with a lot of other essential nutrients and minerals for the body.
Go Easy On Fats
Fats are slow to digest and metabolize for your body. Moreover, certain fats are quite unhealthy and accumulate into the body. Yet, not all fats are bad. In fact, some amount of fat is actually necessary for protein digestion and to provide the energy to your body when the carbohydrates sources of energy run low during longer, high intensity, physical activity sessions. The unsaturated fats in foods like fatty fish including tuna and salmon, nuts, avocado, olives, and some vegetable oils are the best kind of fat.
Drink Up a Lot
Physical activity can quickly lead to dehydration. That is why it is crucial for fitness trainees and athletes to maintain a good level of fluid intake. Fresh juices, milk, water, all are great options especially if you are in a high-temperature zone. High temperatures, as well as a high level of physical activity, makes you sweat lose fluids quickly. Drink fluids in small proportions in intervals to maintain the fluid level in your body and to keep it from dehydration. Moreover, it is preferable to drink water at room temperature rather than chilled water. This is because the body more quickly absorbs room temperature fluids. However, chilled fluids do help cool down the body. Therefore, they are important too.
Things to Look For In Fitness Meal Bags
Life is busy. We hardly get time for ourselves to let alone prepare a healthy meal for the whole family or even just for ourselves every day. Yet, we are fortunate to live in a time where there are solutions available for everything with innovation. One such product is the fitness meal plan bags and fitness meal prep backpacks. These are containers for fitness meal prepping that come either as fitness meal boxes or fitness meal cooler bags that not only store the food but also keep it fresh for longer periods of time.
These fitness meal bags are made keeping in mind a lot of factors other than food storage capacity and carrying convenience. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when buying a good fitness meal box.
Material
There are multiple options available when it comes to the material of the fitness meal boxes. These containers for fitness meal prepping come in glass, plastic, stainless steel and even silicone bags. What is best for you really depends on your personal preference and your lifestyle.
If you have minimal space in the office to keep your food, stackable plastic containers or reusable silicone bags are the best for you. If you commute on public transport then you might want to steer clear of the glass and get sturdy steel or BPA free plastic boxes. However, if you want to be able to reheat your food in the same container then a glass or BPA free plastic containers for fitness meal prepping are the best.
Size and Layout
The overall size, design, and layout of a fitness meal box play a crucial role in the choice of container. Dark colors get less dusty and the number of compartments in a box along with its size helps with portion control. The right proportion of the right kind of foods is critical for fitness meal prepping. Prepping and caring for your own food in fitness meal box will not only keep you from eating healthy junk, but it will also keep you from overeating. Plus, with multiple compartments, you can make sure that you are getting an appropriate amount of each if the nutritious yet yummy food. with multiple sections, you can pack in fats, carbs and proteins, fresh vegetables and fruits all in the same fitness meal box. Tradebone bento box for kids is an ideal choice for meal prep for young kids. These bento boxes come with 5 ideally sized compartments in a small insulated, leak-proof container for keeping the meals fresh for kids to enjoy.
Leak-proof Lids
Containers for fitness meal prepping must always have leap proof lids. This will ensure your salad dressing or your favorite dip doesn’t end up in your bag instead of your tummy. After all, nobody wants a mess created by a leaking lunch box.
Carrying Comfort
This decides the portability of the fitness meal box. This feature is especially important for fitness meal cooler bags and fitness meal prep backpacks. These innovative fitness meal bags come with comfortable handles and straps and even backpack straps for easy, hassle-free portability.
Insulation
Fitness meal boxes, bags and fitness meal prep backpack come with various levels of insulation. good outer or inner insulation lining or PEVA lining helps maintain the temperature of the food for a longer duration. It is the insulation that decides how long the food will stay fresh in a fitness meal box. Fitness meal cooler bags come with special cooler packs and great insulation to keep the food fresh for longer periods of time so that you can enjoy fresh meals every time.
Now that you know how to choose the best containers for fitness meal prepping, here are a few tips to help you pack a perfect meal.
Go the Japanese Route with Your Meal Prepping Routine
Japanese is one of the healthiest people on the planet. They enjoy the longest life expectancy of 84 years and for good reason. They eat smart and healthy meals as well as snacks. For this very reason, they are less likely to get cardiovascular illnesses and even diabetes. Moreover, only 3.6% of Japanese adults are obese. The percentage is far greater in the US with over 32% of American adults being obese. So, here are some of the healthy food habits we can adapt from the Japanese culture to improve our diet and fitness meal prep
Eat Smart
The regular Japanese food routine includes three meals along with an afternoon snack. The meals include everything in proportion from soups as a starter to carbs, proteins, fiber, fats and even desert in moderation. The afternoon snack is low calorie and in small proportion. These snacks range from rice balls to candies. However, because of the small serving size, they do not affect the total calorie intake much. They even enjoy the less healthy food options but always in moderation. This helps avoid deprivation and so the binge eating too.
Fill Up On Fish and Add Soy Protein to Your Diet
Fish is the main protein in Japanese food. The reason might be that other meats including poultry, pork, and beef are quite expensive in Japan. Still, this low-fat high anti-oxidant, vitamin, and mineral-rich lean protein is a much healthier option. Another important protein in the Japanese diet is soy. Soy helps maintain a good metabolic rate and encourages weight loss. Therefore, adding soy in your diet is also a great option.
Practice Hara Hachi Bunme
A common practice in Japanese culture is to stop eating when you are 80% full. this is one of the healthiest habits in Japanese culture. This is because when your stomach is full your brain takes around 20 minutes to register this fact and make you stop eating. Imagine the amount of excess food you are probably eating in those 20 minutes. So, minimize your chances of overeating by stop eating when you feel like you are 80% full since you are most likely already full at this stage.
Move, Literally!
Hitting the gym is not a very regular part of the Japanese lifestyle. And yet, the Japanese are far more physically active than an average American. The reason? Walking to public transport and commuting on foot is a routine in Japan. This simple daily movement makes them healthier, physically as well as mentally. So get moving. Walk, run or exercise on a regular basis and you will feel much healthier. Trust us on this one!
Drink Tea
Yes, Tea. Instead of the sugary soft drinks and packed juices, switch to freshly brewed tea. Hot or iced, however you may like it, tea is a great calorie-free, yet, delicious alternative to regular drinks. It has tons of health benefits, packed with anti-oxidants and helps with weight management too. Black tea, green tea, herbal teas infused with fruit flavors, you can try out and enjoy as many variations as you want.
Add Fermented Foods to Your Diet
Fermented foods like soy, pickled foods even yogurt are full of gut-friendly bacteria. Therefore, these foods are great for your gut healthy. They literally cleanse your digestive tract leading to a healthier gut and so a healthier you. Add fermented foods to your diet and you will be surprised by how healthy you feel. Another great benefit is that they help with weight loss too.
Start Your Meal with a Soup or Salad
Soups and salads are great appetizers. They are low calorie as long as there are no creams involved and quite filling too. Starting your meal with a light soup or salad is a great weight loss strategy or you can even replace some of your meals with a soup or salad if you are going for weight loss. Soups are far lower in calorie ratio than most solid foods and yet very satisfying and filling.
Eat Everything in Proportion
Japanese people don’t really keep a strict check on their calorie intake, yet they have a healthy balanced diet with just the right amount of carbs, proteins, fats, and fiber in every meal. They eat everything in proportion and make sure these proportions make for a perfectly healthy diet. Rice is an important part of the Japanese diet and yet they seldom have blood sugar problems. The reason is again the portion control along with other slow to digest foods they take with the rice. Their servings are small and always come with loads of fiber, protein, and fat rich seafood. So, focus on portion control along with balancing the right amount of each of the macronutrients for a healthy diet.
These things work for real. A balanced diet is always the key to a healthy fitness meal box. Therefore, when you are prepping for your fitness meal cooler bags always make sure to include all the macronutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, and fiber in the right proportion. Taste is definitely the key. If you compromise on tastes in your fitness meal bag you will be bored within a few days. Once you have jumped this fitness meal box bandwagon, make sure you stick to it by trying out a variety of foods. Make your fitness meal bags healthy yet delicious. Add some dips and sauces preferably homemade or organic to make the meals enticing. Moreover, don’t forget to add some sweet treats so that you always look forward to your fitness meal backpack.
