Whether it is losing weight or gaining muscles, meal preparation can be beneficial in more ways than one. It gives you the complete control to customize your meals depending on your body’s requirements and personal preferences. With this, you will also need to invest in the right container, providing your food with a safe storage space.
What are the best meal-prep containers that are available in the market today? If you are wondering about the answer, we got you covered in the rest of this post. We will list down some of the most important things that you need to consider, as well as the top products that can provide the best value for your money.
Benefits of Meal Preparation
Before anything else, let u first talk about some of the reasons why meal preparation can be a good thing. Here are some of the things that can convince you to give it a shot:
- It Is Good for the Health: One of the best things about meal prepping is that you can eat heathy meals anywhere, even in the office. You do not have to settle with food laden with MSG and other artificial flavorings. You can prepare your own meal and eat in on the go. You will have complete control on what goes into your food
- Eat the Right Portions: Another good thing about meal preparation is that you will learn the art of controlling your food. Whether your goal is to lose weight or build muscle, preparing your meals in advance will allow you to eat the right measurements based on what your body needs.
- Save Money: Let us say that you have a corporate job five days in a week. A big chunk of your budget will most probably go to food. Buying lunch outside can be expensive. With this, meal prepping can be better.
- Save Time: More than being able to save money, you can also save a lot of your time with meal preparation. You can do it during the weekend. You can store your meals in the fridge and just reheat them when you are ready to eat. This is perfect for people who often have busy schedules.
Choosing the Best Meal Prep Containers
To help you narrow down the options that are available, here are some of the most important factors to consider:
- Lid: One of the most important parts of the container is the lid. Make sure that it is air-tight and leak-proof. This will prevent mess in your bag, especially if you are preparing foods with sauces.
- Compartments: A good meal-prep container must contain two to three compartments. The latter will make it easy to divide your foods and separate them on portions based on what you require.
- Materials: Plastic, glass, and stainless steel are some of the most common materials for food prep containers. Plastic is highly-recommended because they are lightweight and portable.
- Size: The right size all boils down to a matter of personal preference. You need a larger one if you eat more or if you prefer food items that are bulky. For portability, however, choose those that are small but make sure that there is enough space for your food.
- No Chemicals: See to it as well that you will choose meal-prep containers that are made from non-toxic materials. It should be free from BPA and lead, among other toxic components that could possibly contaminate your food.
- Satisfaction Guarantee: What if the manufacturer fails to deliver its promise? What if you are unhappy in your purchase? You must be able to return the product and the manufacturer must provide you with an unconditional refund.
Tips for Meal Preparation
Having the right container for meal preparation is just one of the key components for success. Below are other important tips that you have to keep in mind:
- One of the most important things is to know your goal. Are you interested in losing weight? Do you want to build muscles? Is there any health problem that you would like to address? By being clear with these things, you can easily decide on what meals to prepare ahead of time.
- Set a time wherein you will prepare your food. Ideally, it should be a Saturday or Sunday, especially if you have a job during the weekdays. Cook all the foods at one so that you can save time.
- Make sure that it is freezer-friendly. Search for recipes that will not easily spoil. Remember, you are preparing meals ahead of time, so it must not be easily perishable.
- Plan a well-balanced meal. Make sure that you have the sources of the essential nutrients that your body needs. Opt for one source of protein, one of health carbs, and one fiber. It must provide you with the energy that you need without causing a rise in your blood sugar.
- Do not be afraid to experiment. If you go online, you will see tons of videos and tutorials for meal preparation. Your food does not have to be boring. In the same way, it does not need to be junk. There are many ways to add flavor in a way that is natural and healthy.
The short video below will give you an idea on how to prepare meals in advance, especially if your goal is to lose weight:
Top Picks for the Best Meal-Prep Containers
If you have no idea on which product will make the best choice, this section will provide the enlightenment that you need. We will discuss some of the best options that are available in the market, as well as a few things that make them notable.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-01-21 at 05:46 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- SAFETY AS PRIORITY: Our meal prep containers are made in the USA, use safe plastic materials. Made with only approved materials, our food storage prep containers with lids are food safe and environmentally sustainable.
- FULLY REUSABLE: From FREEZER to MICROWAVE (no lid) to DISHWASHER. Air tight, leak resistant, with a higher lifecycle than those made my many of our competitors. Our plastic food containers with lids can withstand day to day grind.
- COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT & STACKABLE: Perfect for meal prep bags and packing portion controlled meals to go!
- SINGLE COMPARTMENT: Our 1 compartment containers make meal prepping versatile. Easily adjust macro portions throughout your entire meal prep diet with our Evolutionize meal prep container set.
- 5 STAR EXPERIENCE GUARANTEE: We know mistakes happen. If you aren’t 100% satisfied, or there’s any issues at all with your order, just contact us!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-01-21 at 20:47 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ▲ FAST AND EASY SOLUTION FOR: Meal prep, portion control, diet, fitness and nutrition, and much more! This 20-pack of complete(20 sets, tops and containers) bento boxes are leak resistant, convenient, and made of the highest quality BPA-free plastics. Prepare meals for your busy week and use these affordable, stackable containers for a reusable smart lunch box for all your food preparation needs!
- ▲ MICROWAVE AND DISHWASHER SAFE AND BPA FREE: Certified and tested in a lab as being food safe materials! Our meal prep containers are constructed of the best materials possible!
- ▲ TAKE YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EVERYWHERE: Sturdy and conveniently sized, you can take your food storage containers in your for pre-portioned meals to ensure that your health is a priority, wherever you are. A necessary staple for your 6-pack bag, 21 day fix, clean body cleansing and bodybuilding show preparation.
- ▲ SAVE TIME, MONEY, AND SPACE: Reusable and strong enough to be dishwasher safe, affordable enough to dispose of during your busy day. These meal prep containers are also stackable! With these conveniently sized (9.75" x 7.75" x 2") portion control containers, you will save space in your fridge and clear worries from your mind. Nothing's easier than MiscHome's 39 oz meal prep bento box!
- ▲ 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: Misc Home sells the best quality products at the best price and we guarantee it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-01-21 at 20:47 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- IDEAL FOR MEAL PREP AND PORTION CONTROL - Many food storage containers may look similar but they won't match the Fitpacker quality. Each container is the perfect size to manage your portions and help you to a healthy diet.
- MADE IN THE USA - Safety should be a priority when it comes to food storage. Our industry approved plastic containers are certified BPA free and free of phthalates or any toxins.
- FULLY REUSABLE - From FREEZER to MICROWAVE (no lid) to DISHWASHER, makes your meal prep easy so you can focus on what is important - enjoying your food.
- CONVENIENT - Patented SureLock seal clicks into a close for leak resistance and fit perfectly in our Fitpacker Bags. These containers can also stack and nest together for space saving storage.
- HAPPY CUSTOMERS - 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back. Our customer reviews speak for themselves and assure you your complete satisfaction.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-01-21 at 20:47 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- €Product packaging€-3 meal prep containers, 7 packages with colorful lids. 7 colorfully prepared meal preparation containers can make your food unique and make your day colorful!
- €Diet control€-Stackable and reusable bento lunch boxes, meal preparation containers with 3 compartments can be nested together when not in use to save space. Great for partially controlled or special diets
- €Multipurpose lunch box€-Microwave, dishwasher, freezer, BPA-free food container; lunch box is safe for your health. Safe to use in microwaves, dishwashers, and freezers.
- €Well closed€-Meal containers are designed with children-friendly lids that are easy to open, but avoid liquid or runny food. Food containers with different colored lids will make your life healthy and colorful.
- €Wide range of uses€-Multi-purpose lunch boxes, these 3 compartments for meal preparation containers are perfect for various uses, bento boxes, food storage boxes.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-01-21 at 05:46 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ✅ SAVE TIME & MONEY: 21-Pack of Bento Boxes features 3 compartments in one container. Each meal prep container can store a total of 24oz (12-6-6 oz) which are the perfectly portion controlled to stay full, yet fit and healthy!
- ✅ HEALTHY MEAL EVERYWHERE: Featuring food storage containers with portion control to help keep your meal prep plan and lose weight. These plastic containers can also be used as school lunch box or last night’s dinner.
- ✅ PREMIUM QUALITY & DESIGN: Most meal prep containers don’t last for a long time. They crack after a few uses or melt in microwave. Not Freshware, our heavy duty lunch containers are built to be more strong and reusable than our competitors.
- ✅ MICROWAVE, DISHWASHER AND FREEZER SAFE: Made of the highest quality food safe materials, these bento box can withstand temperatures from -40C to +120C (-40F to 250F) - so enjoy without worry about harmful chemicals leaking into your food.
- ✅ SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: Freshware food containers are meant to help you eat healthier and save money by cooking at home. In the unlikely case that your containers are not perfect for you, just send them back for a full refund or replacement!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-01-21 at 05:46 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
With the best meal-prep containers, it is easier for you to transition into a healthier lifestyle. You can create meals in advance and have them portioned according to the size that is desired. Best of all, you can put them in the freezer or microwave.
From the five products that have been mentioned above, if there is one that I can personally recommend, it would be Evolutionize LIFT Certified BPA-Free Reusable Microwavable Meal-Prep Containers with Lids. It has an affordable price, making it perfect for budget-conscious buyers.