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Cooking food ahead of time and meal prepping has become a diet fad that's all the rage, and for good reason. According to a study from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, spending more time preparing food makes people more likely to turn to healthier ingredients, like fruits and vegetables. In search of some plan-ahead meal inspiration? Look no further. We rounded up 6 make-ahead meals to help you lose 6 pounds.
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Don't have time to make breakfast in the morning? No problem. Make it the night before. Whip up a batch of overnight oats in a mason jar and let it refrigerate while you get your beauty sleep. You can pack it for work and enjoy it at your desk. Problem solved, and no more excuses for skipping the most important meal of the day. Check out this easy overnight oats recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Stock up on mason jars because you can also use them to prepare salads for lunchtime. With any mason jar meal, you can really go to town with whatever ingredients you want, and experiment with different variations. You'll never get tired of eating or preparing these since you have endless combinations. Check out this healthy mason jar salad recipe from Damn Delicious.
Wraps make another make-ahead meal that are perfect for weight loss if you add the right ingredients. It's super easy to make wraps ahead of time and save any leftovers for the upcoming week. Try to stick with whole-weat tortillas. Check out this yummy apple, peanut butter, and granola wrap recipe from Two Healthy Kitchens.
Any chicken, rice, and veggie meal can last you for days, and it doesn't take a long time to prepare. Hunker down on Sunday night to cook this combo, using your choice of your favorite veggies, and you're set for lunch for the rest of the week. Think about all that free time you'll have! Check out this sesame chicken, broccoli, and rice recipe from Sweat Peas and Saffron.
Soups hit the make-ahead meal jackpot. They don't take much time to prepare, they freeze easily and still stay fresh, and they give you that warm, full, cozy feeling. Check out this hearty quinoa and mushroom soup recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod.
Even though it takes a little longer to prepare, chili makes another filling make-ahead meal that lasts for days at a time. Check out this slow-cooker chili recipe from Aberdeen's Kitchen. Even though it takes almost 4 hours to cook, you only have to throw the ingredients in a crockpot and carry on with the rest of your day. Easy enough! Plus, it's totally worth it when you don't have to cook the rest of the week.
