Why Meal Prepping Made Me Lose Interest in Food—and What I Do Instead

Have you ever scrolled through TikTok and seen those meal-prepping videos? These content creators boast about making their weeks infinitely easier by preparing these meals, and it feels satisfying to watch, right? Honestly, I thought it would feel even better when I tried it myself. Initially, it was enjoyable and convenient. But soon after, grabbing the same breakfast from the fridge got old.

Why Meal Prepping Isn’t For Me

When I started meal prepping, my goal was to have healthy food readily available. My first move was to cut back on fast food and cook at home more often.

I must say, meal prep does come with its perks. For one, I started eating more veggies. Research suggests that prepping your meals makes it easier to build a balanced plate compared to what you usually get from takeout.

Another bonus? I’ve saved both money and time. All it takes is setting aside a day or two to prep, and after that, you just reheat and dig in when it’s time to eat.

When Meal Prepping Starts to Feel Like a Punishment

What started as a well-intentioned journey toward healthy eating slowly became dreadful. I realized my relationship with food was suffering, and it boiled down to the following reasons:

The Food Monotony

Cooking was my form of creativity and expression, then one day, it felt like a chore. You know that feeling when you open the fridge for lunch and see the same broccoli you had yesterday and the day before that? This repetition stripped the joy from eating. Instead of getting excited about what to eat next, I’d just think, “Great, it’s the same thing again.” It just made me crave something different even more.

The Weekend Exhaustion

Meal prepping takes up a big chunk of my weekend — a time I’d rather spend relaxing or hanging out with my loved ones. The actual process entails planning meals, creating a shopping list, heading to the store, washing and preparing all the ingredients, and then cooking and storing. When you think you’re done, the dishes are waiting for you. Before I knew it, my whole Sunday was gone, and I was already wiped out before the week even started.

The Unrealistic Expectations

Social media is full of perfectly prepped meals. Sometimes, every scroll can make you wonder, “Why can’t my meals look that good?” The more I scrolled, the more I began feeling like I was falling short when it came to being healthy and organized. I put way too much pressure on myself to match those picture-perfect posts.

How I Found Joy in Food Again

Since meal prepping wasn’t really for me, I experimented with different strategies to find what helped me eat healthy, save money and enjoy eating meals again. Here are some that worked for me.

1.   Doing Component Cooking

Instead of batch-cooking meals, I prefer to prep the ingredients. Also known as component cooking, this approach allows me to mix and match different ingredients throughout the week, keeping meals interesting and helping to avoid midweek food boredom.

What I do is I cook one versatile grain, such as brown rice or quinoa, roast a few veggies that go well together and make a simple protein, like roasted chicken or hard-boiled eggs. I also make sure to have sauces, crunchy nuts, fresh herbs and dressings to keep things exciting.

2.   Playing Around With New Ingredients

Every week, I try to explore new ingredients. It’s a simple way to explore new flavors and boost my nutritional intake. For instance, if you’re having a salad or yogurt, try tossing in a handful of blueberries. They’re packed with nutrients — one cup provides about 24% of your daily value of vitamin K. Plus, they’re great for the heart.

Making scrambled eggs? Throw in some spinach. Heating a bowl of soup? Add frozen corn and peas. These little tweaks are a fun way to see what new combos you’ll discover.

3.   Eating More Greens

Did you know that your body needs around 400 grams of fruits and vegetables daily? I used to be a picky eater, but finding little ways to sneak them in has changed my eating habits. It doesn’t have to be fresh produce — dried, canned or frozen all count, too.

Now, I add fruits and veggies to foods I already love. For example, even though I dislike zucchini, mixing it with pasta tastes divine. Oats are another go-to for me — they’re perfect for tossing in whatever ingredient you have on hand.

4.   Giving Myself Grace

This journey showed me that a “successful” week of eating isn’t about sticking to your plan 100% of the time. It’s more about feeling nourished and at peace with my food choices. Sometimes, I crave something warm and comforting instead of what’s already in the fridge. I’ve learned not to beat myself up about it. Listening to your body matters, especially if you know it’ll make you feel good.

I also try not to pressure myself to cook a meal when I’m tired. There are days when I still order delivery, and you know what? That’s perfectly fine, as long as I know I’ll get back on track the next day. It’s about progress, not perfection.

Make Peace With Your Plate

The best kind of meal prep is one that works for your lifestyle, schedule and family. You don’t have to force meal prep if it’s starting to feel like a chore. I’ve been there, and it took me a while to find a way that feels right for me. I hope you find a sustainable method that prioritizes both nourishment and joy, just like I did.

// Mia Barnes, Editor-in-Chief at Body+Mind