I Suck at Meal Prepping (But When I Don’t, I Feel Like a Superhuman)

Meal prepping is one of those things I want to be good at.

I love the idea of it: organized containers, balanced meals, future-me saying, “Look, I thought of you.” But the reality? Not so graceful.

I chop veggies on Sunday, store everything properly, and by Tuesday my spinach is already a soggy mess. Strawberries turn on me overnight. Even rice dries out like it’s been abandoned for weeks. Then there’s the boredom. I can eat the same thing multiple times in a week, but not in a row. Meal prep doesn’t account for my cravings

or my unpredictable mood.

And prepping takes forever. I’ll start full of ambition, podcast playing, ingredients spread out—and suddenly it’s dark outside, I’m exhausted, and all I’ve done is fill six containers with the same meal I’m now sick of looking at.

So yeah, I kind of suck at meal prepping.

But when I get it right? I feel unstoppable.

There’s something about opening the fridge after a long day and seeing a meal waiting for me: healthy, filling, made with intention, that grounds me. It fuels me for long days, hard workouts, and late-night studying. It makes me feel cared for, and capable.

Still, sometimes convenience wins. After a shift at In-N-Out, nothing feels easier than grabbing a burger. It’s warm, fast, comforting, and honestly, sometimes that’s what I need. But it’s different. That burger fills me. A prepped meal fuels me.

I’m learning that meal prep doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Some weeks I go all in. Other weeks, I’m just proud I remembered to cook rice. And sometimes I don't prep at all and end up with a cheeseburger in my lap and no regrets.

But I keep coming back to it, not for perfection, but for the days it helps me feel strong, steady, and ready for whatever’s next.

Because when I get it right, I don’t just eat better.

I move better. Think better. Live better.