My secret to non-boring weeknight meals

Meal prep — but make it *actually* fun!

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Today's Ingredients Hello, friends! Tim's been away on PTO, so I'm filling in for a few days. It's been a while since the last time I wrote to you, but I'm always reading your emails about what you want to see more of in this newsletter. You can absolutely expect more Q&As with our roster of dietitians, original recipes, and nutrition tips for chronic conditions, specialty diets, and other considerations. I'm excited to see how the team serves up future Nutrition Edition newsletters. Today, I want to talk to you a bit about my past, particularly my relationship to meal prep and how I think you can make this healthy activity much more fun every week! But first, here are some new stories you should check out:   • So, how do weight loss supplements actually work?   • 16 delicious high protein foods   • 13 best iron supplements of 2023, according to dietitians Thank you for being here! Kenny Thapoung Managing Newsletter Editor, Healthline   Written by Kenny Thapoung October 31, 2023 • 5 min read Main Course My secret ingredient to exciting meal prep It was around 2014 when I got super into big-batch food planning. Mason jar salads, large pots of quinoa, sheet pan vegetable and chicken roasts –– you name the trend, I probably tried it. My typical weekly meal prep consisted of batches of rice, roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and chicken (thighs over breasts every day). This went on for years. I switched up the main ingredients every so often, but eventually I got bored of the same old flavors and eating stopped being exciting for me. So, what re-sparked my flame? It wasn't until the pandemic that I found new meal prep inspiration within cookbooks to plan out my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Sure, there are endless recipes on the internet, but what I appreciate about cookbooks is that they're carefully curated collections of meals that the author rigorously tested before ultimately deciding to share them with us. So while I was stuck at home, I hung out in my kitchen trying delicious-looking recipes from my various cookbooks. I experimented with unfamiliar ingredients, discovered new combinations of flavors, and expanded my meal prep menu. How I use cookbooks for meal prepping. Each book has some form of a "pantry essentials" chapter that lists the ingredients that pop up frequently throughout the book. This section helps me figure out what I already have and what I'll need to buy. It also acts as a "key" to keep in the back of my head as I sift through recipes. Oftentimes, several recipes use identical ingredients with a small handful of specialty items. With that in mind, I pick similar recipes that I can cook throughout the week instead of just one or two. It's rare that I find myself eating the same thing for more than 2 days. My top picks for you. I own 28 cookbooks and have made about 10–12 recipes from each one. Those sound like small numbers … because they are! There are hundreds of recipes I haven't tried yet. That's why every Sunday, I flip through them to see what else I can cook. The most important thing is that you're finding ways to cook that fit your lifestyle and needs. If you're looking to get a bit more creative with your weekly meal prep, here are some of my favorite cookbooks that I turn to regularly for flavor-packed ideas that you might like too:   • "The Woks of Life Cookbook" by Bill Leung, Judy Leung, Sarah Leung, and Kaitlin Leung   • "Dinner" by Melissa Clark   • "Night + Market" by Kris Yenbamroong   • "Vietnamese Food Any Day" by Andrea Nguyen Tell us: Do you have any favorite cookbook or meal prep hacks you love to use? Email me your recommendations, and I'll respond when I can! Great finds Standing ovation       Norpro Acrylic Cookbook Holder There are a ton of cookbook stands on Amazon. But what's special about this option is that it has a tall front part that protects most of your book (depending on its size) from splashes and staining. Plus, the clear, easy-to-clean design lets the cover –– ideally, a picturesque meal –– serve as a piece of kitchen art to inspire hunger. It'll be extremely hard to find a stand that fully covers every cookbook, but to me, the signs of a genuinely good cookbook are dirty-ish pages. Shop now Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health.       the takeout What we're digesting 🥗 How one person dropped the junk food and got serious with an MS-friendly diet. As it turns out, raw cookie dough is bad for you. 🥛 The benefits — and side effects — of drinking Muscle Milk. I just bought a new tub of their Cookies 'n Creme flavor, so I'm personally invested in this story! 🥃 Does alcohol thin your blood? Some common questions about alcohol and its effects on your body, answered. 🚽 The best pooping position for constipation. It's the information you didn't know you needed. It's been great writing to you again! Any and all feedback is always appreciated, so keep your emails coming. I'll be back on Thursday to talk about my favorite grocery store staple that my co-workers are sick of hearing me talk about in Slack. Until next time, Take care of yourself, and we'll see you again soon!   This edition was powered by many, many food storage containers.

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