I have often cooked enough food for six when there are only three in our house…. My plan to make life easier on a later day when we can simply reheat ready home cooked meal. I never really thought that much about it until it hit me one day the relief I felt not having to cook from scratch when I was particularly tired after a long day’s work. 

Over the last few years meal planning home delivery kits have become a popular choice to ensure good nutrition without sucking all our energy out by having to plan then shop before preparing and then cooking. In our busy world this is a great solution… and when we weigh up the cost vs time it may be a good solution. Another method gaining popularity since COVID times is meal prep. 

We often think of meal prep as something purely practical containers lined up on the kitchen bench, neatly filled with rice, vegetables, and protein, ready to be grabbed through the week. It can seem like a chore, another task on an already long to-do list. But what if we reframed meal prep, not as an obligation, but as a form of self-nourishment? 

Because meal prep isn’t only about feeding your body—it can also feed our mind. 

The Mental Benefits of Planning Ahead 

When life feels busy or overwhelming, food can easily become reactive. We grab what’s closest, skip meals, or reach for something quick that doesn’t always leave us feeling our best. While there’s no shame in those choices—sometimes they’re necessary—living in that cycle long-term can feel draining. 

This is where intentional meal prep can bring relief. Knowing there’s something nourishing already waiting for you reduces decision fatigue, the mental load of constant “What’s for dinner?” questions, and the stress of last-minute choices. It creates breathing space, offering calm in moments when life is otherwise chaotic. 

A Small Investment with a Big Return 

 Meal prep doesn’t have to mean cooking for hours on a Sunday and eating the same dish all week. It can be as simple as chopping vegetables for quicker dinners, cooking an extra portion to store away, or keeping healthy snacks within easy reach. These small acts of care add up. 

 Each time you open the fridge and see something ready to go, you’re giving your future self a gentle reminder: You matter. I thought of you. I cared enough to make sure you’d be nourished. That little act of foresight can reduce anxiety, ease guilt, and help regulate mood—because hunger and stress are deeply linked. 

Meal Prep as Self-Compassion 

Often, we talk about self-care in terms of rest or relaxation. Meal prep is another powerful form of self-care—it’s practical, grounding, and future-focused. Preparing food for yourself (and perhaps for those you love) is a quiet declaration: I deserve to feel nourished and supported. 

And on days when life feels heavy, having something prepared can feel like a small act of kindness waiting for you in the fridge. 

Nourishment, Not Perfection 

It’s important to remember that meal prep isn’t about perfection or rigid control. It’s not about flawless containers or elaborate recipes unless that brings you joy. It’s about creating space for nourishment, easing the mental load, and allowing your body and mind to feel supported.  

Some weeks, meal prep might look like a few pre-cut vegetables. Other weeks, it might be a freezer full of home-cooked meals. Both are valid. Both are nourishment.  

A Gentle Invitation 

If you’ve ever felt that meal prep is too hard, too time-consuming, or too structured, consider softening the definition. Start small—choose one meal you’d like to prepare in advance and let it be an experiment in self-kindness. Notice how it feels, not just in your body, but in your mind. My go to for this is vegetable lasagne.  

Because in the end, meal prep isn’t only about food—it’s about creating more ease, more steadiness, and more moments of feeling cared for. And that, perhaps, is the greatest nourishment of all.