Hangry in Maine

Confession: for most of my adult life, meal prep has sounded about as appealing as chewing on a flip-flop. Bland chicken. Sad steamed broccoli. Dry brown rice. A week’s worth of Tupperware containers starting at me from the fridge like, “you signed up for this, bitch.”

No thank you–not the vibe I’m looking for.

About a year ago, I started working with a dietician, mainly to figure out how to balance my plates and actually eat enough protein without wanting to cry. I’m not a big meat eater, I don’t eat a ton of volume at once, and honestly? Left to my devices, I’d just skip meals entirely some nights. (Shout out to past me who thought “coffee and anxiety” counted as dinner. She was not thriving.)

Here’s the thing, meal prepping has actually saved my sanity. And no, not the miserable “chicken and rice in a container” kind. I spend a few hours on Sundays prepping ingredients–a marinade here, a roasted veggie there, a grain or two, some chopped veggies, maybe some focaccia. All so I can mix and match during the week. It’s like building my own adult Lunchables, but without the shame and stale cardboard flavor.

And it works. I don’t come home at 6pm ready to rage eat a clock of cheddar and some crackers for dinner. I can throw something together in ten to fifteen minutes and actually it my nutrition goals without sacrificing flavor or my will to live.

Breakfast? I always prep one grab and go option for the week. High protein egg bites, overnight oats, breakfast sando, protein muffin, pancake bake…something I can literally grab & eat while half asleep with one hand while the other hand is holding an iced coffee. I don’t need variety at 7am–I need caffeine and something edible, so I don’t shart myself at the office.

So, welcome to my new series: Not Your Basic Meal Prep. It’s meal prep with flavor and personality. Food that’s actually fun to eat, keep you full, and won’t make you cry into your Tupperware.

We’re kicking things off with a Greek yogurt marinade for chicken. It’s juicy, tangy, protein-packed, versatile, and definitely NOT boring. Trust me, this chicken will taste like a reward, not a punishment.

Stay tuned for more, because honestly, if we’re going to put in the effort to meal prep, it’s going to be worth it.