Packing your lunch during the morning rush is a major pain for the majority of people.

Prepping food the night before means that you get to spend an extra 10 minutes in bed in the morning and it will also help you to stay on track with your healthy eating plan, as you’ll be less likely to snack on foods that are high in sugar and fat. When you start out, don’t try and think ahead for your entire weekly menu plan. This will just overwhelm you.

For your first week, prep a couple of meals the night before so you begin to get used to it. Once you start, you’ll begin to find the whole process quick and easy. The options are endless when it comes to prepping food on time. A little bit of creativity can go a long way.

Here are five easy lunch and snack ideas to help you out while prepping the night before. Pick one or two and work from there. Remember, a little food prep is better than no food prep.

Lunches

  • Wholegrain wrap with rocket or mixed lettuce, two slices of lean chicken breast, a tablespoon of reduced-fat feta cheese, four cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of wholegrain mustard. Wrap it up in tin foil for the next day.
  • Penne pasta with a small amount of chunky tomato sauce e.g. Ballymaloe. Add chopped onions, mushrooms and olives when cooking the sauce and don’t forget your basil. If you feel like some extra protein, try some lean turkey pieces. Delicious hot or cold.
  • Egg, tuna and spinach salad. The easiest way to prep your egg is to mix it in a bowl and microwave it for no more than two minutes. This reduces mess and speeds up your prepping time. Add some ground pepper and chopped cherry tomatoes for that extra flavour. It’ll come out looking like a mini omelette. Add a small tin of tuna and some spinach to create a healthy, heavenly salad.

    • Snacks

  • Peanut butter and banana smoothie: This is a perfect on-the-go snack. Blend one banana, two tablespoons of peanut butter, one cup of almond milk and a few cubes of ice. If you need an extra energy boost, add a scoop of your favourite protein powder; I like strawberry or vanilla.
  • Fruit and yoghurt: The easiest snack you could make. Keep the fruit separate to the yoghurt in a different container until you’re ready to eat it. Add some oats and seeds for that extra crunch.