Pros & Cons of Meal Prepping in Eating Disorder & Disordered Eating Recovery

When you are recovering from an eating disorder or an unhealthy relationship with food, certain food behaviors may affect your recovery. Meal prepping is an amazing tool to ensure your body gets what it needs and saves money. There might be a downside if you have the need to be in control, and knowledgeable in the ingredients of food and macros to create a sense of safety.  The process of recovery in regards to the relationship to food looks different for everyone.  High-quality food is important for your wellbeing, especially nutrient-density foods. So what are the pros and cons of meal prepping in recovery? Is meal prepping a right fit for you?

Pros of meal prep:

• Save time and energy

• Save money and budget-friendly

• Having healthy food available

• More nutrient-density foods in the diet

• Awareness of ingredients in your food

• Ensuring  that your nutrient needs covered

• Less decision to make decisions around food times

Cons of meal prep:

• Awareness of macronutrients ( fats, carbohydrates, and proteins) & calories

• Heightened levels of stress around food

• Enforces  rigid food rules  like types of food and portion 

• Obsession over ingredients quality and source.

If there is something I haven’t mentioned in the list above,  what is it? If you feel called to explore how you view meal prep, make your own list of pros and cons.  

How do you know if meal prep is right for you? 

These are the signs  meal prep is fit for you:

• The list of pros outweighs the cons 

• You feel ready to tackle the cons as challenges

• You find yourself at a good place when approaching food

• You are in sync with your body’s cues and nutritional needs.

If you have any questions, reach out to me at @embracing_wellbeing on Instagram or click on the contact me  via email at sarah@embracingwellbeing.com

If you are interested in booking a free health history consultation, click on this link.