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Ten Meal Prep Tips For The Traveling Athlete: Featuring IPL Pros Sunny Miller & James Niezen

“I learned the value of meal prep through my three competitions last year and the results I got just by following my meal plan and the foods I prepped.”

In this special feature, we tackle one of the hottest topics in our sport. With all of the competition traveling… be it on a flight across the country, a drive to the next town over, or even just for a full day at a local event… how do you get your meal prep on??? Two IPL Pro Champions clean up the confusion…

#1 CHOOSE YOUR 3 OR 5 DAY OUT WEEKLY MEAL PREP.

Plan your day of the week to set aside 2 hours to cook for the week ahead. Depending on your schedule you can be more specific with which meals and snacks to have prepped for certain days that may be busier, shorter or longer than usual. I chose to prep 5 days out.

#2 MAKE A LIST.

Grocery shopping now made EASY! Now you walk in and visit the meats, produce and 1-2 additional isles, and you’re done. I save lots of money each month and my grocery store experience is no longer wandering around the perimeter of the store and up-n-down each isle wasting time and money on stuff that has nothing to do with getting me closer to my goals.

#3 DON’T FORGET YOUR MICRONUTRIENTS.

Your vitamins and trace minerals that are crucial in your body’s cellular functions. Skin, hair, brain, nervous system, muscles, bones, our whole body needs the iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, vitamin A…all of them. Daily consumption of micro and macronutrients will help protect our cells’ health and healthy replication. It’s important to get these nutrients into our body everyday as we face and battle the toxins in the air, water, food and from exercise.

#4 REUSABLE MEAL PREP CONTAINERS THAT ARE MICROWAVE-SAFE AND BPA FREE.

I suggest buying different sizes: meal size and snack size containers. Also look for meal prep travel cases that make it easy to store, travel and stick to the meal plan while keeping the food safe and consumable after removing from fridge. I have 15 containers I found at Walmart. You can look on Amazon too for the meal prep cases. Costco also carries containers.

#5 MEAL PREP THIEVES.

Be sure to inform the household that you’re meal prepping and if anyone wants in, speak now or don’t eat my MEAL PREP! Lol Spouses or kids are known to grab the convenient packed meal and run. Yes, while we may smile that they are enjoying something healthy, it’s part of your meal plan, not theirs. Just be prepared to find missing containers hahahahaha.

#6 KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR DESTINATION.

Do you have a kitchenette or not? Fridge or mini bar? Microwave? This can make the difference on what you bring and how you will complete the final food prep for consumption.

#7 PRE-MEASURE OR WEIGH EVERYTHING.

Since traveling space is at a premium, no point carrying extra. You have come this far through the prep, it now comes down to the final days, and everything counts.

#8 PRE-COOK YOUR MEALS.

This simplifies the entire process. You are in the ‘Peak Week’ stage, and likely carb deficient. Not the best time to do fine tuning of your nutrition plan. Have it sorted out before hand.

#9 VACUUM-PACK YOUR MEALS.

Consider investing in one of these handy devices. Vacuum-packing makes the food take up the least amount of space and you have no containers to cart around or to clean up.

#10 FREEZE YOUR MEALS.

Frozen, vacuum-packed meals, stored together will remain frozen for pretty much any unexpected travel plans ensuring that the food remains safe. No one wants to get sick, especially at this critical point.

So, there you have it, gang! Tips, straight from the top! Travel safe, and keep that nutrition on point!

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