I used to be a Tupperware Wanker

It's 1998 I'm 17 and Its a Sunday night, around 9pm. I've got all 4 stoves on the go. Pasta in one, rice in another. I'm boiling chicken in the 3rd and last but not least eggs in the last.

All the while I'm chopping up veg ready to place into Tupperware. I've got countless containers on the side of various sizes all ready to be filled with the week's food. Some will be put in the freezer for later that week, the others will be in the fridge for the next few days.

Most nights I didn't finish until after 10pm, with start time of 7pm. This used to be a weekly thing. Every Sunday I'd start my meal prep for the week.

I was wanting to put on some serious size as quick as I could. I was keen and eager to get there in the quickest time possible. Why meal prepping and Tupperware? Well......a huge guy in the gym I went to suggested I meal prep for the week to ensure I ate clean (I mean what the fuck does eat clean mean anyway?). He was huge so obviously, I listened and started that week.

If you don't know what meal prepping is its basically cooking all your meals for the week on a particular day ready to be eaten whenever.

This weekly Sunday night meal prep lasted for a long time, I couldn't tell you how long but it felt like years. Did it work? Err. maybe. But at what cost? 3 hours every week for at least 48 months of the year = 144 hours. 6 whole days a year prepping meals.

WTF!!!!!!!

Don't get me started on the amount of time I've spent looking for the god damn correct lid. It has to be at least another days worth of time in a year looking for lids. Why do you always have that one container that doesn't have a lid that fits?

I used to be one of those people at lunch who never ate out. When my friends/colleagues asked if I wanted to go for lunch I'd say no thanks I've brought my own. Then I'd reach into my bag and pull out some random Tupperware that stank the whole room out!

I was a Tupperware WANKER! 

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Yep I was one of those self-righteous A-Holes.

The ones that look like they have a subscription to Tupperware weekly. Always ready to eat clean and have no fun. Always ready to sell the Tupperware dream.

I'd promote preparing your own meals to friends and family. Relentless in my quest I'd even make more than I needed for my friends to taste the goodness of soggy leftover food.

You must know someone like this? Maybe you are this person?

A friend you meet for lunch.

A work colleague.

Your training partner.

The ones that stink the whole office out with fish or eggs. If they're a long time user of the Tup-of-the-ware they'll probably have a stained container with what looks like shite ingrained in the plastic.

These people don't care about your nostrils. They open their containers with glee and smile on their face. They feel like I did, self-righteous and proud that they're eating food they've prepared at home. Rather than leaving you to your shop bought sandwich they bring one of their smelly left over foods to show you how great a cook they are. 

"Its left over chilli from last night. Look it looks yummy. Want to try some?"

They're everywhere. Ever egar to show off their container and explain how strict they are cooking for 6 hours every Sunday.

Look if you're one of those people that don't mind doing the weekly prep high five and chest bump to you. I take my hat off to you but I'm not one of them and neither is the rest of the world.

It doesn't have to be this way. You can eat pretty healthly without the need of cooking food the night before.

I no longer cook food for the week. It bores the hell out of me. I couldn't think of anything worse than wasting my weekend sat in the kitchen cooking food. I'd rather be catching up on Netflix. Off the subject you've got to try iZombie on Netflix its awesome!

I don't care what you say but food rewarmed doesn't taste as good either. And warmed up in plastic just gives it a twang you can't put your taste buds on.

Life is waaaaay to short to live your life in a Tupperware. There is a place for meal preparation but it certainly shouldn't consume your life. You can eat out pretty well if you stick to certain food choices. I do everyday and I think I'm doing ok. 

Rather than live your life by the Tupperware try these guidelines for eating out

  1. Aim for places that have a decent menu of meals - Some supermarkets, coffee shops carry some yummy meals you can choose from. My favourite is Pret-a-manger, just be careful about the calories in some of the foods there. It may be natural and handmade but that doesn't mean you won't be eating a meal thats 700kcal. Think about preplanning your lunch by checking out the company's website. Big name coffee shops for example usually have all the nutritional content of their food somewhere on their site.

  2. Check food labels - You're after a meal with plenty of protein, moderate carbohydrates and fat. Aim for meals with lots of wholegrains and vegetables. If it says low fat its usually high in sugar so check that too.

  3. Pick foods high in protein - Many foods in supermarkets are high in fat and sugar and low in protein. So when picking someting like a sandwich look for one with a high protein content. 20+ grams is a great start. Protein will help you feel full and satisfy you.

  4. Go for salad with extras - Most places sell salads and usually unless they have loads of dressing they're low calorie. A typical salad isn't going to fill you up so add a pack of cooked meat (unprocessed)/boiled eggs and a small handful of nuts.

  5. Add fruit - Adding fruit to a meal is a great way to curb your sweet tooth and can increase the carbohydrate content without adding processed foods. Its cheap and everywhere sells fruit. Fruit as a whole though not smoothies. Smoothies do contain loads of fruit but you can easily consume way too many calories in one hit.

  6. Have a pick and mix - No not the ones you used to have at the cinema (mmmm milk and cola bottles). I'm meaning pick up a few different items that make up a meal. Heres some examples - Pack of cooked meat, Nuts, Fruit, Eggs, Bread rolls etc. You may look like loon but all together you'll get a decent meal. Think of it as a buffet.

  7. Bring some snacks with you - Ok I know I've been going on about not spending time prepping meals in the article but this is different. Popping a handful of nuts or protein shake in your bag can help get some good food in you while you're away from the house.

Here's a list I carry with me

  1. Protein shake in a shaker

  2. Sometimes a ready made super shake

  3. Nuts

  4. Fruit

  5. A tub of peanut butter and spoon

  6. Instant porridge pots

Eating healthy doesn't have to mean you need to be a slave to tupperware. With a little thought you can eat healthily while away from home without ever using those stinky plastic containers.

Want to learn more skills to eat like a Nutrition Ninja? Apply for Nutrition Coaching. You'll learn more skills that will change the way you think and feel about food forever.

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UncategorizedMark Fox