If you’re wondering whether meal prepping can save you money compared to your current food expenses, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll break down the ways meal prepping can help you save money, provide a cost breakdown of how much it costs to meal prep, and share some valuable tips to reduce your food budget when meal prepping.
Meal prepping can lead to significant cost savings compared to eating out or buying convenience meals. By planning ahead and preparing meals in bulk, you reduce waste, buy only what’s necessary, and reduce utility bills compared to cooking multiple meals throughout the week.
I’ll share real-life examples from my experience in Cape Town, South Africa, to give you a clear picture of how meal prepping can impact your budget. I’ll break down the savings by comparing the cost of preparing and bringing your own lunch to work versus buying lunch during the workweek. This way, you can see firsthand how much money meal prepping can help you save.
Why Meal Prepping Can Help You Save Money
There are several key ways that meal prepping can save you money compared to eating out, buying convenience foods, or even cooking meals from scratch each night. Let’s break down some of the primary reasons:
- Spend Less on Eating Out: One of the biggest benefits of meal prepping is that it reduces the need to eat out. When you’ve already prepared meals for the week, it’s much easier to resist the temptation of a last-minute takeaway or restaurant meal. The convenience of having meals ready to go means fewer spur-of-the-moment, costly food purchases.
- Buy Only What You Need: Meal prepping goes hand-in-hand with meal planning, which helps you only buy the ingredients you need. This prevents overspending on groceries and eliminates the waste that comes from buying things you won’t use.
- Reduce Food Waste: Prepping meals in bulk allows you to use all your ingredients efficiently. When you meal prep, you’re more likely to use up the entire can of coconut milk or finish that bunch of veggies. This reduces food waste and ensures that nothing you buy goes to waste.
- Lower Utility Bills: Meal prepping can also save on utility bills, including gas, electricity, and water. Instead of cooking multiple meals throughout the week, you’re using your stove and oven less frequently, which means less energy consumption. You’ll also use your dishwasher less often when cooking in bulk, cutting down on water usage.
- Save Money on Healthcare: While this may seem like an indirect benefit, meal prepping often leads to healthier eating habits. By planning nutritious meals in advance, you’re more likely to stick to a balanced diet and avoid processed or unhealthy foods. In the long run, this can help prevent diet-related health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, reducing medical costs.
How Much Does It Cost to Meal Prep?
To give you a clear idea of the costs involved in meal prepping, I’ll share my own monthly expenses based on living in Cape Town, South Africa. The prices in your area may vary, but this breakdown will help you understand the potential savings.
I spend around ZAR 3000 (USD 191.29) per month on groceries, which includes some occasional indulgences like vegan cheese, yogurt, and nut butter. If I focused strictly on whole foods, I could easily reduce this to ZAR 2000 (USD 126.93) per month. However, I find that adding a few luxuries makes meal prepping more sustainable and enjoyable for me.
Here’s a breakdown of what I typically spend on meal prep per day:
- Breakfast: ZAR 25 (USD 1.59)
- Snacks: ZAR 15 (USD 0.96)
- Lunch: ZAR 30 (USD 1.91)
- Dinner: ZAR 30 (USD 1.91)
This totals about ZAR 100 (USD 6.38) per day. Over a month, that comes out to ZAR 3000 (USD 191.29). These numbers are based on my personal experience in Cape Town, but even if you live in a different area, the principle remains the same: meal prepping helps you control and optimize your food budget.
Is It Cheaper to Meal Prep?
The answer to whether meal prepping is cheaper ultimately depends on your current spending habits. If you regularly eat out, order takeaways, or buy convenience meals, the savings from meal prepping can be significant. Here’s how it breaks down for me:
- Buying Lunch Out: When I buy lunch from a local takeaway, it costs around ZAR 85 (USD 5.42) per meal.
- Making My Own Lunch: By meal prepping my lunch, it costs just ZAR 30 (USD 1.91) per meal.
That’s a difference of ZAR 55 (USD 3.51) per meal. Over the course of a five-day workweek, that adds up to ZAR 275 (USD 17.54). Multiply that by four weeks, and you’re saving ZAR 1100 (USD 70.14) per month by simply making and bringing your lunch to work instead of buying it. If you do this consistently, you could save over ZAR 13,000 (USD 832) annually—just by changing your lunch habits!
Additional Ways to Save Money When Meal Prepping
If you’re already meal prepping but want to lower your costs even further, here are some helpful tips to save more:
- Shop Seasonally: Focus on buying fruits and vegetables that are in season. Seasonal produce is typically fresher, tastier, and less expensive than out-of-season items.
- Buy in Bulk: Items like grains, legumes, and nuts can be bought in bulk to save money over time. Many grocery stores offer discounts on bulk purchases, and these items have long shelf lives.
- Look for Sales: Plan your meals around sales or discounts at your local grocery store. You can adjust your meal prep based on what’s currently on offer.
- Use Store Brands: Store-brand items are often just as good as name brands but come at a fraction of the cost.
- Freeze Leftovers: If you prep more than you can eat, freeze extra portions. This reduces waste and ensures you always have something ready to eat, saving you money and time.
Is Meal Prepping Healthier?
Another key benefit of meal prepping is that it tends to lead to healthier eating habits. When you’re in control of your meals, you can choose high-quality, nutritious ingredients rather than relying on processed foods. You also have the power to control portion sizes, reduce excess sugar and sodium, and ensure a balanced diet.
A healthier diet can have long-term financial benefits as well. By avoiding the health risks associated with poor nutrition, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, you can save on future healthcare costs.
The Bottom Line: Is Meal Prepping Cheaper?
In conclusion, meal prepping can lead to significant cost savings compared to eating out or buying convenience meals. By planning ahead and preparing meals in bulk, you reduce waste, buy only what’s necessary, and reduce utility bills compared to cooking multiple meals throughout the week.
Beyond just saving money, meal prepping offers a range of other benefits. You can learn more in this post: Top Benefits and Tips for a Healthier, Easier Lifestyle.
If you’re new to meal prepping, try it for just one week. You’ll quickly notice the difference—not only in your budget but also in the added convenience and reduced stress. Feel free to share your experience or ask questions in the comments!
Love, Lien x