This Sunday Routine Gives Us a Weekly Energy Boost

"Sure enough, the avocado was covered in tennis ball fuzz. Goddamnit. I couldn't bring myself to go wait in line for a slop bowl somewhere else, so I returned to the office and ate some pretzels. It was a shitty afternoon that turned into a seminal experience. Why do I piss away money at these fast-casual chains? Even when the ingredients aren't covered in mold, are these Midtown meals really that nutritious and satiating?"

"A salad bowl with salmon from Sweetgreen, for instance, was probably better fuel for my active lifestyle (I run in the morning, lift after work). But that also came with a heftier price tag: $19. Around this same time, my fiance, Xanthe, had started a new job, which required her to get up earlier and generally become a more organized person. We decided to become one of those meal-prep couples you see online."

"There are several reasons meal-prepping seems to work for us. Namely: it's really affordable ($5 or less a meal), walking to Trader Joe's on Sundays has become a dependable tradition and (crucially) we don't mind eating tinned fish. (Also: credit where credit's due, Xanthe's a great chef.) But the habit's staying power, I think, has had a lot to do with control."

"Starting the week with a stack of salads in the fridge (we use Stojo) always feels like a fresh start. Especially if we had to go to a wedding or pigged out over the weekend. With a healthy lunch spoken for, we can attack our work tasks, workouts or whatever, and not worry about crashing really hard in the afternoon - or eating expensive mold."

A first experience with a $15 sandwich revealed mold on the avocado, leading to frustration about spending money on fast-casual chains. The writer questions whether these meals are nutritious and satiating, noting that a $19 Sweetgreen salad with salmon may be better for an active routine but costs more. After a partner began a new job with earlier mornings and more organization, the couple adopted meal-prepping. They continue it after hundreds of workweeks due to low cost, a Sunday tradition of shopping at Trader Joe’s, and comfort with tinned fish. The habit lasts because it creates control: prepared salads in the fridge provide a fresh start, reduce afternoon crashes, and avoid expensive mold.

Read at InsideHook