Listen to this article

Hi there! It’s so nice to meet you! My name is Shaina Zazzaro, and I’m here to formally introduce myself as the newest columnist for the Rochester Business Journal, with my column Effortlessly Healthy with Shaina. As the busy owner of a Top 100 company in Rochester — Effortlessly Healthy, a fresh meal delivery service, catering, wholesale meal, and food truck company — I know how important it is to stay healthy. In fact, the idea for my company came to life when I worked as a hospital administrator and recognized the need for healthy food options. Everyone needs to eat healthy, but it’s not always easily accessible.

I was asked recently if I practice what I preach — and I definitely do! I’ll be providing you with monthly health and wellness articles, which I truly hope you enjoy. If you have any ideas or questions, feel free to ask on LinkedIn or Instagram @shainazazzaro.

Let’s start answering your questions. Now that you know who I am and what I do, here’s my first health and wellness lesson for you: can you guess what it is? Meal prep! Don’t you think it’s fitting for the owner of a meal prep company to talk about this? I sure do!

Why meal prep is a great idea

We are all busy, and today’s world is fast-paced. Balancing a healthy meal can be a real challenge. Between work, family commitments, social activities, and trying to make time for the gym or a sport, it’s so easy to let convenience take over and grab something on the go. This is where meal prep can be a game-changer. If you have meals made in advance, you won’t have to scramble to find the best option on the road — you’ll already have the best option with you.

I found a great-sized lunchbox at Costco that fits a couple of drinks and an Effortlessly Healthy meal. That way, when I know I’ll be on the go and won’t have access to a fridge, I always have a healthy meal in my car. I even bring my own lunch to meetings so I can eat healthy instead of settling for whatever unhealthy food might be served.

I have a friend who’s a police officer and spends a lot of time on the road. She even has a hot plate in her car to heat up her meals on the go!

You can make it work. If you want to eat healthy, you can absolutely make it happen. Whether you choose to use a meal prep company or prep your meals at home, it can truly be effortless (no pun intended). If you’re preparing meals at home, make it enjoyable! Turn on some music, plan out a few meals, grab some to-go containers from the grocery store, and prep away! You’ll feel so much better when you open your fridge in the morning and have your meals already made for you. It’ll set you up for a successful day, and you can skip the fast-food stomachache later.

Save time
One of the most significant advantages of meal prep is that it truly saves time during the week. You don’t have to cook every day, clean your kitchen every day, or do extra work after a long day at work. Whether you’re using a meal prep service or dedicating a few hours to cooking and organizing meals ahead of time, you’ll save hours a day. Let’s face it — your time is valuable.

Reduce stress
Who doesn’t need a little stress reduction? We all do. Having meals ready to go removes the daily stress of meal planning and, sometimes, even calorie tracking if you’re trying to lose weight. If you prep and portion out your meals for the week, you won’t have to worry about figuring things out later. You can simply open the fridge, pop a meal in the microwave, and poof! Dinner is ready. No stress.

Save money, save calories
Who doesn’t want to save money? Eating out or ordering takeout regularly can quickly add up! By meal prepping, you can save money — and honestly, you’ll probably save calories too. You’re less likely to overeat when you prepare your meals in advance instead of going out to eat. I mean, seriously — when’s the last time you had an appetizer at home before dinner?

There are many meal prep companies out there — some local, some drop-shipped — but here is why they are in business: If you were to buy all the ingredients for a week’s worth of fully prepared meals from a meal prep company, I can almost guarantee you’d end up spending more money than you would for the fully prepared meals (not to mention your own time is money). Plus, you get a free personal chef with purchase of meals! You can simply go to any meal service website, choose your meals and have them delivered to your door. It saves you hours of work, stress, cleaning, shopping, planning and cooking and you’ll be set for the week. Even if you just plan out your lunches, it’s a win for anyone.

Supports portion control and weight management
I’ve lost over 50 pounds three times in my life — before and after kids — and how did I do it? Meal prep! I’ve gotten into the best shape of my life at 37 by sticking to healthy, portion-controlled meals, exercising regularly, and making time for walks. I keep snacking in check, don’t eat out too often, and limit alcohol. All these things together support a healthy lifestyle, help me manage my weight, and make me feel amazing.

If you’re looking to improve your health, manage your weight, or just make more time for yourself, meal prep is a great way to reach your goals. And hey, if you need help along the way, now that you’ve read this, consider me your friend. Shoot me a message anytime — I’m here to support you every step of the way.

Thanks so much for reading my first article. I’m really looking forward to sharing more with you and helping you through your busy lifestyle. Being in business isn’t easy, but we have to remember that taking care of ourselves is the first step in taking care of everyone else — especially our companies.

Shaina Zazzaro is CEO & Owner of Effortlessly Healthy, a fresh meal delivery service, catering, wholesale meal, and food truck company. Find her on LinkedIn or Instagram @shainazazzaro.

o