You can follow Alex on Instagram @MealPrepMondays Meal Prep Mondays   http://learntruehealth.com/meal-prep-mondays/ We’re back for part two of our Meal Prep Mondays! There’s so much to learn about how to meal prep.  My guest, Alex Torres and I are so excited to continue talking about how to incorporate the habit of meal prep into your daily routine so read on to find out.  When To Meal Prep  First of all, Alex Torres segregates the types of people who plan to meal prep.  This is because we all have different priorities and lifestyles.  He breaks it down as follows:  Single people – they have a lot of time on their hands – it doesn’t matter what day, but do what day is best for you – mornings are better but evenings are fine as well – if you are exhausted, meal prep one meal for one to two days to get started  Couples – if you both know each other well, make it fun by cooking for each other – weekends are best, Saturdays in particular or Mondays and Tuesdays  Parents with Kids – take turns in cooking – meal prep is usually on Saturdays – cook in bulk – ask family members what they like – prepare meals for one or two days to avoid soggy vegetables   Using Glass Containers  Have you heard that using plastic containers to store or heat food in the microwave is harmful to your health? It is! Which reminds me of a story I heard about singer Paul McCartney’s wife, Linda.  I interviewed a Naturopath who happened to be one of the doctors of Linda McCartney who was vegan. She would bring her containers everywhere and use it to heat food in the microwave.  Years later, Linda McCartney developed breast cancer. And the cause was traced to her frequent use of Tupperware to heat food in the microwave. When she was tested for cancer tissues, doctors discovered that it was full of toxic substances that are also found in Tupperware.  When we store and heat food in plastic, that is cancer-causing. That’s why Alex Torres suggests the use of compost containers. It can be used one more time if you first store food with no liquids. He also recommends using a food grade liner to prevent leaks.  Invest In Cookware  Microwave destroys nutrients, so it is a good idea to invest in good pans and a big pot. Find kitchenware or cookware that make you excited to meal prep.  “My favorite is investing in knives and a good cutting board. Because the worse is trying to cut a tomato. Also, invest in cast iron pots and pans. Season cast iron pans by washing and putting olive oil. Leave the pan out. You’ll use it more when you see it lying around,” said Alex Torres.  My personal favorite is using a bamboo spoon. There’s something about stirring the food with something organic. It feels so much better. Another fun gadget for me is the Veggie Bullet. It turns everything into spiral shapes. Sweet potato and carrot noodles, in particular, are delicious!  Meal Prep For Parents  For some reason, food tastes better on the third day since it was cooked, especially marinade dishes. It’s probably because all the flavor seeps in well by that time.  Alex Torres says this is also true for soups and stews. But he also advises to watch out for squash and zucchini.  These vegetables hold a lot of water and over time, they turn into mush.  Certain Mexican, Italian and Indian dishes pick up flavor within a day or two. But even if the dishes are tasty, it is still not a guarantee that kids will eat it.  “It is not easy to get kids to eat. So, a good way to make them eat is to let them help cook what they want. Getting them involved,” Alex Torres said.  He shares that his 9-year-old daughter made a sandwich filled with vegetables. It was filled with ginger, Asian-inspired seasoning, and dressings. If Alex Torres made that and gave it to his daughter, there’s no way she was going to eat it. But because his daughter did by herself, she was more receptive.  Learning To Cook  Most of us have a hectic life, so people rarely cook anymore.  It often leads to bad food choices when eating out