Are you looking to increase your productive efficiency to put in the work and effort? Perhaps you might be feeling sluggish or simply lack the edge needed to be as productive as possible.
Maybe you are struggling to stay on top of your uni work and revision for example. It could be that you are feeling far too tired to keep enthusiastic in your job.
If that’s the case, the first place you should be looking into is your diet. What you eat can greatly influence your mood and energy levels which all have to do with your productive efficiency.
The food you consume is exactly like the fuel you put in a car. Put the wrong fuel in a car and it’s simply not going to function well. Similarly, if you eat junk food or processed food on a day-to-day basis, you will simply not function and reach your productive potential.
Nonetheless There are so many incredible meals that you can make at home that offer incredible benefits that will get you to have a productive day!
In particularly there are some high protein meal prep ideas that can do this.
Perhaps the most easiest of meals that you can make on this list, sandwiches are easily the most versatile foods on offer.
That’s because you can get really creative with what you put in your sandwich.
For example, lean meats such as steak slices or turkey are perfect for a tasty, yet nutritious sandwich. These paired with some veggies can provide a great stream of vitamin B to your brain, which is great for sharpening your brain signals and keeping alert and productive!
Whatever protein you like, there’s no doubt that a nice whole grain sandwich can accommodate it, while offering incredible benefits for your mind and to tackle your productive struggle.
Salmon is personally one of my favourite types of fish to eat, if not protein, depending on how it’s cooked.
It’s versatile, meaning you can season it however you want and cook it however you want. But particularly, this meat is perfect for tackling your productive struggle and improving your intuitive thinking.
For me, having a tasty fried salmon marinated in some teriyaki sauce with a side of steamed broccoli and quinoa makes for a perfect post workout meal especially.
It’s rich omega-3 contents makes it great for boosting concentration and memory, which are essential if you want to be a productive icon.
Salmon and quinoa are also amazing sources of protein and that’s a reason why quinoa can make a great substitute for rice which is no doubt carb-heavy!
These great protein sources help with your alertness, preventing you from falling asleep, feeling lazy and consequently shying away from a workout or completing tasks!
This is a very similar high protein meal prep idea to salmon.
Fatty fishes such as cod, mackerel or haddock also work great if you want to boost your productivity because of their omega-3 contents, vitamin B and anti-inflammatory properties that work well for the brain.
Simply marinate or season your fish with your favourite ingredients/sauce and pair it with some tasty veg and rice.
You can check out some easy marinades and seasonings that work perfectly for fish right here!
I find spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers or mushrooms to work really nicely with fish, but it’s up to you what veggies you’d like to use!
You might be wondering how a stir-fry could possibly boost your productive efficiency, especially considering, that they tend to be high in carbs from the rice or noodles.
The truth is, that a lean protein stir-fry is actually a great meal if you want to avoid any productive procrastination.
Simply adding some eggs with a lean protein like beef or chicken into the stir-fry automatically makes it a perfect high protein meal prep idea.
Complemented with some fried veggies, particularly some red, green or yellow peppers, broccoli, onions and spinach, will make this meal incredibly nutritious and amazing for a healthy mind.
Are you tired of having cereal or buttered toast for breakfast. These types of breakfasts aren’t exactly great for fuelling a productive day, given their high sugar contents and minimal nutritional value.
Ideally, you want to avoid these ingredients and foods if you want to boost your productive potential:
Instead, trying an egg and spinach bagel is a perfect meal to fuel your day. Simply salt and pepper some eggs in a pan and cook them scrambled or like an omelette with spinach mixed in with them.
They are an amazing source of vitamin B and there’s no doubt that spinach will help with your immune system and bone health!
One of my favourite foods out there is the burrito. They’re simple, tasty pockets packed full of flavour and nutrients.
Moreover, they are perfect examples of high protein meal prep ideas, because not only could you add lean meats as a source of protein, but you can add beans which make amazing sources of protein!
It’s generally up to you what beans you put in your burrito, nonetheless they are incredible sources of protein and vitamin B9 which are essential if you want to improve your mood and cognitive function!
Lean meat, eggs and beans aren’t just the only sources of protein that exist out there.
For those of you who love having oats in the morning or as a light afternoon snack, there is no doubt that this tasty food is perfect if you want to boost your productive potential!
Oats can come in a number of forms, primarily old-fashioned rolled oats and steel-cut oats:
So if you are looking to improve your alertness and focus throughout your day, oats are rich in complex carbohydrates that are perfect to restore your energy levels for your mind to work efficiently!
Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you vegetarians out there.
It’s a general misconception that there are very few high protein meal prep ideas out there that cater towards you, but this is simply wrong!
There are so many high protein meal prep ideas out there, including this, the vegetarian chili!
Simply cooking your favourite beans with a rich tomato sauce and vegetables can make this a very nutritious meal to keep your mind in a productive state.
Carrots, celery, onions, zucchini, garlic and if you’re feeling brave, some Jalapeños can really make this meal a flavour explosion for your mouth.
They offer plenty of nutritional value to make sure your cognitive abilities are sharp and alert, as well as folate from the beans to keep you focused whether that be with your studies or work!
You can check out a super easy vegetarian chili recipe right here!
This is probably the most basic high protein meal prep idea on the list, nonetheless it is definitely packed with nutrition and little to no carbohydrates!
However, many of us can find salads to be pretty unappetising, after all, we aren’t exactly rabbits who only munch on lettuce and greens all day.
This doesn’t mean that all salads don’t taste nice; At the end of the day, it’s up to how you prepare it that matters and in fact, you can definitely make a pretty tasty salad.
For example, try adding your favourite marinades, sauces or dressing to your salad. This could almost completely change the flavour for you and make you taste lettuce like you’ve never tasted it before!
Try some teriyaki sauce or Piri Piri sauce for example, alongside some juicy steak slices or even boiled eggs on top. This can really spice up your salad and make it an unexpected flavour explosion!
Check out some addictive salad dressing recipes you won’t regret right here!
There is no doubt that quinoa is one of the most underrated foods in the culinary world.
In fact, if you’re struggling to find substitutes for rice in your meals and are sick and tired of eating rice on a daily basis, look no further than to quinoa.
While both quinoa and rice are whole-grains, quinoa is undoubtedly jam-packed with the nutrients that rice simply cannot offer…
For example, quinoa is full of magnesium, which is perfect for minimising any mental stress that may get in the way of you focusing on work.
Moreover, like lean meats, quinoa is full of vitamin B that can make those neurotransmitters in your brain fire sharper!
If you want a nutritious meal, there’s no doubt that quinoa, once again with a side of chicken, fish, beef or whatever your favourite meat or protein is will fulfil your productive struggles and turn you into a productive icon!
Last but not least, lets look at an amazing high protein meal prep idea but in the form of a tasty dessert…
Believe it or not, mixing some Greek yoghurt with juicy berries, nuts and seeds can make an incredibly nutritious meal!
In fact, nuts are another food that are a great protein source.
Try adding some hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans or almonds into your yoghurts as these are amazing nuts for desserts in particular.
In general, you can expect to find between 4 to 6 grams of protein per ounce of nuts which is really not bad!
The presence of vitamin B6 is very useful for brain development as they can develop or restore neurotransmitters – Perfect for sharp thinking when it comes in handy!
So try making this delicious dessert at home. It’s as simple as just using yoghurt, nuts and berries with some honey if you’d like for added flavour!
From vegetarian chilis and lean meat burritos to oatmeal and Greek yoghurt filled with berries and nuts, there is a plethora of ideas that you can pick from to aid in your productive efficiency.
There’s no doubt that these meal prep ideas are incredibly tasty and will no doubt spice up your arsenal of recipes on store at home.
Your diet plays a huge role in how productive and capable you are as a person to put in work and with these meals, I am sure you are prepared to make a change to your life and become the person YOU want to be!
