People Debate the Pros and Cons of Meal Prep

Ada Elder

Feb 8, 2023 12:30 PM EST

I know I can't be the only person who has been seeing people virtue-signaling their healthy routines online. The number of times I've watched videos or seen photos of people meal-prepping or organizing their vegetables has become ridiculous. As much as I'd like to be someone who can set and forget their meals for the week, as someone who actually gives a sh*t about what I eat, the idea of meal prep has always grossed me out. Those stacked Tupperwares of pallid chicken and bland-looking brown rice look A) boring and B) straight-up dangerous.

It's true that many leftovers can be eaten 4-7 days after preparation, but it still feels like a risk. Especially with rice. See, rice can serve as a home for Bacillus cereus spores, which can cause serious food poisoning, and even result in death. So rice must be cooled and refrigerated within 1-2 hours of cooking, and refrigerated for 3-4 days max. The NHS actually suggests finishing the next day. That week's worth of boring rice meals looks a little less appetizing now, doesn't it?

It seems I'm not the only person who is skeptical of meal prepping. On Twitter this week people have been discussing the safety of preparing meals in advance, and while there are a lot of people decrying the practice, it does have its defenders. We've put together some of the most compelling responses, from vehement bashing, to hot tips, and, of course, a few healthy jokes.