Forget the wall of identical containers. Real meal prep is about prepping components, not whole meals.
The internet version of meal prep -- twelve identical containers of the same sad lunch -- is enough to put anyone off cooking. There is a better way, and it is built around components instead of finished meals. Cook a pot of grains, roast a tray of vegetables, make one good dressing, and you have the building blocks for a week of different bowls.
Components keep their appeal because you assemble them fresh. Monday's roasted vegetables become Tuesday's grain bowl and Wednesday's frittata without ever tasting like leftovers. The variety is what keeps you out of the takeout app.
Spend an unhurried hour on the weekend on three or four components, store them well, and let your weeknight self do nothing harder than assembling. It is the difference between prep that helps and prep that feels like a second job.
