Meal prepping is a time and money saver, but can seem rather daunting to newbies. I’ve been an on-and-off meal prepper for two years, so I know what works and what really doesn’t. So grab your containers and your grocery lists, here are some tips on getting started.

1. PURCHASE STURDY FOOD CONTAINERS. Sure you could buy the pack of five flimsy plastic meal containers, but they might not last you that long, and could wear down over time thanks to microwaves and dishwashers. Getting higher-quality containers will save you money and time in the long run.

2. KEEP YOUR RECIPES TOGETHER. Like most things, Pinterest is great for this. I keep all of my recipes on one board with many subsections for different types of meals so I can easily find a recipe for what I am craving that week.

3. SWITCH THINGS UP OFTEN.  I don’t care how good your meal-prepped pasta was last week, do not make it again this week. Take a little break, try something new. Trust me, you don’t want to be stuck with a meal you’re sick of for another three days.

4. EAT FOODS YOU ENJOY. I know this seems obvious, but a lot of people go into meal prepping thinking they are entering into a completely new diet of all healthy and organic foods. That’s fine if that’s your end goal, but go slow. Start by eating foods you know how to make and you know you enjoy, then move on to trying new things. There is nothing worse than trying a new meal prepping recipe and having to eat a full week of it when you find out it’s not for you.

5. BE CONSISTENT. This is the hardest one. Pick a day of the week you meal prep and stick with it. Even if you come home and feel too tired to cook, do it anyway. If you don’t, you’ll fall out of the habit very quickly and it’ll be way harder to start back up. This should also be the day you go grocery shopping, because if you leave that produce sitting in the fridge for a day, you’re going to want to leave it in there for longer (trust me, I know).

6. MAKE A GROCERY LIST AND STICK TO IT. Those quick microwave meals will look enticing in the freezer aisle, but stick to the ingredients for your meal prep. It’ll help keep you to your plan.