Meal prep fails when it becomes a religious commitment. Four hours of Sunday cooking sounds virtuous; it rarely survives contact with real life. A simpler model works better.

Batch cook components, not full meals. Cook a large pot of grains (rice, farro, barley) and a large batch of protein (roasted chicken thighs, baked lentils, hard-boiled eggs). These become the base for a week of different meals — bowls, wraps, soups, salads — without eating the same thing every day.