MEAL PREP FOR BUSY PEOPLE
Meal prep saves you time, money and hassle, and it's the way I've been cooking for years now. It's also a big part of the reason I've been able to keep up my personal fitness along with a crazy work schedule and still squeeze in some time for fun on weekends. Since I get asked so often, I thought I'd share my foolproof method for easy meal prep and planning, including free printables!
Access my free meal prep challenge!
Access free meal prep challenge & bonus resources.
Over five printable PDF downloads to help you stay on track with your health & fitness goals like a weekly meal planner, printable shopping list, and more will be sent during the challenge!
MEAL PREP Tips:
Keep it simple
If you just don't think you can plan out three meals a day, that's okay. Try planning dinner for each meal of the week, and make enough so that there are leftovers for lunches all week long. From there, you can keep a good inventory of snacks and simple breakfast ideas until you find recipes you're comfortable with and know you love.
Use the same ingredients more than once
This is hands down the best way to reduce food waste. Use those carrots for two or three different recipes; and no, you probably don't need to include eggplant in that recipe when you like red peppers or zucchini better, so make ingredient swaps work for you where you can. Buy fresh ingredients you know you'll use in a variety of recipes.
Prepare ingredients ahead of time
Know that you're making quinoa bowls later in the week? Make the quinoa or other grains ahead of time, or cook chicken in the oven or boil it to make pulled chicken for later in the work week. It helps to have some components of a recipe prepared ahead of time.
Keep a well-stocked pantry and spice drawer
This is another huge one for me. I ALWAYS make sure I have a ton of spices on hand so I can just add a little bit here and there, and I also make sure my pantry/fridge is stocked with staples like butter, olive oil, onions, garlic, crushed tomatoes, bouillon cubes, coconut milk, pickles, hot sauce, mustard, vinegars…you name it, I've got it. It makes life so much easier when you go to make a recipe and see you've already got most items on hand.
Keep a well-stocked freezer
This brings me to my second point: have a ton of meat in your freezer. I personally like to buy in bulk when meat goes on sale, and I have a ton of variety on hand, everything from turkey sausages to ground beef, shrimp and scallops. And of course, a bottomless supply of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It may be expensive to stock up all at once but if you have all of these items on hand you're less likely to buy food out because you KNOW you have a ton of options to satisfy any cravings you have! And that can be cheaper in the long run!
Go easy on yourself
Sometimes life happens, and that's okay. Your meal plan is meant to help you stay organized and take a look at your week at a glance, not to rigidly lock you in – there will be some days you just don't want to cook, and that's okay. Being prepared helps get you back on track again the next day though!
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Healthy Lunch Ideas
Healthy Dinner Ideas
My Favorite Meal Prep Tools
Latest Meal prep Recipes
Whole Wheat Summer Pesto Meal Prep Pasta
This Whole Wheat Summer Pesto Meal Prep Pasta is the perfect one pot meal for batch cooking during a busy workweek! Perfect for lunch orView Post
Peanut Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
These Peanut Chicken Meal Prep Bowls come together with sautéed chicken, a rainbow of veggies and a delicious peanut sauce for a healthy make ahead, low carbView Post
Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef (Chipotle Copycat)
These Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Burrito Bowls are just like the kind you get at Chipotle! By using a natural pressure release, the beef stays tender,View Post
Easiest Cashew Chicken Stir Fry {Meal Prep}
This Cashew Chicken Stir Fry is better than takeout, and the perfect meal prep idea. You probably already have all the sauce ingredients on handView Post
25 Sheet Pan Dinners {Busy Weeknight Meals}
These Easy Sheet Pan Dinners come together super quickly and the oven does all the work for you. These healthy dinner ideas are a greatView Post
Best Chicken Marinade Recipes – 20+ Ways!
This article has 20+ chicken marinade recipes – everything from teriyaki to honey mustard and fajita marinades. Most marinades have 5 ingredients or less! View Post
Build Your Own Buddha Bowl {Vegan}
Here's how to build your own buddha bowl using vegan, gluten-free ingredients that can mostly be cooked on a sheet pan. You'll love the tahiniView Post
Taco Bell Power Bowl
A Taco Bell Power Bowl is the perfect meal prep idea and is a healthier Taco Bell copycat recipe you can easily make at homeView Post
Easy Chinese-Inspired Chilli Chicken
This Chilli Chicken is inspired by Chinese takeout – it's the perfect blend of sweet & spicy chicken stir fried with onions and green peppers,View Post
Coconut Mango Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
These Coconut Mango Chicken Meal Prep Bowls with basmati rice, corn salsa and an easy mango marinade are a delicious way to prep your lunchesView Post
Eating Healthy on a Budget + 10 Cheap Dinner Ideas
Eating healthy on a budget can be tricky but if you meal plan properly you can take most of the guesswork out of your groceryView Post
30 Minute Steak and Quinoa Burrito Bowl
This Steak and Quinoa Burrito Bowl with pico de gallo and corn salsa is a delicious lunch idea you can meal prep, and is inspiredView Post
