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Meal prep doesn’t have to be overwhelming and time consuming.
How easy is it to meal prep?
It’s actually pretty easy. The key to starting meal prepping is to start small. Just a few times a week.
As you start to get into the habit of meal prepping, you’ll want to do it more often because you’ll realize what a time saver it really is.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. These 5 easy meal prep tips for beginners will help get you started on your way to saving money and time!
1. Get organized before you start
Before you get started, make sure you have everything you need:
- Make sure you have all the ingredients
- Gather all the recipes you’ll be using
- Collect all your containers and Ziplock bags you’ll be using for the meal prep
- Take out all the kitchen utensils, gadgets, and/or cookware you’ll be using
Remember, it’s easier to get everything set up ahead of time because the last thing you want is to waste time searching for something or having to go to the store because you forgot something.
2. Make multiple batches at one time
Typical meal planning involves making a week’s worth of dinners at one time. This tip is making multiple batches of the same meal.
For example, if you making a vegetable lasagna, you would get more ingredients to make 2-3 lasagnas instead of just one. One casserole is for dinner and the other two are placed in the freezer.
You will discover that it doesn’t take much longer to make the additional casseroles. Then, you’ll have the casseroles ready to go for the future.
Healthy meal prep ideas for the week
36 Easy Meal Prep Recipes
Who says eating healthy has to be difficult? With these easy meal prep recipes including chicken burrito bowls, you’ll be covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s everything from stir fries to salmon to pancakes, plenty of recipes to keep you on track to meet your health goals!
3. Cook one main ingredient for multiple meals
You can freeze things like noodles, beans, cooked chicken and ground hamburger after they have been cooked.
All of these ingredients can be used quickly and easily to create meals on a busy weeknight.
For example, you can cook multiple chicken breasts on a Sunday afternoon, put pieces of the cooked chicken in freezer bags or containers to be used in recipes during the week.
4. Fresh vs. frozen vegetables
The cooking time of fresh vegetables is less than of frozen, and they have more nutrients.
This is something to consider when you’re trying to speed up your meal prepping time.
Best-rated meal prep containers
5. Dust off your slow cooker
The slow cooker is a meal prepper’s best friend!
When combined with using food ingredients that have been already prepped, then it’s even quicker and easier.
Just put all the ingredients into the cooker before leaving for work, turn it on, and arrive home with a cooked dinner.
This is 10-quart slow cooker is just the size to cook extra meals to store in the freezer! Plus, it has GREAT reviews!
How to meal prep for the week
By following these easy meal prep tips, you’ll discover how much time you can save as well as how easy it is to cook healthy and nutritious meals for your family.
What are your favorite meal prep tips? Please share in the comments below!
