Does the thought of meal prepping make you want to scream? Good news – it is not rocket science, and there are easy steps you can take to set yourself up for success. Read on for my favorite meal prepping solutions…
- USE THE SLOW COOKER – Whenever I’m in a pinch and want to make a large batch of something with little to no effort, I use my slow cooker. I’ve been into plant-based recipes like lentil stew, sweet ‘n sour tofu, and tomato chickpeas, but I also enjoy salsa chicken, ground turkey stuffed peppers, and Dijon pork tenderloin. These recipes are all delicious and set you up with 4-8 meals for the week that you can use for lunches or dinners. Need new ideas? Let me know!
- DOUBLE THE RECIPE – If you are going to be cooking anyway, just double the recipe and make extra. Instead of banking on having leftovers, you are planning for leftovers… #plannedovers! For example, whenever I make meatloaf, I always make double the recipe to have extra. Baked chicken or fish, or anything being prepared on the grill are great “doublers” too. Roasting veggies for dinner? Why don’t you chop and roast more veggies for later in the week too… you already have the oven heated up anyway so it’ll save you time.
- FOCUS ON ONE MEAL A DAY – Instead of overwhelming yourself, start with meal prepping just breakfast. When we aren’t quarantined, mornings are usually go, go, go. You don’t have time to make a balanced breakfast each day & still stay sane. Instead, prep a batch of protein shakes, overnight oats, or egg muffins that you can enjoy throughout the week. These ideas are great to prep on Sunday to have every day through Friday.
- THINK CONVENIENCE FOR SNACKS – Lastly, you want to make sure you are eating healthy snacks too, so this may be a great time to shop “convenience”. Hate chopping?… then buy baby carrots, pre-sliced bell peppers, or cherry tomatoes for quick veggies. Buy whole fruit like apples, pears, and peaches for a quick grab ‘n go. And for dipping, get your hummus, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter. All these dips come in individual packs too, so if that is easier for you, BUY IT THAT WAY!
Need help with meal prepping? Register for one of my meal prepping workshops to get a full week’s meal plan, recipes, grocery list, and how-to video for bringing it all together. Email me for details at info@nicoleolenrdn.com.
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