Do you find yourself struggling with healthy meal prep while raising a family? I hear you. As a fellow busy mom, raising two little ones & working, I totally get the exhaustion & frustration of getting food on the table. However, through my experience, mastering meal prep for the week is a GAME CHANGER… especially when you have minimal time.
New to meal prep? Afraid it won’t work for you? Think you’re too busy to meal prep for the week? You’ve come to the right place. Here are some tips & tricks to get you started & to make your hectic weeknights a breeze in the kitchen.
- Make a weekly meal plan – SPELL IT OUT… I like using a dry erase board on my fridge, but your phone or a sheet of paper can work too. A good start is picking 1 new recipe, 2 family favorite recipes (+ leftovers), & 1 night to dine out… and then spreading that over the 7 nights of the week. Include 1 idea for lunch & 1 idea for breakfast and keep it the same all week… change it up the following week.
- Prep 15 minutes the night before – pull meats out of the freezer to start thawing & chop anything you can ahead of time for the recipe. But, take no longer than 15 minutes here – stay focused & knock it out without any texting, TV, or social media distractions… you’ll surprise yourself with how much you can actually get done.
- Keep a well-stocked pantry, freezer, & fridge – a good idea is picking 5 of your family’s favorite meals & keeping those ingredients on hand at all times.
- Keep chopped fruits & veggies on hand – enough said. You’re WAY more likely to incorporate fruits & veggies into meals if the chopping is already done.
- Cook double the amount of meat – it is much easier to make a double batch when all the ingredients are out already. Freeze the portion you don’t use & thaw out later for those really hectic days we all have.
- Rely on “hands-off” cooking methods – the slow cooker & instant pot save time in the kitchen & are also good vessels to make larger quantities for leftovers too.
With those tips in mind, here are some ideas for easy meal prep to start!
- Breakfast – overnight oats, eggs, smoothies, muffins or pancakes
- Lunch – protein/starch/veggie bowls, deconstructed salad or wrap, stir fry, stews
- Dinner – casseroles, instant pot meals, slow cooker meals, sheet pan meals
Where to find some recipes? I love PINTEREST!
My last tip for YOU – just dive in! Taking ANY time you have the night before can help you succeed a little more each day. Find a plan that works for you & build it into your lifestyle!
Don’t know where to start? I can help! Hit REPLY if you’re a busy mom looking to find a meal planning solution for you & your family! Looking forward to chatting with you.
