If you’re like most people, weekdays are a mad dash to get out the door on time. The last thing I want to think about is what to eat.
The food is ready there.
Meal preparation is a technique you can use to save time, money, and improve your overall health. The basic idea is to cook a large amount of food in advance so that it’s ready to eat throughout the week.
This is a great way to maintain a healthy diet as it allows you to control the ingredients and portions of your meals. , You can also save money. Of course, you save time because you don’t have to cook every day.
If you’re interested in meal prepping, there are a few things you need to get started.
First, you need a good storage container to store your cooked food. You also need recipes that are easy to make in large quantities. Thirdly, on weekends you should dedicate a little time to cooking. Here are some healthy meal prep ideas to get you started.
Idea #1: Prepare traditional meals
The first (and most popular) way to prepare meals is to cook all your meals for the week at once.
This works well if you know exactly what you want to eat and enjoy eating the same thing every day. To do.
To make preparing this type of meal as stress-free as possible, choose simple recipes that don’t require many ingredients or cooking time. increase.
planned eating week
Most people dread meal planning, but it doesn’t have to be! Planning your meals for the week can save you time and money and help you eat healthier. Here’s an example meal plan for the week:
Monday
- breakfast: Omelet with vegetables
- lunch: chicken garden salad
- dinner: Grilled Salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- snack: fruit and yogurt
Tuesday
- breakfast: Scrambled eggs with toast
- lunch: leftover salmon from dinner
- dinner: Stir-fried chicken with brown rice
- snack: vegetables and hummus
Wednesday
- breakfast: oatmeal with berries
- lunch: Whole wheat bread turkey sandwich
- dinner: spaghetti and meatballs
- snack: Peanut butter and apple slices
Thursday
- breakfast: pancakes with bacon
- lunch: chicken caesar salad
- dinner: grilled cheese and tomato soup
- snack: Celery sticks with cream cheese
Friday
- breakfast: smoothie
- lunch: leftover spaghetti and meatballs
- dinner: Pizza night!
- snack: Popcorn
Saturday
- breakfast: waffles with syrup
- lunch: egg salad sandwich
- dinner: Barbeque Chicken
Sunday
- breakfast: blueberry muffin
- Lunch grill: chicken wrap
- dinner: Hamburger
- snack: carrot stick
Idea 2: Frozen food
If you don’t like cooking every meal from scratch, try preparing frozen meals instead. This is a great way to prepare meals if you only have a little time on the weekend or if you want more variation in your meals.
To make frozen food, cook a large batch of recipes (or several recipes) and divide them into individual servings. . So easy! When ready to eat, reheat and enjoy.
Food that can be cooked in bulk and frozen for later
If you’re looking for recipe tips for your next mass cooking session, we recommend adding the following nine dishes that can be cooked in bulk and frozen for later.
- Quinoa bowl with vegetables and hummus – Cook a large amount of quinoa and mix it with your favorite chopped vegetables. Add store-bought or homemade hummus for a delicious and healthy meal.
- chicken soup – When the weather is bad, nothing beats a warm bowl of healthy chicken soup. Make it in bulk and freeze it in small portions so you always have it on hand.
- Chile – This is one of those meals that gets better over time. So make your chili in a large pot, divide it into freezer-safe containers, and enjoy it all winter long.
- vegetarian lasagna – This dish is full of vegetables, so it is delicious and nutritious. As a bonus, it freezes really well so you always have a delicious meal on hand.
- lentil curry – Lentil curry is healthy, hearty and perfect for meal prep. Simply cook a large batch and freeze individual portions for an easy weekday meal.
- tomato sauce – Homemade tomato sauce is much tastier than store-bought. Plus, it freezes very well, so you can always have it on hand for pasta night.
- sloppy joe – Sloppy Joes are always popular whether they serve kids or adults. And if you make it in bulk and freeze it later, it tastes even better. Simply defrost and reheat whenever you want a delicious sandwich.
- enchiladas – These enchiladas are super flavorful and make great frozen meals. Assemble as directed and freeze before baking. When you’re ready to eat, simply thaw and bake according to the instructions. Easy!
- banana bread – This banana bread is moist, delicious, and freezes well. So make a double batch, enjoy one now and freeze the other. . Banana bread is always a good idea, to be honest.
Idea #3: Prepare snacks
Don’t worry if you don’t like cooking! You can prepare meals without turning on the stove. Pack healthy snacks that last the week and have them ready to eat when you need them.
Try cutting fruit, making hard-boiled eggs, and making trail mix.
Preparing healthy snacks to keep you prepped will help you keep your energy up and keep unhealthy cravings in check later in the week.
Conclusion:
Meal prepping is a great way to simplify your busy weekday life. By spending a little time preparing meals and snacks on weekends, he has one less thing to worry about during the week. And with these healthy meal prep ideas, getting started is easier than ever.
