As a busy parent, you know how stressful it can be to come home after a long day at work and figure out what to make for dinner. Meal prep is an excellent way to save time and money, and it’s perfect for busy families. With some careful planning and preparation, you can have healthy and delicious meals ready to go whenever you need them. In this blog, we’ll go over some essential tips to help you get started with meal prep and offer some tasty recipes that your family will love.

📝 Plan Your Meals

First things first, it’s important to plan your meals in advance. You can do this by setting aside some time each week to sit down and create a meal plan. Think about the meals you and your family typically enjoy and try to come up with a variety of recipes to keep things interesting. Once you have your meal plan, it’s time to make your grocery list. Make sure to only buy what you need so you don’t waste any food.

A person sitting in front of a computer creating a meal plan

🛒 Grocery Shopping

Now that you have your grocery list, it’s time to hit the store. Try to do your shopping on the same day each week to make it a routine. Make sure to stick to your list and avoid any impulse purchases. You can also try shopping at a discount grocery store or buying in bulk to save money.

A person with a cart in a grocery store

🍽️ Preparing Your Meals

Meal prep can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. You can prepare all of your meals for the week in one day or prep ingredients in advance to make cooking easier throughout the week. Make sure to have plenty of containers on hand to store your meals, and label them with the date and contents to avoid confusion.

A person in a kitchen prepping meals for the week

🥘 Recipes

Here are a few easy and tasty recipes to get you started with meal prep:

🍲 Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup red curry paste
  • 2 bell peppers, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp ginger, grated
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  1. Combine the chicken, coconut milk, curry paste, peppers, onion, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper in a slow cooker.
  2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  3. Serve over rice or quinoa.

🍠 Sweet Potato and Black Bean Bowls

  • 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Spread sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until tender.
  3. Divide sweet potatoes, black beans, and red pepper into four containers.
  4. Top with avocado and squeeze lime juice over the top.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

🌯 Chicken and Veggie Wraps

  • 4 whole-wheat tortillas
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add chicken, bell pepper, zucchini, onion, cumin, salt, and pepper.
  3. Cook until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender.
  4. Divide chicken and veggies into four containers.
  5. To assemble the wrap, place the chicken and veggies on a tortilla and roll up tightly.

A plate with all three recipes

🍴 Conclusion

Meal prep is a great way to save time and money while also eating healthy and delicious meals. By planning your meals, grocery shopping smart, and preparing your meals in advance, you’ll be able to tackle your busy week with ease. Try out these easy recipes, or get creative and come up with your own. Happy prepping!

A person holding a container of prepped meals