Do you find yourself too busy to cook every night, but don’t want to resort to unhealthy fast food options? Meal prepping can be a lifesaver! It’s an excellent way to save time, money, and keep your meals healthy. Here are five simple meal prep strategies to help you stay on track, even on the busiest of weekdays.

1. Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time

The first step to successful meal prepping is to plan your meals ahead of time. This means sitting down and coming up with a rough menu for the week. Having a plan is essential because it helps avoid last-minute decisions that can cause you to reach for something unhealthy or skip a meal altogether.

💡Tip: Start by looking at what you already have in your pantry and fridge. Plan a few meals around those ingredients, then make a shopping list for the rest.

A notebook with a pen and a shopping list next to a cutting board and some ingredients.

2. Utilize Your Freezer

Your freezer can be your best friend when it comes to meal prep. Many meals like soups, stews, and casseroles can be made in large quantities and frozen for later. You can also freeze portions of cooked rice, quinoa, or other grains to use in meals throughout the week.

💡Tip: When freezing food, make sure to use airtight containers or bags to prevent freezer burn.

A plastic container with frozen meal prep food inside on a countertop.

3. Cook Once, Eat Twice

Cooking once and eating twice is an excellent way to save time while still having a variety of meals throughout the week. This means making a large batch of a meal on one night and then repurposing the leftovers into a different dish the next day.

💡Tip: Some examples of meals that are easily repurposed are roasted chicken, grilled vegetables, and cooked quinoa.

A picture of a delicious chicken stir fry with vegetables

4. Invest in Reusable Containers

Reusable containers are a must-have for meal prep. They make transporting your meals to work or school easy, and they are environmentally friendly. Look for containers that can be microwaved and washed in the dishwasher to make cleanup a breeze.

💡Tip: Make sure your containers are leak-proof to prevent spills while transporting.

A person holding a lunchbox with different compartments filled with food.

5. Prep Your Ingredients

Prepping your ingredients ahead of time can save you a lot of time during the week. This means chopping vegetables, cooking grains, and marinating meat in advance. Having everything already prepped and ready to go can make throwing together a meal on a busy weeknight a breeze.

💡Tip: If you have limited time, prioritize the ingredients that take the longest to prepare, like vegetables and grains.

A cutting board with various vegetables and a knife laying on the side.

Meal prep doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By implementing these five simple strategies, you can save time, money, and eat healthier throughout the week. Happy prepping!

A picture of the different meal prep containers with various food inside of them.