I'm back again this week with more of my tried-and-true meal prepping tips! I'm so passionate about meal planning & prepping because I've seen both personally and with my clients how essential it is to have a plan if you want to execute healthy eating on a consistent basis.
Maybe you have health goals of your own you're working on, or perhaps you're on a mission to improve the health of your entire family with better food choices. Regardless of your intentions, these tips are going to help you execute!
6. Use multiple parts of your kitchen at the same time. So many parts of meal prep are set-and-forget, so you can have a sheet pan meal baking in the oven and a spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot. Buy a couple little magnet timers for the fridge and set a different timer for each device to stay organized. Use your oven, stove top, and any countertop cooking appliances like rice cooker, toaster oven, Instant Pot or slow cooker simultaneously.
7. Think outside the box. Don't get stuck thinking that breakfast has to be eggs or oatmeal. Try a breakfast salad and start your day with salmon and arugula, or swap and make a frittata for dinner. Sometimes eating the same meals but at a different time of day is a fun way to get out of a rut!
8. Double the recipe and freeze in mason jars. This is a strategy I use all the time, especially with soups & stews. Double the recipe as you're making it and then separate individual portions in mason jars to freeze. They make great grab-n-go lunches during weeks when you have less time for meal prep.
9. Buy veggies pre-cut. Sometimes the simple act of eliminating chopping can be the difference between making meal prep happen or not! Know yourself here, are you more likely to actually meal prep if this step is taken care of for you? Don't feel bad cutting corners in this area.
10. Keep a running grocery list throughout the week. Make notes as you run out of something or are beginning to run low. I like doing this on a magnetic pad attached to the fridge, but you can use your phone or a notebook you keep in the kitchen. Before you go grocery shopping you will just need to add the new ingredients for recipes you are prepping to make and won't have to spend time rifling through your cupboards to take inventory.
