Meal prepping is a great tool in just leading a healthy lifestyle.  It’s great for time management too because you won’t have to worry about cooking something because it will basically be done.  I was reading a site recently and the subject was meal prepping but they were charging people for the information.  I won’t do that too you because it’s not that difficult to meal prep.

I always meal prep breakfast and dinner for the entire week.  For lunch, I will have leftovers or a frozen meal.  When I say we eat the same thing every week, I really mean it.  It doesn’t bother me because I know the meals are done and ready to reheat.

Here are some meal prepping tips:

• Prepare a good grocery list!  This is where it all starts.  I posted a while back some helpful hints on a successful grocery shopping trip which come in handy.  My list is usually divided up into categories and there is also a meal planning section out the side.  Plan the meal, add the ingredients to the list…and you’re done.
• Make time one day a week to make all your meals.  Meal prepping is about time management, but you also need to make the time to prep the meals.  I usually do it on a Sunday afternoon because that is when I spend the most time in the house.  I cook for a few hours BUT I have all the meals for the week done.
• Buy storage bags and containers that can be placed in the freezer and/or fridge AND will be good for reheating.
• Cook things in advance that can be cooked.  Also, chop the veggies, prep the sauces and whatever else needs to be done and put it together so you’re not searching for everything.  The point of doing this is to make life easier and not more stressful. I suggest putting all the individual parts in a small bags or containers and then adding everything for that meal in one large bag and/or container.
• Label everything with what it is, what’s in it and the date.  I even label what days we’re supposed to eat certain meals.  It’s just one less thing you have to think about.

There are also certain things I always try to keep on hand because they are really great for meal prepping:

• Beans: black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans
• Lentils
• Quinoa
• Brown rice
• Frozen veggies: fajita veggie mix, broccoli, peas, carrots, corn

It’s easy to come up with something to pair thing things with.  I know that if I have black beans, brown rice, corn and/or fajita veggie mix I can make a fiesta bowl and add chicken to it and top with salsa.

It’s kind of just using your imagination.  I’ve seen people do the same with tacos.  Cook the meat, slice the veggies, put the tortillas together in a kit and assemble when ready to eat.  Prepping pasta meals is also easy by cooking the meat sauce, adding a veggie and cooking the pasta the day of the meal. I like to make stir fry with qunioa, veggies and a protein.  It’s easy to make ahead of time and store in the fridge.

Breakfast items are also pretty easy by having sliced fruit already on hand.  You might also want to try overnight oats.  We also make eggs muffins for the week.  They are just mini omelets that we cook in the muffin tin and we just reheat them every morning.  But you could prep breakfast tacos ahead of time, pancakes, smoothies, or even make a frittata for the week.  I’ve also seen a lot of crockpot oatmeal things going around the internet lately.

Do you have any ideas for a quick and easy meal that can be prepped ahead of time?