As a parent, there is no question more dreaded than “What’s for dinner?” It comes fast and furious from your kids the moment they finish lunch. And, when it pops up via text from your significant other, you take a deep breath and try not to send the snarkiest reply you can think of. The Sunday Scaries are real and while you may be thinking of your daunting work tasks, the activities you’ll need to carpool your kids to, or the bills due in a few days, the LAST thing you should worry about is what’s for dinner this week. Meal prepping offers a way to stay organized, save time and money, and make consistent, nutritious meals for you and your family.
Whether you’re planning out your breakfasts, lunches, or dinners, on today’s kickoff of our Self-Care Sundays series, we’ll share helpful tips for meal prep so that you can get ahead of the week and strictly focus on the next best question: “Can I have a snack?” We kid… kind of!
1. Make a giant calendar of food
Pick the days ahead of time that you will be cooking, buffer in a day or two for take-out or meals out. A white board or chalkboard in the kitchen is a fun way to show your family what’s coming up for dinner, so if they ask you can just direct them to the board.
2. Choose Simple Recipes
We’d all love to be able to whip up an elaborate, delicious meal at the drop of a hat, but realistically, our schedule, skillset, and budget can hold us back. That’s why it’s important to pick easy recipes for meals you know you and your family will enjoy. Start with simple recipes like these Apple-Oat Breakfast Squares.
3. Assemble/Prep Your Ingredients, but Don’t Cook
If you’d rather not spend your Sunday cooking, you can make your life a little bit easier by assembling and preparing your ingredients for cooking during the week. Chop up your veggies, portion out your ingredients for your casserole, or try one of these 7 easy chicken marinade recipes.
4. Incorporate Convenience
Meal prepping doesn’t translate to ‘make everything from scratch’! Don’t be afraid to grab the pre-made pasta sauces, dressings, or marinades for your week’s meals, or even pre-made salad mixes, cut veggies, or sides. Nothing wrong with a little help!
5. Set a Theme
Sometimes, it’s easier to plan meals around a theme, and by choosing themes of foods you enjoy, like Mexican or Mediterranean, you can fit meals around similar ingredients and flavors! Think spinach frittata, salmon salad, and hummus rice bowls!
Meal prepping makes it easier to tackle your week and get you and your family excited for your next meal! Don’t be afraid to get creative and try new things when it comes to your ingredients and recipes. Happy meal prepping!
Looking for a professional to help you make sound food decisions? Find a nutritionist near you.
