Let’s face it—eating out all the time is not the healthiest, and certainly not the best use of your money. Money can buy you a lot more at the grocery store than it can at a restaurant, giving you more bang for your buck. Use these tips to help you save time and money in the long run!
Why Should I Start Meal Prepping?
- With all the additives and preservatives put in fast-food, knowing what’s in your food and what you’re putting into your body is important. When you meal prep, you know exactly what’s going into your meal and if you have any dietary restrictions, you don’t have to worry about finding an option at a restaurant that will fit your needs. Going to your local farmers market is a great way to get fresh produce!
- Meal prepping can be easy if you cook extra when you make food and freeze it, or package it up for the rest of the week. Money is saved and you get to enjoy your homemade cookin’!
- Because cooking takes time, a lot of us don’t want to cook three meals a day. Meal prepping is the easiest way to save time.
Make the Freezer Your Best Friend
- If you’re making meatballs or browning meat, make an extra pound and freeze them for another day (just don’t leave it in the freezer too long!). With the browned meat, you can easily add spices and turn it into tacos or chili. Just make sure to defrost before you plan to cook it!
- The freezer is also the best way to save the food you know you’re not going to get to eat and save you from having to throw it away.
Pack a Lunch to Avoid Eating Out
- When you’re putting your food away for the night, put it in a tupperware container the night before (unless it would get soggy) so it’s easy for you to grab-it-and-go the next morning.
- If you have access to a microwave either at work, or your child’s school, the possibilities of what you can take are endless—just make sure the container is microwave safe!
Plan a Weekly Menu
- Take a Sunday afternoon and batch cook all your lunches or breakfasts for the week. Casserole dishes that you can reheat are a lifesaver!
- On Monday, make a French toast casserole for breakfast, on Tuesday make a mac n’ cheese casserole for dinner…the casserole cooking schedule is up to you! You can cut a slice out of them, package it up quickly, and reheat it throughout the week.
Learn to Love Leftovers
- The easiest way to meal prep is…you guessed it! Leftovers. When you cook food, always make a little extra. If you cook pasta, pack the leftovers with some olive oil, cheese, and your choice of toppings (tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives) and boom! Pasta salad and your lunch for the next day.
- So, you have pasta and chicken left in the fridge? Why not combine the two and make chicken alfredo? Or use the chicken and make some chicken salad. There are many other things you can combine to add some variety to your weekly meals. If you have a leftover baked potato, fry it and add chili and lots of cheese on top for a chili-fries-type dish.
- If you’re tired of the same-old, go to Google and put in “Recipes to make with…” (insert ingredients in your fridge) and dozens of recipes will pop up. Choose one that suits your fancy!
Use the Time-Saving Recipes
- Overnight oats are a super quick and delicious breakfast to make overnight! Add fruit, granola, and some spices to make a tasty breakfast. This is a really easy breakfast to eat on the go, too. It takes about 5 minutes to make and it “cooks” while you sleep.
- Crock pot meals are also another time-saving option. There are many meals that you can make in the crock pot from breakfast to dinner. Put the ingredients in the pot and when it’s time for your meal, it’s ready to eat. Just be wary of the delicious smell making you hungry!
- Casseroles are a real time saver! They give you lots of time in between the prep stage and the eating stage. Make it, stick it in the oven, and use that time to wash dishes, vacuum, or dust.