Meal Prepping Made Easy: Tips and Tricks from Seasoned Pros
Overcoming the Initial Hurdle
Meal prepping can be a game-changer for your wallet, but getting started can be a daunting task. Fortunately, our readers have shared their secrets to help you overcome the initial hurdle.
Simplifying the Process
Maggie swears by her Workweek Lunch subscription, which provides a meal plan and grocery list every week. Jill recommends starting small by preparing basic ingredients like rice, chicken, or pre-sliced fruits and vegetables. These building blocks can be combined to create different meals throughout the week.
Investing in the Right Tools
Mike attributes his meal prep success to his slow cooker, which allows him to cook large batches of food with minimal effort. Similarly, having a food processor, like Caleb, can be a huge help in preparing dips and sauces.
Creating a Routine
Meghan sets aside Sundays for meal prep, starting with grocery shopping in the morning and cooking in the afternoon. She motivates herself with a fancy coffee to begin the day. Kate, on the other hand, prepares staples at the beginning of the week and adds other ingredients as needed.
Embracing Leftovers
Phoebe views meal prep as simply cooking more portions of her usual meals. Laura discovered that recipes designed for 4-6 people can easily be adapted for one person, providing multiple meals throughout the week.
Finding Inspiration
Cornelia explores new recipes to keep her meal prep exciting and varied. E finds inspiration on Pinterest and buys items like rice in bulk. Nishat emphasizes the importance of convenience, washing and portioning out produce as soon as she gets home.
Replicating Favorites
Katherine started by replicating her favorite take-out meals, like perogies with crispy Brussels sprouts, wild rice, and spinach salad. Rebecca turned to an Instant Pot and Whole30 slow cooker cookbook to meal prep after starting a time-intensive job.
Small Steps Lead to Big Changes
AddictedtoTeaching began meal prepping as a single mom to save time and money. After getting out of the habit, she realized the importance of meal prep and started again. Alice freezes individual meals for lunches, making it easy to have on hand.
Variety is Key
Sasha’s friend Rachel recommends prepping foundational ingredients rather than entire meals to ensure variety throughout the week. Todd buys quality glass storage containers and makes meals for 4+ people, even though he only needs to feed two. This approach allows him to always have something in the freezer that can be reheated quickly.
By incorporating these tips and tricks into your routine, you can make meal prep a breeze and start saving money today!
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