12 Easy Meal Prep Ideas You’ll Actually Use
Updated: Sep. 10, 2019
There's nothing like seeing a refrigerator full of fully-prepped meals and snacks. We've rounded up a dozen easy meal prep ideas that will make your life simpler!
Make Big Batches of Grains All at Once
If you only have time to meal prep one food this weekend, make it this one! A big batch of grains like cooked brown rice or quinoa is simple and has endless possibilities. From hearty lunch salads to quick dinners, a pot of grains will serve you well all week.
Layer Salads in Mason Jars
There’s nothing worse than being stranded at work with nothing but a soggy salad for lunch. Keep the crunch and vibrant flavours by layering your daily salad in a mason jar. First, pour in the dressing to keep your veggies crunchy. Once it’s time for lunch, shake it up for a crave-worthy meal in seconds. Check out more clever uses for mason jars.
Cut Fruits & Vegetables for the Week
When healthy fruits and veggies are easy to grab, you and your family will be more likely to reach for them. Set yourself up for success by chopping a variety of veggies like sweet potatoes, broccoli, onions and peppers. You’ll be able to grab a few bell pepper sticks when hunger strikes and be ready to make easy vegetable dishes all week. Find out exactly how long fresh produce will last.
Assemble Smoothie Bags
What’s easier than grabbing a smoothie in the morning? Grabbing one that’s already been prepped and measured! Assemble small plastic bags with frozen fruit like bananas and berries and keep them in the freezer all week. In the morning, dump the bag into the blender with a little almond milk for a healthy breakfast in no time. Fruit for smoothies, bread and leftover pasta sauce are just a few of the foods you didn’t know you could freeze.
Make Veggie Burgers
If your usual lunch options have gotten boring, spice things up with a veggie burger wrap. Bake a big batch of healthy burgers and enjoy them on their own or over a salad, grains or in a wrap. If you have time to make a double batch, freeze the extras for easy lunches.
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Prepare Baked Oatmeal or Breakfast Casserole
Give yourself a hot breakfast every morning when you prepare a pan of baked oatmeal. You’ll start the day right with plenty of healthy fibre and vitamins from oats and fruit. This is one of our best quick and easy meal prep ideas; one pan should feed your family all week! Check out these oatmeal recipes you need to try.
Make a Big Lunch Salad
Once you’ve gotten the kids to bed and cleaned up the kitchen, the last thing you feel like doing is packing lunches for the following day. But what if all you had to do was grab a container of prepped quinoa salad?
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Mix Together Slow Cooker Ingredients
Slow cooker dinners are perfect for busy weeknights. After a long day at work or school, you get to walk into a cozy house already filled with the smell of comfort food. If you have time over the weekend, place all of your slow cooker ingredients in sealable containers or large plastic bags so all you have to do in the morning is dump and go!
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Package Individual Servings of Snacks
It’s hard to eat healthy when you’re starving and searching the pantry for just about anything. Give yourself the gift of prepped snacks by setting aside individual bags of trail mix, popcorn or other snacks in small plastic bags. Portion control done! Check out more healthy snacks you can feel good about.
Marinate Meat
If you’re planning to grill this week, save yourself a step and marinate your meat or veggies now. When it’s time to cook, your food will be juicy and perfectly seasoned. Make your own marinade or grab a favourite salad dressing to save time. Just be sure to avoid these mistakes everyone makes when cooking chicken.
Simmer a Pot of Soup
Make your lunches for the week while filling the house with delicious scents by simmering a pot of soup this weekend. Looking for inspiration? Here’s our best chicken soup recipe of all time.
Roast Veggies for the Week
Once you have your veggies washed and chopped, toss them with a little salt and olive oil to roast them for the week. Store them in a sealed container and serve them for easy side dishes at dinner or over rice for a quick lunch. Next, discover our best kitchen hacks of all time.
