Meal Prepping for the Week
During the week, it can be stressful figuring out what you are going to eat at work or throughout the day then coming home and having to cook. If you were in a rush to leave in the morning, you may end up heating a frozen packaged meal for lunch or grabbing fast food for dinner. Meal prepping on Sunday, or another convenient day can save time during the week and leave room for relaxation. We at Britton Homes have some tips and recipes to save you time and energy during the busy weeks ahead.
Tips
If you want to avoid eating fast food, heating up frozen mass-produced meals that leave you unsatisfied or just feel less rushed to leave before traffic in the morning, meal prepping can be helpful. Additionally, preparing meals ahead of time will keep the food from your weekend grocery store trip as fresh as possible. Here are some tips that will save time and money.
- Investing in food storage containers is a must when meal prepping. They are reusable and convenient since you can grab and go in the mornings. While Pyrex is not good for reheating if kept in the fridge, it makes serving sizes easier and keeps salad and cold pastas fresh. Plastic and stainless steel containers can both be useful since they are lightweight, making them easily-transportable.
- If you are looking for some light cooking in the evenings but do not want to spend too much time in the kitchen, then preparing food groups for a recipe, such as veggies, grains and proteins in advance cuts down your cooking time.
- When preparing pasta ahead of time, keep it al dente so it will hold a good consistency when heated, and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Cut or slice up durable veggies and fruits like watermelon, pineapple, carrots and bell pepper to snack on later.
- Make a shopping list according to what meals you feel like eating throughout the week and buy the essentials, but do not feel like you have to be tied down.
- Slow cookers are a great tool for pot roast, stews, soups and more. Assembling ingredients in freezer-safe gallon plastic bags, thawing overnight in the fridge and putting the contents in your slow cooker in the morning saves time and can be reused for meals during the week. You can also slow cook a large quantity and freeze portions to be ready to eat at another time.
- Bake a chicken for dinner one night and shred leftover pieces in salads, tostadas and sandwiches for multiple meals.
- Buy snacks in bulk and separate them later in tupperware or sealable plastic bags according to portion sizes.
- If you make hard boiled eggs, do not peel the shell off until you eat them. It keeps them fresh longer. Plus, make sure to keep them in a separate, sealed container to avoid any unpleasant smells.
- Prepare an extra batch of eggs, sausage or bacon for breakfast tacos. Make a pot of oatmeal or cut up fruit ahead of time to enjoy in the morning.
Recipes
If you are looking for some new delicious recipes to try that do not take up much time, here are a few you can prepare for lunch and dinner.
Broccoli Pasta Salad - Looking to celebrate summer? This broccoli pasta salad is perfectly light and satisfying. Packed with vegetables, it will brighten up and give energy to your work day and make for some tasty leftovers. This recipe is vegan but you can add chicken if you want some extra protein.
Healthy Roasted Chicken and Veggies - This is a simple 30 minute recipe cooked all at once on a baking sheet in the oven. You can prepare this Sunday night for Monday’s lunch, have it for dinner or prepare ingredients ahead to cook the day of.
Vegetarian Chili - A great choice for meal prep. Whether in need of a home cooked meal or are looking for a vegetarian option, this chili will bring ease to your work week.
Kitchen Prep
Meal prepping happens in the kitchen. Britton Homes creates personalized kitchens you can see yourself in that define your style. Make sure to check out our gallery to get inspiration and available homes for sale as well as other blogs for more tips and recipes.