5 Easy Meal Prep Tips
As a busy mom of three, life can get a little hectic so this year I am trying to implement ways to streamline and simplify in different areas of our life. Meal time is one of the areas I used to struggle with the most. Many nights I would find myself scrounging around for what to make for lunch and dinner because I didn’t have a plan.
This year I have been working on meal planning and prepping every week. It has made a HUGE difference in stress level and is saving me lots of time. I want to share with you 5 easy meal prep tips that have helped keep me on track with meal time.
Food Storage
Having the right containers is one of the most important parts of succeeding at meal prep. Food containers are designed to make life easier, so I think it is important to have ones that will keep up with everyday demands. I love using Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ 10 piece set because these containers are perfect for everyday use and they are premium quality. They have many other great benefits like:
- 100% Leak Proof. Guaranteed. (This sets them apart from other containers.)
- Stain and Odor Resistant
- Crystal clear and easy to see what is inside with 360 degree clarity.
- Splatter-resistant microwaving.
- Stacks perfectly for easy refrigerator organization.
Shop and Prep
Another tip I have found that helps me is when I come home from grocery shopping, I unload the groceries and then immediately wash, dry, cut and store any produce that was purchased. This helps ensure your produce is ready to go when you start prepping meals. It is also nice to have ready for a quick snack or to pack for lunch.
Cook Meat and Store
Sunday is when I usually do most of my meal prep. Lately I have been buying a lot of chicken and cooking it on Sunday to prep for the week. One of my favorite things to do is marinate chicken breasts throughout the day and then grill them later in the afternoon. I marinate the chicken in a Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ container since they are 100% Leak Proof Guaranteed and stain/odor resistant. Once I grill the chicken, I chop or slice it and store in a container.
I also will bake chicken or put it in the slow cooker and then store in a Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ container to have through the week. If you get tired of chicken, brown up some beef to have ready for tacos or even add to spaghetti sauce.
Make a Menu
I have found that making a menu for what you will be eating during the week helps cut down on grocery store shopping and stress. Before I go to the store I make sure to have my menu for the week and all the ingredients needed.
Part of my menu planning includes lunches for my husband to bring to work. I have been making him pre-prepped lunches so he is able to easily see what is in the container, grab it and go. This meal includes grilled chicken, brown rice, corn, black beans and tomatoes.
Store Conveniently
Use the Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ containers to stack in the refrigerator so everything is easy to find. That is why I think it is important to have these crystal clear containers with 360 degree clarity so you can quickly grab exactly what you need. I can’t tell you how many times I would have food go bad because I wasn’t able to see what was in the containers.
Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ 10 piece set is available nationwide at Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Amazon and other fine retailers.
No more guessing what is for lunch and dinner. Meal prep and planning will help you get through your busy week with a little less stress and a lot more organization.
Do you meal prep/plan? Do you have any tricks to make it easy?
Samantha K says
February 3, 2017 at 7:55 pmGreat tips! I plan my grocery list, put actually getting food prepped for the week has been my downfall. This is very motivating! (client)
Kim says
February 7, 2017 at 4:47 pmDoes the lettuce stay fresh on the containers?i haven’t had good luck with plastic. I usually use glass.
heather says
February 7, 2017 at 5:39 pmYes, I keep lettuce in them for up to 4 days. Typically I buy a bag of lettuce and then dump it in the larger container. Cut up my vegetables that go in the salad and put them in with the lettuce.
Jechu says
February 25, 2017 at 1:28 pmGreat tips! Tks. I will try them this week. ??