Meal prepping is a great way to save time and money. In this post I share 24 tips and tricks for stress-free meal prep. I have linked some of my favorite meal prep accessories and where to find them! Check out my meal prep section for easy weekly recipes.
Table of contents:
Meal Prep Tips:
- Plan ahead – plan you weekly meals in advance to save time and money. Use the printables below to help you stay organized!
- Get creative with what you already have – swap ingredients in a recipe for items you have on hand.
- Buy in bulk – save money and time by buying pantry staples in bulk. Items like rice, pasta, beans, and canned items are great to keep on hand. This also cuts down on waste!
- Shop sales – base meals around sale items like beef and poultry to save money, take advantage of BOGO sales, shop around at different stores.
- Take advantage of your freezer -along with shopping sales and buying in bulk, stock up on items that are freezer friendly. Store chicken, beef, veggies, and much more in the freezer.
- Plan meals around seasonal items – save money and get the best produce by purchasing seasonally. Plan your meals around in season fruits and vegetables to avoid paying out of season costs.
- Meal prep shouldn’t cause more stress, so pick recipes and meals that are easy to shop for and easy to cook/store. I listed some good ideas below!
Some ways you can meal prep:
- Reheat meals – fully cooked meals that just need reheated.
- Batch meals – prepare many different ingredients that can be mixed and matched
- Ingredient prep – prep individual items to have available throughout the week. Some examples are:
- Fresh fruits and veggies
- Hard boiled eggs
- Granola or granola bars
- Chia seed pudding
- Energy bites
- Beverages – make your own cold brew coffee, teas, and flavored water to last the week
- Make-ahead freezer meals – perfect for easy weeknight meals
Meal Prep Printables:
Use any of these free printables to plan ahead and keep your meal prep organized!
Click on an image to get a printable version!
Weekly Meal Plan:
Monthly Meal Plan
Grocery List:
Weekly Lunch Plan:
Must-have Meal Prep Accessories:
Not only can meal prepping be better for your wallet, it can also be better for the environment. By using reusable, no-waste products such as glass food containers, reusable plastic bags, on the go silverware sets, and washable napkins. Below are some of my favorite meal prep accessories!
Looking to start meal prepping? Try some of these recipes..
Meal Prep Shredded BBQ Chicken Bowls
Meal Prep Sticky Sesame Meatballs
Meal Prep Carnitas Bowls with Mango Salsa
Meal Prep Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Orzo
Or check out these other great guides!
