Hey y’all! Today I have something new for you… my first YouTube video! We meal plan and prep every week. Now I know this can seem overwhelming so I put together a few tips and tricks that I use every week. Come with me throughout my day to see how I incorporate these tips into our routine without spending all day prepping.
Tip 1: Pick your meals based on your weekly schedule
Pick your meals based on how much time you have that day. On busy days, pick something quick and easy. If you know you will have more time in the day, you can try out a new recipe or something a little more complicated. Setting yourself up with realistic meal ideas makes it easier to stick to cooking at home.
Tip 2: Pick your meals first and then make your grocery list
It is easy to start adding things to your cart immediately but going in without a plan leads to having random ingredients and a higher grocery bill. Make a list of the meals you will be eating and then make your grocery list based on what you will need. If you have extra left in the budget then you can add some extras!
Tip 3: Wash all veggies and fruit for easy grab and go options
How many times have you bought produce for it to go bad in the fridge because you didn’t eat it? By washing all your fruits and veggies at the first of the week, you have them ready to go whenever you want them. Quick and easy snacks!
Tip 4: Make a list of everything that needs to be prepped
Trust me on this one. I can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to make something until I thought I was finished meal prepping. LOL Jotting down a quick list can help you prioritize your time and make prepping more efficient.
Tip 5: Cut all veggies that will be used during the week
Having cut veggies ready for the week gives quick and easy snacks that can be eaten during the week. It’s a lot easier to pick to eat the veggies in the fridge if they are cut up and ready to eat. Having grab-and-go veggies on busy days makes it easier to not go for prepackaged snacks. Do the same for all veggies that will be used for dinners. Spending the extra 20 minutes on prep day will make cooking throughout the week simpler and faster.
Bonus – Tip 6: Place a paper towel in boxed/bagged salad mixes
This is a tip that I have been using for years! This helps soak up any moisture to prevent wilting and from going bad as fast. If you notice your paper towel is too damp after a few days, just switch it out. Adding the paper towel easily doubles the fridge life of the salad mix.
I’d love to hear if you try out any of these tips! If you meal plan and prep already, leave your tips and tricks in the comments below so we can all learn something new. Hopefully seeing this process in real-time can help it seem not so overwhelming. Let me know what you think and if you have any questions!
