Meal
prep
has
saved
me
more
times
than
I
can
count.
Between
work,
family,
and
all
the
unexpected
things
life
throws
my
way,
having
healthy
meals
ready
to
go
makes
everything
easier.
But
let’s
be
real—eating
the
same
bland
chicken
and
broccoli
every
day?
No,
thanks.
I
want
variety.
I
want
flavor.
And
I
want
food
that
actually
makes
me
excited
to
eat.
If
that
sounds
good
to
you
too,
let’s
get
into
some
meal
prep
ideas
that
are
simple,
tasty,
and
packed
with
good-for-you
ingredients.
Breakfast:
Start
the
Day
Right
Mornings
can
be
chaotic,
so
having
breakfast
prepped
ahead
of
time
is
a
game-changer.
Here
are
some
options
that
taste
amazing
and
keep
hunger
at
bay.
1.
Overnight
Oats
(5
Ways!)
Oats
are
a
meal
prep
superstar.
They’re
filling,
nutritious,
and
can
be
customized
in
so
many
ways.
Base
Recipe:
-
½
cup
rolled
oats -
1
cup
(0.24
l)
milk
(dairy
or
non-dairy) -
1
tbsp
chia
seeds -
1
TSP
honey
or
maple
syrup
Flavor
Variations:
-
Berry
Bliss
–
Add
½
cup
mixed
berries
and
a
splash
of
vanilla
extract. -
Peanut
Butter
Banana
–
Stir
in
1
tbsp
peanut
butter
and
half
a
mashed
banana. -
Apple
Cinnamon
–
Add
½
chopped
apple,
a
sprinkle
of
cinnamon,
and
a
few
walnuts. -
Chocolate
Almond
–
Mix
in
1
TSP
cocoa
powder
and
a
handful
of
sliced
almonds. -
Coconut
Mango
–
Stir
in
shredded
coconut
and
diced
mango.
Just
mix
everything,
pop
it
in
the
fridge
overnight,
and
enjoy
in
the
morning!
2.
Egg
Muffins

muffins
are
like
mini
omelets
that
you
can
gran
and
go.
Ingredients:
-
6
eggs -
½
cup
milk -
½
cup
chopped
veggies
(bell
peppers,
spinach,
mushrooms) -
½
cup
shredded
cheese
(optional) -
Salt
and
pepper
to
taste
Directions:
-
Preheat
oven
to
375
°F
(ca.
191
°C). -
Whisk
eggs,
milk,
salt,
and
pepper
in
a
bowl. -
Stir
in
veggies
and
cheese. -
Pour
mixture
into
a
greased
muffin
tin. -
Bake
for
20–25
minutes,
or
until
set.
Store
them
in
the
fridge
and
reheat
for
a
quick
breakfast.
Lunch:
Easy
&
Filling
Meals
Lunchtime
should
be
stress-free.
Here
are
some
ideas
that
are
quick
to
reheat
and
packed
with
nutrients.
3.
Mediterranean
Chickpea
Salad
A
fresh,
protein-packed
salad
that
lasts
days
in
the
fridge.
Ingredients:
-
1
can
chickpeas,
drained
and
rinsed -
1
cup
(0.24
l)
cherry
tomatoes,
halved -
½
cucumber,
diced -
¼
red
onion,
finely
chopped -
¼
cup
feta
cheese
(optional) -
2
tbsp
olive
oil -
Juice
of
1
lemon -
Salt
&
pepper
to
taste
Directions:
-
Toss
everything
together
in
a
bowl. -
Store
in
the
fridge
and
serve
cold.
4.
Teriyaki
Chicken
&
Rice
Bowls
A
balanced
meal
with
protein,
fiber,
and
a
touch
of
sweetness.
Ingredients:
-
2
chicken
breasts,
diced -
1
cup
(0.24
l)
cooked
brown
rice -
1
cup
(0.24
l)
steamed
broccoli -
½
cup
shredded
carrots -
¼
cup
teriyaki
sauce -
1
TSP
sesame
seeds
Directions:
-
Cook
the
chicken
in
a
pan
until
golden
brown. -
Add
teriyaki
sauce
and
cook
for
another
minute. -
Assemble
bowls
with
rice,
veggies,
and
chicken. -
Sprinkle
sesame
seeds
on
top.
Dinner:
Satisfying
&
Simple
Evenings
can
be
exhausting,
so
having
something
already
prepped
is
a
lifesaver.
5.
One-Pan
Garlic
Shrimp
&
Quinoa
A
light
yet
satisfying
dish
that’s
full
of
flavor.
Ingredients:
-
1
cup
(0.24
l)
cooked
quinoa -
½
lb
shrimp,
peeled
and
detained -
2
cloves
garlic,
minced -
1
tbsp
olive
oil -
½
cup
cherry
tomatoes,
halved -
1
handful
spinach -
Juice
of
½
lemon -
Salt
&
pepper
to
taste
Directions:
-
Heat
olive
oil
in
a
pan
and
cook
shrimp
with
garlic
until
pink. -
Add
tomatoes
and
spinach,
cooking
until
wilted. -
Toss
everything
with
quinoa
and
lemon
juice. -
Store
in
containers
and
reheat
when
needed.
6.
Turkey
&
Sweet
Potato
Skillet
Comfort
food
that’s
also
nutrient-packed.
Ingredients:
-
1
lb
(0.45
kg)
ground
turkey -
1
sweet
potato,
diced -
½
onion,
chopped -
1
bell
pepper,
chopped -
2
cloves
garlic,
minced -
1
TSP
paprika -
Salt
&
pepper
to
taste
Directions:
-
Sauté
onion
and
garlic
in
a
pan. -
Add
turkey
and
cook
until
browned. -
Stir
in
sweet
potato,
bell
pepper,
paprika,
salt,
and
pepper. -
Cover
and
cook
for
10–15
minutes
until
the
potatoes
are
soft.
Why
Meal
Prep?
Meal
prepping
isn’t
just
about
throwing
meals
together
in
advance—it’s
about
creating
a
more
efficient,
stress-free,
and
healthy
lifestyle.
Think
about
those
moments
when
hunger
strikes
and
you
have
no
idea
what
to
eat.
That’s
when
bad
food
choices
happen,
often
leading
to
takeout,
fast
food,
or
processed
snacks.
Having
pre-made
meals
eliminates
that
struggle,
giving
you
nourishing
options
that
are
ready
when
you
require
them.
One
of
the
biggest
benefits
is
time
savings.
By
dedicating
a
couple
of
hours
on
a
designated
prep
day,
you
can
significantly
cut
down
on
daily
cooking.
Imagine
coming
home
from
work
or
finishing
a
workout,
and
instead
of
scrambling
to
cook,
all
you
need
to
do
is
heat
up
a
meal
that’s
already
prepared.
It’s
a
small
effort
that
pays
off
big
time
throughout
the
week.
Meal
prepping
is
also
great
for
your
wallet.
Eating
out
regularly
adds
up
quickly,
and
let’s
be
real—those
$10-$15
meals
here
and
there
turn
into
hundreds
of
dollars
over
time.
Cooking
at
home
using
fresh
ingredients
is
a
much
more
cost-effective
approach,
plus
you
have
total
control
over
what
goes
into
your
food.
Beyond
the
convenience
and
savings,
meal
prepping
naturally
encourages
healthier
eating
habits.
When
you
have
well-balanced
meals
stocked
and
ready,
it
becomes
easier
to
stick
to
nutritious
choices
rather
than
reaching
for
less
wholesome
alternatives.
You
can
portion
out
meals
in
advance,
helping
to
prevent
overeating
while
ensuring
you
get
the
right
amount
of
protein,
healthy
fats,
and
carbs
in
each
serving.
Another
bonus?
It
reduces
stress.
The
constant
dilemma
of
“What
should
I
eat?”
disappears
when
you
already
have
an
answer
waiting
in
the
fridge.
You’ll
have
more
mental
space
to
focus
on
your
day
without
the
burden
of
last-minute
meal
decisions.
Final
Tips
The
key
to
successful
meal
prepping
is
having
a
solid
strategy
in
place.
One
of
the
best
ways
to
stay
on
track
is
to
batch
cook
proteins
ahead
of
time.
Grilling
or
baking
a
batch
of
chicken,
turkey,
or
tofu
makes
it
easy
to
mix
and
match
ingredients
throughout
the
week
without
having
to
start
from
scratch
every
day.
Cooked
rice,
quinoa,
roasted
vegetables,
and
lean
proteins
can
be
transformed
into
a
variety
of
meals
with
different
seasonings
and
sauces.
Keeping
things
flexible
prevents
boredom
and
keeps
your
meals
exciting
while
still
being
easy
to
assemble.
Storage
is
another
crucial
factor.
Investing
in
good-quality,
airtight
containers
helps
keep
meals
fresh
for
longer,
ensuring
that
your
hard
work
doesn’t
go
to
waste.
Clear
containers
also
allow
you
to
see
exactly
what
you
have
available,
making
it
easier
to
grab
and
go
when
needed.