If you’ve been around you know I’m a hugeee advocate for meal preps! They not only help you stay healthy & eat clean but also saves time, cost & stop you from getting into the hangry mode.
It sure can be a bit overwhelming especially when you are starting out. From knowing what to buy to cutting, chopping, prepping meat & cooking so many things alll at the same time.
I remember the first time I did it, it all started with excitement & eventually turned into anxiety & overwhelm of cleaning the mess I had made.
I’m sure a lot of you have felt the same or been through the same experience & never gave it a second change! If that was you… then THIS blog & the hacks I talk about it exactly what you need!
Meal prepping doesn’t have to suck. It doesn’t have to be messy & that’s what I learned over time as I stuck to it! How??!
Let’s dive into it!
Meal Prep Hacks (to avoid overwhelm & a messy kitchen) —
Use frozen veggies -
Ufcourse fresh veggies are the best.. but when you prepping meals, you want something that’s easy, convenient to use & saves you tons of time! If that means using already chopped frozen veggies.. then why not??! Plus they are damn affordable!
PS - If you find chopped fresh veggies to toss in by all means go for it!
Prep veggies ahead of time -
If you are a fresh veggie snob, that’s okay.. you can STILL prep your vegetables ahead of time by washing & chopping them all. Divide them into portions & store them in containers for dinner. This will make it easier when nights roll in & you want to saute them for your meal.
You can also put them in a mason jar with dressings for a go-to salad.
Invest in helpful kitchen gadgets -
I love my crockpot for instant & easy cooking! It acts both like a pressure cooker & a slow cooker depending on what you in the mood of. Some of my other favorite gadgets I swear by are - Mandoline Slicer, Spiral Vegetable Cutter for pasta, and my multi-purpose food processor.
PS - If you do have a crockpot, don’t forget to check out my blog on Crockpot Freezer Meals.
Clean as you go -
The best way to avoid the clutter in the kitchen is to clean as you go. While the food’s in the crockpot or oven wash up the few dishes or put them away in the dishwasher orrrr if you are done with all the cutting & chopping clean the counter before anything gets stuck or hard to clean.
Don’t JUST focus on cleaning -
Yup I know I said clean as you go… but DON’T get too engrossed in cleaning that you forget that you still have some prep to do! Example - If you mealing off potatoes to bake them in the over, if you make a mess on the floor, don’t keep bending to pick it up; you can do it later. Or if you cooking on the gas stove & keep spilling a bit of gravy, wait till you are done to wipe it off!
Bake, Grill of Saute your meat -
Bake, Grill of Saute your meat all at once with 2-3 different marinades or seasonings. Fit as many burgers as you can in the pan while cooking them or bake them in the over if they are too many. You can then use them for salads, wraps, or with veggies for lunches & dinner.
PS - If you don’t like pre-cooked chicken reheated, try trimming the fat, place in zip-lock freezer bags with your marinade/seasonings of choice (add a little vinegar to help tenderize), and freeze. Place in the fridge to thaw the night before you plan to prepare it.
Use baking sheets or foil -
If you baking stuff in the oven, line up your tray with baking paper or foil. It’s not only easy to cook as the food doesn’t stick to the base but it’s also easy to clean, simply peel off & throw away.
Get some good containers -
It’s tedious to fill different types of food into different containers & then carry them around! Instead, get yourself some good containers with multi-pockets & portion sizes. You can easily fill them with veggies, meat & carbs for your lunches.
Prep Snacks -
If you are planning to be on the go, think ahead as to what you can cook more & convert into on-the-go snack ideas. Ex - Chopping extra carrots or cucumbers & bell peppers to have with hummus or making a Tomato Cucumber Salad with some diced onion, tomato, greens, cucumber, balsamic vinaigrette & Avacado! Planning ahead will help with meal prepping as well!
Do you enjoy prepping meals? What days do you generally meal prep?! I’m usually cooking on Sundays after a day of grocery shopping on Saturday!