We all have told ourselves that we should cook more at home at one point or another. Whether to be healthier, more money-conscious, or have intentional family time, cooking at home is a great idea. Still, cooking can be daunting, especially when you have to pair it with grocery shopping, planning, and prepping. This article has a few simple tips that can help you meal prep some easy, on-the-go meals so you can feel accomplished after.
1. Ole Faithful
A rotisserie chicken is one of my favorite and easiest meals to prep for work lunches or an easy dinner for a few nights. Simply buy it, cut it up, and pair it with steamed vegetables. You can also choose to throw it on top of a salad. If you want to keep the veggies fresh and crispy for longer, store them separately. You can get four to six servings from one chicken if you play your cards right.
2. Crock it Like It’s Hot
Everyone can enjoy the benefits of a crockpot. For example, using one allows you to make a meal while working on other tasks from your to-do list. Plenty of crockpot recipes are online, including large meals, simple dishes, and even desserts. Our favorites include salsa chicken, turkey chili, and tortilla soup. If you don’t want to eat it immediately, store some in the freezer for a future night when you’re too tired to cook.
3. Keep It Fun
Since cooking can be boring or challenging for some, try adding some entertainment to the task to make it less daunting and more palatable. (See what I did there?). If you’re cooking a particular cuisine, play music from the country your meal originated in. You can also make something you’ve never tried before or invite some friends over for a meal prep party. Pairing fun with something a bit more daunting makes it easier to get through.
4. Eggs – So Versatile!
You can make several different dishes from a pack of eggs, including an egg salad, omelets, deviled eggs, and quiche. They’re also very rich in protein, which makes them a great addition to any diet.
5. Chop and Store
You can chop any veggies or fruit in advance for the week and store them in freezer bags. This eliminates any extensive prepping after a long day at work.
6. Divide and Conquer
Don’t try to tackle the meal prep mountain in one day. If your schedule allows, plan two meal prep days a week, several days apart. This will make your list of groceries shorter and your kitchen less messy.
7. Make a List, Check it Twice, and PLAN!
These two go hand in hand. You can create a specific shopping list when you have a more concrete plan of what meals you want. When you grocery shop and stick to your list, you avoid the temptation of buying things that are not on the list, keeping you focused and driven.
8. Give Yourself Grace
Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor will your ability to flawlessly execute a finely constructed meal plan. Come to the table expecting some recipes to flop, you may tire of chicken quickly, or you won’t want whatever it is you’ve prepped. So take small steps to establish your new routine, and take things slow.
You’ve got this! Do you have any meal prep or cooking advice you feel others may benefit from? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image via Vanessa Loring on Pexels
The words you share are very impressive and very helpful a lot.
Oh, I hate cooking. Thank God, there is such a thing as an airfryer!