I’ve been working hard on my meal prep techniques the past few months and I’ve found some sure fire ways to save myself some time in the kitchen. Being the only vegetarian in my household can be challenging at times for sure. I’ve found if I can prep some of the basics over the weekend it makes the next few days of meals much easier to get on the table. With a few staples prepped, I can easily whip up a delicious, veggie packed meal in no time. I’d love to share a few of my tips on how to Meal Prep Like A Boss because we all want to spend less time in the kitchen.
Meal Prep Like a Boss
Breakfast
Most important meal of the day! I have 3-4 go to breakfasts and I find if I can prep one of them on the weekend and then store it in individual serving sizes, my morning goes much more smoothly. This week I prepped my Blueberry, banana & strawberry oatmeal bake. Makes 4-5 servings just heat and eat each morning. A few of my other favorites are:
Blueberry, banana & strawberry oatmeal bake.
Sweet Potato Toast 2 Ways (you have to try this)
Salsa Sweet Potato & Veggie Egg Muffins
Savory Veggie Breakfast Casserole
Grains & Legumes
If I make a batch of quinoa (or any whole grain), a batch of Brown Rice and batch of lentils this will last me the whole week and serve as a base for most of my meals. I cook them simultaneously and then automatically I am ready to make:
-Tacos/Quesadillas (3 Bean quinoa skillet anyone?)
-Big Salads (Lentil tabouleh)
-Asian Stir Fry
I grill or roast a few basic veggies with just olive oil, salt & pepper so that I can then throw them into any other dish. This week kept it simple with Grilled Tofu, peppers and zucchini. I also steamed some broccoli.
Snacks!
Making a batch of hard boiled eggs (tips here) gets me through the week for snacks. I love to fill them up with all different types of hummus. Store bought hummus is great but it is so easy to make your own. Hummus 3 ways here.
These are some of the Meal Prep tips I use to help me whip up quick weeknight meals packed with veggies and protein. I don’t always take the time to do the prep each week but I am so glad when I do. Some weeks just end up being crazier than you expected!
Hope you found my Meal Prep Tips helpful. Have any to share with me?
Linking up
I rarely make hard boiled eggs, but I finally did this week and I am loving having them on hand for a quick snack!
They are a great snack!
I try to keep up with meal prep every weekend- it defiantly helps when things get busy! I love roasting veggies to use throughout the week.
I try to do at least some of this each weekend it does help
I’m the worst at meal prep–I just eat everything at once! FIX ME!
ha ha well there’s that! I did not take that into account when writing this
All great tips and something I need to incorporate into my life- I am a horrible meal prepper!
I am really trying to do it more often it really helps me on busy afternoons
I love oatmeal and fruit for breakfast so that oatmeal bake looks super yummy. Thanks for all the tips!
It is one of my favorites for sure and very easy to make ahead
Such good tips! I feel so lucky that the Hubs eats what I eat for dinners. It would be such a royal pain to cook to meals! I feel for you.
I meal plan, but don’t do a lot of work ahead of time… unless there is a lot of chopping… I’ll do that.
I seriously cannot believe I routinely make 2 dinners a night! Who does that? It’s my own fault for sure
Planning ahead is my “secret”! I plan my meals and smoothies for the week before I go to the store. That way I have all the ingredients I need plus I know what we are having every night and morning. I also think having a well-stocked pantry is important for those ingredients that you use regularly.
I do meal plan at least 3 days out and that really helps a lot. I end up using up my veggies and fruits most weeks and have to re stock during the week at least once
Meal prep is my downfall. I think I get to lackadaisical about the whole thing because Monday morning through Friday late late night it’s just me and the 11-year-old
But I need to meal prep 🙂 I have not been setting myself up for success at all when it comes to dinners. I rock the breakfasts – – which I know isn’t saying all that much 🙂
I need this.
Rocking breakfasts is a success too! I feel if I start out with a good breakfast I am on my way to great day.
This is so helpful! Meal prep still really intimidates me and because of that I avoid it. I’m going to use your guide to finally get motivated to prep and then plan my meals…fingers crossed!
It does not have to be complicated and you can do as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing. It does help and become part of your routine. good luck
These are great tips! I love the idea of meal prep, but rarely do it. I’m the only vegetarian in my house as well, so I think that does make it harder. I have a lot of big salads for dinner!
It does make it challenging so I do try to prep my stuff so I can then cook other foods for my boys. It’s challenging for sure some days
I am so bad at meal prep but I appreciate these tips. I have started making extra big batches of rice or quinoa, so that’s helpful. I’m a fly by the seat of my pants kind of cook though. I usually figure out what’s for dinner about five minutes before I cook it!
Making the grains ahead really helps since they can take a while! Baby steps 🙂
Mmmm that sweet potato toast is calling my name! 😉
Had some today I love it!
Mason Jar salads. It was life changing for me!
I will have to try those! My mason jars are way too small for my giant salads 🙂
Love these recipes. Grilling vegetables adds such a flavour boost to meals 🙂
I love to grill when I can and yes gives the veggies such a great flavor
How do you make sweet potato toast ahead of time? Wondering about reheating it. And doesn’t it get kinda soggy. Your roasted veggie bowls look awesome! I like to bake eggs in muffin cups for a change of pace from hardboiled.
So I roast the sweet potatoes in advance and then when I am ready to eat them I toast them in the toaster to warm them up. I find that works better than microwaving them. Hope you like them!
I love power bowls! Making things that won’t go back in a day, like snacks or breakfasts you can freeze, are go-tos for me.
Yes is certainly helps!
Great tips here Deborah! Meal prepping and planning makes the week’s meals and snacks go much smoother!
It certainly helps!
Helpful tips! It reminded me that I need to eat more lentils 🙂 Will have to make a batch of it sometime this week.
I like having them around to throw into everything
Hard boiled eggs are also my husband’s go to snack. He usually makes a big batch of them every couple of days to have on hand.
They are great snacks and easy to take on the go
I’m the first to admit I’m the worst meal prepper. But I make a weekly menu which cuts down with the meal time chaos so I consider myself a step ahead. I should up the ante with some actual prep, though!
Making an actual plan is a great start-baby steps 🙂
Great tips! I try to prep once to twice a week!
Yes me too really helps
im a huge fan of making grains and lentils ahead of time too, saves so much time!
I am always glad when I do!
Great tips! I’m pretty good with planning my meals for the week and shopping around that list, but I need to be better about pre-prepping a bunch of veggies on the weekend. I usually leave everything for the night I’m going to make it, but that can be a hassle sometimes.
It is definitely more stressful to them every night but sometimes it happens
I am quite literally the worst at meal prepping. These are great tips, but I don’t know that I will ever get it together enough to be effective at it.
Great post!
I love meal prepping! My weekends have been a little crazy so I haven’t been as on top of it lately as I should be!
Those veggies look amazing!!
Thanks! I find it does really help even if I only prep a few things
The oatmeal bake looks really good! I love anything that makes breakfast quick and easy 🙂
Yes me too! I love breakfast
Great tips! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I’m so terrible at meal prep. My weekends seem to go by so fast! I really need to make more time for it, though.
Weekends do fly by don’t they?! I find even if I prep just a little bit it helps things go smoother
Great tips! Meal prep is definitely the key to stayin healthy all
Week!!! At least for
Me.
It certainly helps!