Credit to images used in pin goes to OvenArt Bakeware, Kentucky Home Brands, Rubbermaid, Armigerress, Janine, Paderno, Jokari, and Bakesplit. Changes were made to the original image.
Meal prepping is such a great way to get back your time, and adopt a much healthier lifestyle.
Because while eating healthy is goals for you, me, and a lot of other people out there, ordering some Uber Eats is way easier. So to make it so much simpler and to kill the excuses, I’ve created a quick list of meal prep hacks.
These make-ahead strategies will help you to be more efficient and get back your time.
So read over these food prep hacks and save yourself time this week when batch cooking.
Side Note: Here are some healthy meal prep recipes you can try this week!
1. Whip Up Some Overnight Oats
What I really love about overnight oats is that they require no cooking at all. All you have to do is combine rolled oats with milk, yogurt, or your preferred liquid, add some healthy/tasty ingredients, and let it sit overnight.
Just make sure you use double the amount of liquid for every serving of oats, and stir them up before eating.
Make in big batches and assemble at the beginning of the week and you’ll have stress-free mornings.
2. Mason Jar Meals
Whether you’re making fresh salads, chicken noodles, pasta, or smoothies, mason jars are one of the best meal prepping tricks. They’re super handy, convenient, and they help to make sure your meals are properly portioned. Also, they’re kind of a gorgeous way to show off all of the ingredients in your meal.
Prepping in advance was never this easy. 😌
3. Chop Raw Vegetables in Advance
To make your prepping duties easier and faster, chop your raw vegetables in advance to save time.
Cutting veggies in bulk will help you avoid wasting time on busy weeknights, and potentially keep you from wasting food. Just be sure to store them in a covered container or sealed plastic bag to preserve their freshness, crispness, and juiciness.
4. Rapid Egg Cooker
Eggs are perfect for any time of the day. They make a great protein-based breakfast and can be added to salads for lunch or dinner. And to easily prep them, you can use this rapid egg cooker or just boil them the night before.
5. Prepare Freezer Meals
Saving time is the key objective here, and freezer meals will help you do just that.
Also, the idea of making a big batch of meals and freezing them after sounds like a great solution for busy days. So stock your freezer with meals that’ll be hot and ready with no prep time.
6. Instant Pot
This kitchen gadget helps with meal planning and is definitely a great investment! All you have to do is dump all your ingredients in, follow the recipe instructions, and leave the work to the cooker. Your meal will be ready in a no time, and it’s perfect for a busy week when you don’t have the time to cook healthy meals.
7. Hands-Free Baggy Holder
If you wanna speed things up just a bit more and focus on prepping several different components at once, then this hands-free bag holder is perfect. You’ll never have spills again (hopefully), and it’s adjustable arms can extend to fit more food.
8. Bag Up Smoothie Ingredients
Tired of whipping up breakfast smoothies? Then definitely try this meal prep hack!
Just label the ziplock bag with the name of the smoothie you plan on making, combine the chopped ingredients and liquid for each smoothie in the bag, and store them in your fridge or freezer. Then pull them out when you need them and enjoy!
9. Zoodle Noodle Maker
Forget unhealthy noodles and try making your own zoodles with this handy tool. You can cut up carrots, zucchini, beets, and other veggies. It looks super easy to use and will probably save you so much time when preparing your meal.
10. Container Storage
From storage to serving, these plastic containers have got you covered. They come in different sizes which makes them perfect for whatever meal you want to store. Just get them out of the fridge, plate the food, heat it up in the microwave, and you’re ready to go!
11. Roast Different Veggies With Same Cooking Time
When cooking veggies for the week, roasting is a great way to prep them all at once.
Just make sure to prep and roast fast-cooking vegetables (asparagus, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes) separately from slower cooking veggies (carrots, cauliflower, onions, potatoes).
12. Green Saver Containers
After you’ve bought your groceries, try chopping your leafy greens in advance and putting them in a green saver container. These containers will help keep your greens clean and fresh from the inside and look great in your fridge.
13. Season Meats Three Ways Using Just One Pan
Another easy way to save a ton of time is by meal prepping 2-3 variations of meat at once. Spicy bbq, honey mustard, sweet and sour; you can cook it all! Just use foil as a divider in a big pot or pan to get it all done.
14. Silicone Muffin Pan
This silicone muffin pan is such a great option for meal planning because they’re perfectly portioned for your meal. And whether you have leftover soup or an egg muffin breakfast, you can easily save them in these containers, put in your fridge or freezer, and reheat when needed.
15. Salad Spinner
If you like having fresh salad for healthier meals, but you don’t really like the whole rinsing and drying process, then this salad spinner is a great way to get the job done faster.
16. Baked Split
You can cook 2 meals on a single baking sheet without mixing them together using this meal prepping tool. Also, once you’re done, you’ll only have one pan to clean!
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.