These days modern finding time to cook nutritious meals every day can feel like challenge particularly when it comes to different diets. For example, I am following Ketogenic diet which means that I either need to cook my meals separately, or the family needs to follow me. I certainly do not want to spend time on making different meals but I need to accommodate family needs (and they love their carbs!). So I’d cook keto meals everyone and starchy vegetables or grains separately for the rest of the family.
Considering the above, meal prep is a life saver for us. I would even call it a strategic and time-saving approach that transforms our daily cooking routine, ensuring that we have healthy meals even on the busiest of days. In this guide, I’ll share some tools and tips to help you in making meal prep for your busy family a breeze.
Benefits of meal prep for busy families
Saved time: Planning meals in advance means that you don’t have to spend time going through recipes or searching for ingredients on the day of cooking.
Improved Health and Nutrition: In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to turn to less nutritious options. Meal prep empowers you to control ingredients, ensuring your family enjoys balanced and wholesome meals.
Reduced Food Waste: Planning your meals in advance helps you purchase only what you need, minimising food spoilage and waste.
Saved Money: By reducing impulsive grocery purchases and limiting take away temptations, meal prep can contribute to significant cost savings.
Reduced Stress: Knowing that your meals are ready and waiting eliminates the stress of figuring out dinner on busy weeknights, giving you more time to relax and enjoy family activities.
Essential meal prep tips for busy families
Plan Your Meals: Take a moment each week to plan your family’s meals, considering preferences, dietary needs, and the week’s schedule. Ideally, you’d want to plan it a day or two before your shopping.
Create a Grocery List: Develop a detailed grocery list based on your meal plan to avoid multiple store trips during the week. We use Google Shared List.
Shop Smart: Opt for versatile ingredients that can be used in various dishes. Consider pre-chopped or frozen veggies to save time.
Cook in Batches: Prepare larger quantities of grains, proteins, and vegetables to have leftovers for quick family meals.
Utilise Smart Storage: Invest in quality storage containers, including those suitable for freezing, to keep your meals fresh and organised.
Label Everything: Clearly label your containers with the date and contents for easy organisation and freshness assurance.
Strategies for meal prep for busy families
Dedicate Time for Meal Prep: Schedule a dedicated time each week, perhaps on Thursdays. If you work full time, you can do shopping on the weekend.
Involve Others: Turn meal prep into a family affair by enlisting the help of your partner, kids, or even extended family members. This not only makes the process more efficient but also enjoyable.
Utilise Kitchen Gadgets: Invest in time-saving kitchen gadgets such as a slow cooke, Thermomix or instant pot – lifesavers for busy families.
Cook Once, Eat Twice: Prepare versatile dishes that can be repurposed for different meals. For example, a large batch of grilled chicken can serve as a base for salads, wraps, or stir-fries throughout the week.
Embrace Freezer-Friendly Meals: Leverage your freezer for storing meals that can be easily reheated, especially on nights when cooking from scratch is challenging.
Meal prep recipes for busy families
One-Pan Chicken and Veggie Bake: A simple and hearty dish that requires minimal cleanup.
Instant Pot Chilli: A quick and flavourful option that can be made in large batches and frozen.
Vegetarian Stir-Fry: Packed with colourful veggies and tofu or your protein of choice.
Sheet Pan Fajitas: An easy way to get that Tex-Mex flavour without a lot of effort.
Overnight Oats: A nutritious and time-saving breakfast option.
Meal prep inspiration for busy families
Meal Prep Websites: Find meal prep ideas on websites like Pinterest, Six Pack Meal Prep, and The Minimalist Baker.
Meal Prep Apps: Simplify your meal planning with apps like Mealime, Planny, and Prepify.
Meal Prep Cookbooks: Gain more insights from dedicated meal prep cookbooks such as “The Meal Prep Manual” by Cassie Johnston and “The Oh She Glows Meal Prep Plan” by Angela Liddon.
