Meal Prep

One of the best ways to save time and money when it comes to meals is “Meal Prep”. In the last few years’ meal prep has become a major time management tool used in kitchens across the world.

I myself learned about meal prepping about four years ago (it’s one of the things that I wish I had learned when my kids were younger). Meal prep and Meal planning have been game changers for me and my household. Even though my children are grown now it’s still a great tool to have no matter what your home life is like.

Many times, when we think of meal prep you think of some one that is on a diet or has a large family. Yet, meal prep is for everyone and all lifestyles.

Pros and Cons of Meal Prep and Meal Planning

Pros

1.SAVES YOU Time

2.SAVES YOU MONEY

3.no more guessing what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner

4.Helps with diet, and portion control

5. stopes waste of food

6. saves you money from eating out

7. promotes family time

8.promotes Time- Management, promotes organization

9. less stress

10. Budget Friendly

Cons

  1. takes planning
  2. takes organization
  3. still have to spend some money (but not as much as you do NOW)
  4. Takes some time (how much depends on the style you choose and your household size)
  5. Makes you mad when you think about all the time and money you could have saved yourself and family over the years!!!!!

When it comes to pre-prepping your meals

Planning is key. Not only should you follow a meal plan, but you should also schedule your shopping trips and have a list. If you are going to do freezer meals or crockpot/ Instant pot meals or cook a head meal you should have a day set aside to do all your pre-prepping, so you have it all done in one day. Then all you have to do is follow your meal plan for the week.

Supplies for meal prep and planning

Freezer bags- large, medium and small (make sure they are ziplocked bags) doesn’t matter the brand

Alternative to Freezer bags is a Food storage bag system (if you can buy one of these it is a must, food will last longer)

Food storage containers-all sizes and all shapes (make sure they are freezer, refrigerator, microwave safe)

Calendar or Meal Planner templets

Apps- if you’re in a digital lifestyle and you don’t want to use paper

Three ring binder and dividers (if you are using paper)

FOOD

All the things can be brought at Dollar Tree if you are on a tight budget, yet I will tell you that if you can try buying them at Walmart or Amazon due to these stores having containers with better seals.

Also, you can download are free templets buy going to the free printable page. Apps are free, you can pay for some if you wish, but I wouldn’t.

The food storage system can be bought at Bed Bath and Beyond….Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.

Types of Meal- prep

There are 4 types of Meal Prep

1.Meal Plan- you plan all meals (this is where you just plan your meals a week or more at a time.

2.Freezer Meals- you precook meals and freeze for later time, or you place all the ingredients in a bag and freeze it to cook later

3.Crockpot/ Instant pot Meals- there is two ways you can do this type of prepping. The first way is to cook the meal in the Crockpot/ Instant pot and freeze the leftover. The second way is to prep the meal (place all the ingredients in a freezer container or bag) and cook it at a later time in your Crockpot/ Instant pot. These are sometimes called dump and go meals.

4. Pre-prep- this is where you prep meals for the next day or for the week.

Babies and Toddler Meal Prep

New Parents or soon to be parents

Meal prep can be done for babies and toddlers

If you have an infant, you can meal prep their bottles for the next day. Count how many bottles your little one goes through a day and the night before placing them in the refrigerator. This way you are not trying to make a bottle while your child is SCREAMING! Plus, this will be part of your evening routine so as they grow older you will replace the bottles with baby food, snacks, etc.

For Toddlers there are hundreds of Meal prep ideas

Google, YouTube or Pinterest.

Also, all kids can be on a Feeding schedule

As you learn more about time-management and planning your day. You will be able to set times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for your home. If your child is in school or goes to childcare, then you only have to plan for the times they are at home. If they are Home school, act like they are in regular school and give them the same times.

One more thing you can prep and meal plan for home school meals. This will save you so much time I promise.

How you want to meal plan?

After you have decided what type of meal prep work best for your family, taken inventory, make a list of your family favorite meals and make a list of meals you can make out of your inventory list.

Pull out your Calendar, Planer or meal prep templet.

Next decide how you want to meal plan.

Example

week to week

two weeks at a time

Once a month

Every three months

etc.

Then place your meals (starting with your favorites) on your templet or calendar.

Side Note

always place the meals that you don’t have to shop for first and then move on to those you have to buy just one to two ingredients. Make meals that you need to buy the most ingredients last or for your next shopping trip.

Make sure that you take your shopping list with all trips. Only buy what is on the list.

Well, that’s all I have for today, I hope this helps you on your journey.

Thank you for reading Everything Frugal.

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