Here are some examples of how to prep for multiple meal options in large quantities, without taking all day! (*Some food items below may not be what you are able/prefer to eat, but these are some general examples of ways to help you meal prep for the week)
**Pinterest is a great source for additional meal/meal prep ideas! Especially if you have a specific way of eating you prefer (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc)
Here we go!
Have a large batch of rice cooking in the rice cooker
Have chicken, pork, steak, or fish cooking on the stove top, crock pot, or grill
Have a ground turkey, ground chicken, ground beef, or ground sausage in a skillet on the stove
Have veggies, potatoes, or yams cooking on cooking sheets in the oven (or air-fryer!)
Hard boil eggs in a pot on the stove
Have steel cut oats, quinoa, or pasta cooking in another pot on the stove
Separate lettuce or spinach into large bowls/buckets for salads — Add measured out toppings (nuts, cheese, crumbled up bacon, fruit, etc)
Prep smoothie items in individual bags ready to be blended (Greens, Fruits, Protein Powder, etc)
You can even pre-cook some bacon or turkey bacon in the microwave
Once all your food is cooked…
Divide your protein sources into manageable serving sizes
Divide your carb sources into individual containers for your serving sizes
Add any seasonings/sauces you like – this is where you can get creative with flavors!
Cut up fruit/veggies into serving sizes (4oz of strawberries, or 6oz of cucumber, etc)
Combine carb and protein sources (if you’d like!) Ex. Steak & Potatoes, Chicken & Rice, etc.
Or if you’d prefer to leave all your food in large containers and scoop out what you want for the day as you go along, go for it!
SNACKS! — Have grab and go foods/snacks to mix things up…
Fruits (bananas, apples, oranges, etc)
Grab & Go Veggies
Protein Bars
Rice Cakes/Popped Corn
Granola
Deli Meats
100 cal. snack packs (nuts, popcorn, etc)