5 Need-to-Know Meal Prep Hacks
Eating healthy is all about setting yourself up to be successful. No one makes good choices when they’re hungry, tired, or have no healthy food on hand in the house. To set yourself up for a super healthy 2023 filled with good food that nourishes your body, add these awesome meal prep hacks into your cooking routine to make your life simpler!
Freeze blended smoothies in muffin tins. Measuring out ingredients for morning smoothies can be time-consuming–which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to rush out the door. Save time by buying the ingredients in bulk, blending up your favorite smoothie recipe, and then freezing the mixture in muffin tins. Store the frozen smoothie cups in a plastic bag in the freezer. When you need a quick breakfast, toss a few cups in a blender with some water or nut milk for an instant breakfast.
Chop veggies in advance. Don’t wait until you’re tired and starving at the end of a day to do all your meal prep. Chop veggies in advance to make pulling healthy meals together a breeze! Cabbage, carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes all hold up well when chopped in advance. Keep them airtight containers in the fridge and use in salads, stir-fries, soups, and more.
Pre-portion your snacks. It’s easy to overeat snack foods like nuts, dips, and fruit. To make portion control super simple, keep your snacks pre-portioned and ready to grab from the fridge or pantry. Use mini jars or food storage bags to store your favorite munchies in portion-controlled servings that are easy to eat on the go.
Pre-assemble salads in jars. Use a glass jar to store your salad and you’ll never have soggy salads again! Start by layering your dressing into the bottom of the jar first. Then add sturdier produce like cucumbers and peppers, followed by your protein and any grains (we love quinoa) up on top. Put a paper towel square at the top to absorb moisture if you’re storing the salad for multiple days.
Use appliances to save yourself time. Using the right tools for the job can make your cooking life so much easier. A food processor makes super fast work of shredding, slicing, and chopping veggies. A high-speed blender purees frozen ingredients like a boss. Rasp graters make quick work of grating cheese, garlic, and spices. A crockpot cooks dinner for you. Learn to use kitchen appliances to save time and effort.
Preparation is the name of the game when it comes to eating healthy. Incorporate these tips into your cooking life to help streamline your food prep and make your life easier this year!
