With all of the hats that we wear as moms, I’ve been trying my hardest to help make things a bit easier for myself during the crazy mess that happens during the weekdays. One thing that I have found that helps my family so much is to meal prep.
Not only does this help my husband and I stay on track with eating healthy, but it also helps me to make sure that I can get dinner on the table (or in a Rubbermaid container) for everyone each night.
Breakfast
A go-to for breakfast in our house is an egg casserole or egg muffins. They are super easy to make, full of healthy protein, and you are able to add any type of ingredients that you and your family will like. We normally just add some sauteed onion and pepper to a couple dozen eggs and it’ll last my husband and I the whole week. Adding meat or cheese would be delicious too!
Another breakfast that I make for my kids are pancake muffins. Again, these are super easy because you just use your favorite pancake mix (We love Kodiak Cakes) and add whatever add-ins that your kids will like. Fruit, chocolate chips, pumpkin, and nuts are all perfect to put in. Then you just bake them in muffin tins and keep them in the fridge, perfect for breakfast on the go or snacks throughout the week.
Lunch
Lunches are normally salads, veggies, and a protein that we have already prepped. In the winter, I love to make chili for the week, as well. Meatloaf muffins are also perfect for some quick fuel and allow you to use the ingredients that you prefer.
Snacks
- As far as snacks go for meal prepping, I make sure that I have fresh fruit and vegetables in the house. If the fruit and veggies need to be cut up, I make sure to do that, as well. If healthy food is readily available, there is a better chance that my family and I will make healthy choices.
- Muffins are also a great snack for kids, they are something that can be made healthy and the kids will never know it!
- We also always keep a variety of nuts and jerky in the house too.
- My kids also love popcorn and any carbohydrate that is available, so don’t get me wrong, they definitely eat their fair share of crackers and fruit snacks too!
Dinner
Dinners are so tough in our family because we are so busy, just like everyone else! I try to keep my dinners simple and healthy. So, for my dinner meal prep:
- I love to do roasted vegetables in the oven. I normally cut up zucchini, yellow squash, and onion and roast two big sheet pans of them to keep on hand for the week. These are easy to warm up, add to meals, or add seasoning and sauces to, to switch things up.
- We always have a lot of protein prepped for the week. If you have never heard of an Instant Pot, look it up right now! It’s a pressure cooker and one of the best kitchen investments that I have made. One of my favorite things to do with the Instant Pot is to throw 5-6 frozen boneless chicken breasts along with some salsa in and it’s done in about 25-30 minutes. The chicken is perfect to put on salads and into tacos or wraps for the kids.
- Another thing we like to do is rotisserie chickens. If I get to Costco, I totally grab 2 of their huge rotisserie chickens, because you can’t beat the convenience or the price. If I’m not able to get there, we have a rotisserie that I cook them in. The rotisserie chickens are so versatile, you can use the meat for anything and along with any other kind of food.
- Potatoes are great! We bake whole sweet potatoes in the oven to have for the week. If you aren’t a sweet potato person, regular potatoes work too! While I cook the sweet potatoes, I will throw in a spaghetti squash or some butternut squash in to cook, as well. These are good carbs and perfect to pair with any protein and veggies that your family likes.
These are just some of my favorite foods to prep for my family during the week. When I get in a rut, I hop on Pinterest and try and mix it up a bit. I definitely find that when I am prepped for the week, the week seems to go a bit more smoothly and we all tend to make healthier eating choices. Meal prep is also a great way to get the kids involved with cooking! My 4 year old loves putting on his apron and cooking and baking with me!
I hope that this is helpful for all of you busy moms!
Do you meal prep? What are some of your favorite recipes to make for your family?
Thank you! I have been wanting to try meal-prep meals, but just haven’t. I found a meal-prep recipe I want to try for lunches (it’s a start) and have made it a goal to give it a try this coming week! Thanks for the inspiration!