Meals are a necessity. Life is busy. These two things often get in the way of one another. Sometimes, making small changes here or there gives you a big return on your investment. These 5 meal prep ideas take a little time and effort to start but wind up coming in handy on your busiest days!
Make pancakes ahead of time and freeze them
I got this idea from my niece, and I love it! Whenever her kids want a quick breakfast or snack, and she’s busy, they know they’re allowed to take a few pancakes out of the freezer and heat them up. It’s quick and easy! She usually sets a day aside and spends time making a massive batch of pancakes that she then splits into gallon size freezer bags with a batch of pancakes in each.
Dice veggies and freeze them
How many times have you been in the mood to make stew, chili or soup on a cold day but simply didn’t have time to stand there chopping all the veggies? Try dicing batches of green peppers, onions, carrots or even potatoes and freeze them in baggies in sizes that you would use to cook a particular meal. The next time you want to put a pot of soup or stew on the stove or in the crock pot, you’ll already be a step ahead of the game because you can grab your diced veggies and toss them in!
Take care of that fresh egg overflow
Crack open your eggs ahead of time and freeze them! This is an especially helpful tip if you have layer hens who get in their groove until you have eggs coming out of your ears! You can either crack a dozen, mix them with a fork and store in a gallon freezer bag, or you can grease a muffin pan, crack an egg into each muffin slot, stir with a fork, then freeze. Simply pop them out and thaw in the fridge overnight when you want to use them. Raw eggs only!
Prep and store single-serving salads
Make a large salad of your preference, whether it’s a basic tossed salad or Greek, chef, etc. Then, separate it into single-serving containers. If you place a damp paper towel on top before sealing it with a lid, it will help it stay fresh and crisp.
Make your own pizza kits
Homemade pizza dough is super easy to make. You can keep several crusts on hand in the freezer. Do the same with freshly grated cheese and any toppings you’d like to have. It’s super easy and convenient to throw a homemade pizza together when you’ve prepped your own “pizza kit” ahead of time!
Try these 5 meal prep ideas, and let us know what other meal prep tips you use to help make your busy life less stressful!
