Is “what’s for dinner?” the scariest question in your day?
You’re not alone.
Figuring out what to eat every night (and every morning and every afternoon) – let alone making it healthy! – is a serious source of stress, even for those of us who “do food” for a living. How can you fit meal prep into your week when you barely have time to brush your teeth and shower every morning?!
Do these 5 things to make prepping healthy, tasty, body-loving meals easy, artful, and fun!
1. Stock your kitchen.
Make it a priority to stock your kitchen with some essentials – like dried or canned beans, frozen vegetables, common spices, several different grains (like brown rice, couscous, or quinoa), and some other basic ingredients that show up in lots of recipes (soy sauce, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, vegetable or chicken bouillon cubes, apple cider vinegar, red pepper sauce, garlic, etc.). This alone will make last-minute meal prep much easier.
2. Make a date.
Schedule 30 minutes in your calendar every week to plan meals, scan your pantry for missing items, and make a shopping list. Then, schedule 30-45 minutes in your calendar every week to go grocery shopping. (Bring your list so you can knock it out fast!) Try your best to make these non-negotiable appointments with yourself every week. If it doesn’t work out occasionally, don’t worry! See #5 below. 🙂
3. Cook once, eat three times.
NEVER cook only one serving of a meal! That’s just crazy talk. Optimize your time in the kitchen by making enough food for at least three meals – for everyone in your house. That may mean investing in some industrial-sized pots if you have a big family. 😉
4. Buy food storage containers.
Invest in some food storage containers (I prefer glass to plastic for these reasons) in lots of different sizes. You’ll need them for leftovers that you can use later in the week (see #3).
5. Hire a sous chef.
Well, not exactly a sous chef; but it’s okay to order out one or two nights a week! Just choose your “sous chef” with care and make smart choices. A few places I like for less junky prepared food: Chop’t (NYC and Washington, DC), ZAW (Seattle), Whole Foods Market (nationwide), Dig Inn (NYC), Bounty Kitchen (Seattle), Panera Bread (nationwide), and Pret A Manger (NYC, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and the U.K.).
6. Practice and play!
Don’t be afraid to mess up in the kitchen! Start with simple recipes – like the ones in It’s All Easy, one of my favorite cookbooks. (That’s an affiliate link, by the way, which just means I might get a small referral fee if you choose to buy the cookbook.) Then, start tweaking and experimenting to make them your own. Perfection has no place in the kitchen – sometimes your favorite dishes come from “mistakes.”
What about you? How do you make it through a week of meals without going nuts? Share your tips in the comments.
xo,
