There is nothing more frustrating than having to come home after a long day of classes or work only to discover an empty fridge. Being hungry and stressed is never a good combination and can be easily prevented with meal prepping. It is nothing revolutionary, but having filling and nutritious meals ready to go is a great hack.
Every Sunday, I plan out and cook everything for the week ahead, but do what is most efficient according to your schedule. If you are looking for recipe ideas that are cost-friendly and not overly complex, I recommend you try some of my go-to meals.
- Overnight oats
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The beauty of oatmeal is how customizable it is, there are hundreds of combinations you can try and enjoy. Overnight oats are a staple make-ahead breakfast option that are not only incredibly filling, but make me feel like I’m eating dessert for breakfast. My personal favorite are the strawberry protein oats, which I make with vanilla protein, almonds and whatever berries I have in my fridge.
- Egg Bites
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Another breakfast option if you prefer savory over sweet are these egg bites. These also make for a great snack if you want some quick protein during the day. You can use either whole eggs or egg whites for this recipe and if you aren’t into bacon, turkey sausage works really well too.
- Ground Turkey Pasta
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With only 10 ingredients needed for this one-pot recipe, it is another favorite recipe of mine. You can also add in vegetables and substitute for your desired pasta. My go-to combination is shell pasta with either broccoli or asparagus. Not to mention, ground turkey is a super easy protein to cook and can be used in other recipes like stuffed bell peppers, taco lettuce wraps or a vegetable teriyaki skillet.
- Sheet-Pan Sausage and Vegetables
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Any recipe involving a sheet pan I have found to be incredibly efficient. All you need is a protein source, veggies and an optional starch to throw in the oven for less than 30 minutes. My favorite protein is chicken sausage, being a generally healthier substitute for pork sausage. With this recipe, I always add diced potatoes to allow for a more balanced plate.
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
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If I had to recommend meal prepping one food group it would be protein, as it can be the most tedious to cook. However, this recipe makes it a lot simpler to use an air fryer for a speedier cook time. There is a lot of versatility with meal-prepped chicken and I love adding it to the Dole or Taylor Farms salad mixes.
Ever since I started meal prepping I realized that eating healthy does not need to be complicated. There are so many hacks for maintaining a nutritional balance with a busy schedule. The truth is you do not need to be the next Iron Chef to cook any of these recipes. Once you get accustomed to the basics and give yourself time to improve, cooking will come second nature and prove to be far less daunting than expected.