Meal Prepping Overview
Preparing meals in advance for "grab and go" is convenient, saves you time, and allows you to have a consistent eating schedule. Meal prepping once a week for lunch and dinner can easily be done in just an hour, depending on your recipe. There are many reasons that someone may meal prep, so be sure to watch the video below to learn about meal prepping.
Supplies
Besides ingredients, you will also need to purchase reusable containers. We suggest using glass containers as they are dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe. There are also portable containers to keep foods hot that are child friendly! Links to our favorite meal prep containers are below :)
If you don't want to purchase a new set, try a local Goodwill or thrift store. It's a great place to find cheap ($1-3) containers. If they do not come with lids, you can use aluminum foil or cling wrap!
Recipes
Overnight Oats:
Makes 1 serving
1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 1/2 c vanilla yogurt (I like Oikos Greek Triple Zero)
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp flaxseed meal (optional)
Optional Toppings:
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Transfer to a jar or airtight container.
- Let sit overnight or at least 4 hours.
- Top with favorite ingredient.
Banana Cereal Snacks:
2 Bananas
Peanut butter
- Rice Krispie Cereal (or kid's preference)
- some wax paper. Foil or parchment paper would work just as well. You just need it so you don't have to wipe peanut butter smears off your counter.
Directions:
- Peel Bananas and place in freezer bag. Freeze overnight.
- Cut bananas in smaller chunks, usually about 2 inches.
- On wax paper, place crushed cereal.
- Roll bananas in peanut butter, coating evenly.
- Immediately roll banana covered in peanut butter in the crushed cereal, coating evenly.
"Lunchables" (Homemade)
- Lunch meat of choice
- Cheese of choice
- Crackers
- Small 1-1.5" circle cookier cutter
- Compartment tupperware
Directions:
- Using cookie cutter, cut lunch meet and cheese into circles.
- Place the cheese, meat and crackers in separate compartments within the tupperware.
Things to consider
Most schools don't have microwaves, so if you want something hot, consider a thermos. Also, they don't allow for the lunches to go into a refrigerator, so make sure it is in an insulated lunchbox with an ice pack if there is something that needs to be kept cool.
Additional recipesLinks to an external site.