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Meal Prep Introduction

Hey! Today, I’m thrilled to have another guest on to give us 4 valuable tips on how to save money with meal prep. Our post today comes from Danielle, who is a writer for Zumper!

Before we get started, I just want to say that I am envious of the folks who’ve been able to kill it with meal prep and save their families a tone of time and money! I will fully admit that when I’ve tried to meal prep, it does not go as planned and we usually end up spending more money than when we cook meals every few days and eat leftovers.

Maybe I’ll be able to learn a little bit from Danielle’s great tips and start becoming a more successful meal prepper.

Is a meal prepper a thing? If not, it is now. You’re welcome!

4 Meal Prep Tips to Save You Money

As someone who feeds a family of four, I know a thing or two about meal prep and that horrible moment when you have to throw out a forgotten food item into the trash. It is truly cringe-worthy when this happens; it probably would have saved you time to just throw away your money instead.

And when you are already paying a higher rent because of where you choose to live, well then, that money becomes that much more important. Renting in expensive cities already eats out a lot of your salary and saving every penny while living in one of those cities matters.

Over the years of learning how to budget and plan ahead, I developed a routine of sorts that helps to not only lower my stress but also, in the long run, save some money. These meal prep tips will also have you looking forward to making and eating your next meal.

1. Decide on Your Shopping Frequency

This is a big one because it is definitely unique to what works best for you and your family. Some find it convenient to shop for one week’s worth of meals at a time, especially if you are a planner like me. Others prefer to pick up food on a one or two-day need basis and let the food inspire their meals.

My preference, especially with having two children in school and therefore always needing to have appropriate snacks and lunch foods available during the school week, is to shop and plan for a week. That said, there are times where if I’m not careful, food has been wasted due to poor planning.

This is where some find it easier to pick up items quickly on their way home from work. Ultimately, it depends on your preference, your needs, such as how much will you be home during the week, and generally how you choose to meal prep.

2. Meal Preparation

One of the biggest meal prep mistakes is convincing yourself you will have time to make something when you really know you won’t. If you know that it takes you half an hour to complete your food prep and then another half an hour to cook the meal, but you get home at six o’clock, you need to be realistic about your available time.

Meal preparation does not need to be done the day of, it can be completed well in advance on a day that you actually have the time. Grains and legumes (beans) are a cinch to cook up on a Sunday (or whatever your off days is) and portion out into plastic bags and place in the freezer until the meal prep time comes.

But why stop there? You can cut up veggies and put them in the fridge for a couple of days in advance, you can chop up herbs and add them to oil in your ice cube tray and store them in your freezer for later. You can do the same with butter and wrap in parchment paper for a wonderful, flavorful sauce to finish off a dish.

I also like to plan out each day of the week, mark off the days I know I won’t be home and pick a meal that works with how busy we are that evening. So, swimming lessons right after school? Pasta night it is. Leisurely Sunday at home, what a great day to roast a chicken and have homemade pudding for dessert.





3. A Well-Stocked Pantry is a Happy Home Chef

I can’t tell you how much time and money we saved because my pantry was full of some great items that can be quickly thrown together for a quick meal on the fly. If you are a meat eater, this works too, especially if you purchase meat in bulk and pre-cut for typical meals. (Think stir-fry, fajitas, cutlets).

But, if you don’t mind eating a vegetarian or vegan option, already cooked legumes like chickpeas in your freezer along with some delicious spices and rice can create a hearty, delicious meal in no time, and with no meat, you’ll save some money, too!

4. Buy and Cook In-Season

Apples are most delicious in the fall, berries are best during the peak of summer, Kale is great in the winter, get the picture? These great food items are less expensive during the season in which they grow. Look online, download an infographic and tape it to your refrigerator door; the easiest cost-saving tip you’ll get.

If you are still feeling unsure about where to get started with your meal prep, this beginner’s guide to meal planning should give you a decent starting position to take on this task head-on. Otherwise, I suggest taking it slow, a day or two at a time, build up your confidence, take advantage of your slower days, and get all the family involved.

Proper meal prep will help you out so much once you get the hang of it, and be sure to record favorite meals to put on a rotating bi-weekly schedule. If you already are familiar with the meal and the prep, it will go that much faster for you. Don’t be afraid to try something new, get in there, and have fun!

What about you? Do you implement any of these meal prep tips? What are your favorite ways to save money while preparing food for the week?

Drop your answers in the comments below!

Author’s Bio:

Danielle thrives on researching and writing on all aspects of life. Further to writing for Zumper blog and personal finance, she is an advocate of self-improvement and living a life that is both financially responsible and knowledgeable. When she is not on her computer, she can be found spending time with her husband and two sons.

Final Thoughts about Meal Prep

Meal prepping can be great for all kinds of different diets. For example, here is a fantastic guide to Keto meal prep if you are on the keto diet.

If you have any other ideas about meal prep, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

Cheers,

Robert