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Meal Prepping is a game Changer when it comes to winning the Mom Game. No more stressful evenings running around scratching together a family meal.
Nope.
A well prepped Mom would simply open the Fridge / Freezer and grab a home made, ready to go meal that she prepped earlier.
Oh to be that organised. Now wouldn’t that be lovely?
[Sigh ….]
While I stuggle daily in my attempts to be organised (and fight every molecule of my chaotic DNA), there are a few things that I’ve discovered along the way that have definitely helped me feel a little more structured when it comes to feeding the family.
These are my TOP 4 things I recommend if you’re feeling overwhelmed when it comes to meal prepping, sticking to the food budget or simply trying to feed the family without losing your marbles.
FREEZER TO OVEN MEAL PREP CONTAINERS
If you had to choose ONLY ONE thing that will transform your Meal Prepping Skills, it is this – buy GOOD QUALITY CONTAINERS. Your containers need to be fridge and freezer friendly, and preferably be able to go straight into the oven. This means that you can prep your food, pop it into a container and when you want to eat it – it’s ready to pop into the microwave or oven. My favorite containers the glass Pyrex brand. They are fidge, freezer and oven friendly. The lids are leak proof and they come in sizes that are large enough to feed the family.
A FAMILY SIZED SLOW COOKER
I love, love, love my Slow Cooker. It’s up there next to chocolate, Gordon Ramsay, my kids … and OK, my husband too. It takes a few minutes to add some ingredients to the pot, then about 0.25 seconds to turn it on. A few hours later …. you have a HUGE pot of slow cooked, dinner perfection.
For tonight AND ANOTHER night.
Winner, winner, Chicken dinner.
What’s not to love? I have the Crockpot Countdown Model – It counts down and turns itself off so I don’t have to worry about leaving it on too long. I’m a little paranoid about leaving pots unnattended, so I love this feature.
DINNER SIZED FREEZER BAGS
I haven’t been using these reusable freezer bags for long, but I don’t think I could function without them now. I’m no longer using the plastic disposable bags – which is great as we are working hard at reducing the amount of waste we generate in out home. These bags are really thick and durable and they hold enough to feed the entire family. They are leak proof and lay flat – so they can be stacked and don’t take up too much space in the freezer. When I’m done with them, I just pop them in the sink and wash them with a little dish soap.
Need a little freezer cooking inspiration? Here are some of my favorite Freezer Meal Recipes:
- Happy Money Saver: 15 Easy Freezer Meals
- Love and Lemons: Freezer friendly Soups
- Taste of Home: 150 Freezer Meals
And finally, the thing that makes a REAL DIFFERENCE to your Meal Planning Mojo is actually FREE and you could put it together RIGHT NOW ….
FAMILY FAVORITES RECIPE LIST
If you’re not into the stick to the numbers, die-hard meal planning thing (I really wish I was, but I’m not either), then at the VERY VERY LEAST – you need to have a list of family meals or recipes that work for your family. This little list is PURE MEAL PREPPING GOLD. Whenever you find a recipe that works (whether it’s while you’re waiting in line at the Supermarket or at a friends house – WRITE IT DOWN and add it to your family favorites list (Download the free printable here).
RELATED POST: FREE MEAL PLANNING TOOLKIT
Keep the list on your phone, or print it out and stick it the fridge.
This handy resource will help you through many a ‘what to make for dinner nights’.
Try and keep ingredients for a few of these meals always available in the pantry or freezer. That way you are never stuck.
GET THE FREE PRINTABLE FAMILY RECIPES PRINTABLE HERE
I would never want to give you more to do when life is already to complicated. But some things are worth trying if they are going to make life a little easier. I actually use these Meal Prepping tips and tricks in my own home and I hope you found them useful.
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