• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
TheFab20s logo
  • Lifestyle
    • Nails
    • Bullet Journal
    • Good Reads
    • Fitness
  • Relationships
  • Astrology
  • Blogging
    • Start A Blog
    • Income Reports
    • Pinterest Templates
    • Blogging Course
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Adulting
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Blogging
  • About Us
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    15 Healthy Meal Prep Ideas For The Week (To Simplify Your Life)

    Jan 18, 2019 ·

    Meal Prepping is a godsend for both your wallet and your waistline. Planning your meals ahead helps to ensure you don’t waste food or eat a lot of fat and sugar. When I don’t meal prep, I am much more inclined to order a pizza or heat up some unhealthy frozen meal, especially after a long day at work, where the last thing I want to do is get in the kitchen and make a nutritious meal.

    When you first start out with meal prep, you might be a little overwhelmed. However, it is actually very easy once you get into the flow of things.

    I have collected some healthy and nutritious meal prep ideas to get you started, along with some great tips and tricks for getting started the right way

    How To Meal Prep For An Entire Week

     

    Meal Prep Tip #1: Plan

    First and foremost, you need to set a plan. When you are getting started, I recommend you just focus on one meal a day, say a week full of lunches. If you plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks from day one, you might overwhelm yourself.

    To start a healthy meal prep you want to take it day-by-day.

    Once you get the hang of planning that one meal, you can start meal-prepping another. Also, you should only be doing one or two recipes in the beginning. Don’t try to come up with seven different dinners on Sunday afternoon.





    …

    Meal Prep Tip # 2: Check Your Inventory

    Check your inventory and shop smart. Once you know what you want to eat for the week, look through the recipes and check off the items you already have. Make a list of what you’re missing and head to the grocery store.

    You’d be surprised to find you probably have a lot of ingredients on hand for your meal prep recipes.

    You should never go to the grocery store without a list of items you need. You’ll end up buying whatever looks good and it’ll most likely go bad before you get around to eating it.





    …

    Meal Prep Tip #3: Get equipped

    You can buy meal prep containers or even a couple of mason jars. Mason jars are great because they’re microwave safe (just remove the lid!) and oh-so-pretty! Maybe I shouldn’t make decisions simply because something is aesthetic, but I just love how they look!

    Especially with salad, showing the variety of color, makes me feel so healthy and like I have my life together. if you decide to use a mason jar for your salad, simply put the dressing in the bottom and all the leafy greens at the top so it doesn’t get soggy (and gross).





    …

    Meal Prep Tip #4: Cook In Bulk

    Learn to make larger batches of your favorite meals, especially the ones that freeze well. For example, whenever I make soup, I always double the recipe. Soup can last forever in the freezer!

    Also, get in the habit of prepping ingredients that go well with many different dishes. For example, I cook a lot of quinoa and keep it handy. Also, wash and prep multiple types of veggies to just toss in as a side dish or with pasta.





    …

    Meal Prep Tip #5: Dedicate One Afternoon

    I know sometimes you just want to get in and out of the kitchen, but take your time with meal prepping! Put some music on, pour yourself a glass of wine, and take the time to enjoy yourself.

    It’s only one afternoon per week and you’ll be far less likely to pick up a quesadilla on your drive home from work if you have quinoa and veggies waiting for you.





    …

    Meal Prep Tip #6: Multi-task

    Once you get the hang of things, you’ll have a lot of fun channeling your inner chef! Cook some eggs while the oven preheats and the soup simmers.

    Take full advantage of your oven, while baking some tofu, also toss in those sweet potatoes and carrots for future salads. Just make sure you have multiple kitchen timers ready to keep track of everything.





    …

    Overwhelmed by Meal Prepping? 

    I know it can seem like a lot at first! If you don’t know how to get started, or want to take out all the guessing work, check out Erin’s $5 meal plan!

    For just $5 a month, you get aen entire meal plan every week with a grocery list. The meals are delicious and cost less than $2 per person.

    If you hate meal planning or wasting time, this is a great solution for you. You can save time and money with healthy, delicious, and cheap recipes delivered to your inbox every week.


    Try The $5 Meal Plan For Free
    Try the $5 Meal Plan for 14 days, completely free. It doesn’t cost anything to sign up and if you enjoy the delicious recipes, you can keep the service for just $5 a month. Worst case scenario is you get two weeks of yummy meals at no cost to you.





    …

    Easy Meal Prep Ideas For Beginners

    These are some of my favorite meal preps that are easy and delicious. I have included a variety of lunch and dinners for you to choose from and experiment with.

    If you are interested in Meal-Prep Ideas For Breakfast, check out this post for 17 Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes.





    …

    Falafel Hummus and Salad

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: gimmedelicious

    Total Time: 30 Minutes

    A great lunch option, especially if you’re vegetarian or simply trying to cut down on meat. This recipe also includes making your own hummus, but I personally buy the pre-made ones at the store and just worry about making the falafel. Get the recipe here.





    …

    Chickpea Salad

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here! #mealprep
    Source: chelseasmessyapron

    Total Time: 50 Minutes

    Great-for-you ingredients and packed with flavor, you’ll love this chickpea salad. I make salads in bulk and then have them throughout the week for lunch or as a side-dish. Get the recipe here.





    …

    Pesto Zucchini Noodles

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: kirbiecravings

    Total Time: 25 Minutes

    I have an obsession with my spiralizer and love looking up healthy, low carb recipes to make along with it. This one is easy and full of flavor. Get the recipe here.





    …

    Fajita Bowls with Cauliflower Rice

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: kirbiecravings

    Total Time: 35 Minutes

    A great, low-carb option for a fajita rice bowl. Kirbie even uses lean ground meat to make it even healthier (vs. traditional steak fajitas). Get the recipe here.





    …

    Vegan Avocado Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: runningonrealfood

    Total Time: 40 minutes

    This is a completely customizable meal depending on what you have on hand. I absolutely love buddha bowls (and anything that has a variety of color). Get the recipe here.





    …

    Honey Sriracha Glazed Meatballs

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: eatyourselfskinny

    Total Time: 45 Minutes

    Make these meatballs in bulk to just toss in with the veggies or quinoa for those lazy days (read meal prep tip #4). Get the recipe here.





    …

    Chipotle Sweet Potato and Quinoa Bowls

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: thegirlonbloor

    Total Time: 40 Minutes

    This has three of my favorite things JUST in the title. Chipotle + Sweet Potato + Quinoa = A Happy Me. Get the recipe here. 





    …

    5-Ingredient Eggwhite Frittata

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: thegirlonbloor

    Total Time: 40 Minutes

    I make a Frittata at least once a month. It comes out so large, I always have enough for five or six meals. This one is with egg whites so it’s even healthier. Get the recipe here.





    …

    Lentil Balls with Zesty Rice

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: jessicainthekitchen

    Total Time: 35 Minutes

    When it comes to healthy meal prep ideas, lentil balls take the cake.

    Make a couple dozen of these bad boys Sunday afternoon and have them ready to go for the week. Eat them in a pita like a sandwich with hummus or with rice as a bowl.
    Get the recipe here.





    …

    Curried Chickpea Bowls with Garlicky Spinach

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: eatingbirdfood

    Total Time: 30 Minutes

    This curried chickpea recipe is in my arsenal of easy meal prep meals.

    I make it almost every other weekend in bulk to always have on hand throughout the week.
    Get the recipe here.





    …

    Easy Chicken Burrito Bowls

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: myfoodstory

    A burrito bowl is a classic lunch meal prep idea because of how simple and quick it is to put together.
    Get the recipe here





    …

    Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Chowder

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: simplyquinoa

    Total Time: 30 Minute

    Perhaps you don’t think of chowder when you think of meal prep lunch ideas (I know I don’t), but this one is so good, you’ll want to have it every other day.
    Make it and thank me later.
    Get the recipe here.





    …

    One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa with Spinach and Chickpeas

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: simplyquinoa

    Total Time: 30 Minutes

    Quinoa is one of those things (like rice) you can make in bulk and have ready for the entire workweek.
    Get the recipe here.





    …

    Fresh and Easy Green Lentil Salad

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: saltandlavender

    Total Time: 40 Minutes

    I’ve never been good with lentils. I have problems making it just right, but this recipe takes all the guess work out of it.
    Get the recipe here.





    …

    Easy Pasta e Fagioli

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    Source: saltandlavender

    Total Time: 50 Minutes

    This is the perfect, healthy macaroni meal prep.
    Whenever I’m trying to be ‘healthy’ but am craving carbs, this is my go-to.
    Get the recipe here





    …

    Have you tried any of these easy meal prep ideas? Let me know in the comments which are your favorites!

    Healthy New Year: 2019 Meal Prep Round Up. Start off your new year with some healthy meal prep ideas that will save you time and money. Each prep also includes nutrition info and meal plans. No boring recipes here!
    These recipes are the perfect meal prep for the week for beginners! These meal prep ideas are perfect for losing weight and getting healthy. Easy meal ideas for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for the whole week.  Clean eating is easy when you have a plan and are organized. #mealprep #recipes #healthy #healthyrecipes

    Food

    About Claudia Torres

    A recovering perfectionist who's obsessed with good food, traveling, and bad tv shows (looking at you, Portlandia!).
    In my free time, you can find me reading, running my cats Tinder profile, or trying out a new fitness class. You can find me on Instagram

    Primary Sidebar

    Personal development. Healthy habits. Genius life & organization hacks. Fresh beauty ideas. Better mental health. Smarter relationships. Empowered living. You can have it all! Yes, YOU!

    Popular

    • 35 Minimalist Bullet Journal Spreads You Have To Try Right Now
    • He Hasn’t Texted Me In A Week. Should I Text Him?
    • 69 Fun & Flirty Questions To Ask A Guy
    • 8 Books about self love to heal your soul. These are the best books on learning to love. Best Books on self compassion and forgiveness. Learn to let yourself off the hook. Best books to learn about yourself. These self help books are a must read for woman in their 20s. #books #bookstoread #selflove
      8 Books About Self-Love To Transform Your Mental Health

    AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE:

    TheFab20s is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 TheFab20s on the Seasoned Pro Theme