Raise your hand if meal prep is a part of your daily route. 
Yep, love it or hate it, most of us don’t eat out three times a day.
We prep a breakfast so we can grab it on our way out the door. Or pack a lunch so we can eat and work during our busy day.
Those of us that love a good snack (or two!) make sure we have something on hand so we don’t rush to the vending machine when hunger hits.
I’m one of those people that actually enjoys meal prep.
There is something about planning out my meals for the next day that gives me a sense of peace.
I’ll admit it, I even find it fun…
I get home from work, get on some comfy clothes, turn on music or something interesting on the TV, and prep away.
Of course, the more I can do on Sunday night, the happier and easier it is throughout the week. I generally grocery shop on Saturday and/or Sunday, that way come Sunday evening prep time I have what I need for the week.
When it makes sense, and I know the items will stay fresh, I cut up fruits and veggies on Sunday night.
Things like celery, watermelon, and pineapple are great to prep for the week, and they keep well. I also cut up bananas right before they go too ripe and freeze them in individual snack baggies. They are great portions for smoothies, and also make a nice frozen dessert treat.
I stay away from cutting up most other fruits and veggies until the night before.
Same for making pre-portioned salads. I know this works for a lot of people, but I feel like the veggies make the lettuce a little soggy. But if it doesn’t bother you, by all means, go for it!
During my meal prepping adventures, I’ve found a few gems that have made my life a lot easier.
First off, the best containers for meal prep make life a lot easier. And the more sizes the better, for a few reasons:
- It cuts down on space in your fridge at home and at work. Why have a small portion of hummus, in a soup size container??
- The tighter the food in the container, the fresher it stays.
- The less plastic baggies I can use, the better for the environment and my pocketbook. If I can get it in a container over a bag, I always go with that option.
By far the best plastic container option I have found for the price is the IKEA Pruta set.
You get 17 pieces for $4.99. By two of these sets and you are good for almost anything!
I use the larger rectangle containers for salads and big dinner leftovers. The medium size squares are great for fruits and veggies, and the small squares and rectangles are perfect for dressings and nuts. I use them all the time.
If I have to heat something up at work, I use something from my Pyrex set.
They are glass, so perfect for the microwave. I also like that when I’m cooking, if I have something hot (like chicken) I can move it right from the pan to the Pyrex. The Pyrex 18-pc Colored Lid Storage Set is $39.99. It covers all the sizes I could ever need and it’s really durable.
And when I want something that has more give than plastic or glass, I go with the Re-Zip Reusable Sandwich Bag from the Container Store.
Great for snacks, especially carrots or sliced apples on the go. They are $9 for two and definitely pay for themselves quickly, because your plastic bag usage goes way down. I also like that they are freezer, refrigerator, microwave, and top rack dishwasher safe.
So as your meal prepping this weekend, maybe pick up a few of these options to make storage a little easier for your amazing meals!
Happy Friday, and have an amazing weekend!!
