Quick Tips For A Stress-Free And Enjoyable Meal Prep

Welcome back to the blog! Did you cook dinner yet? Do you even know what you will cook for the evening? This is one of my struggles. I always have these grand ideas of meals that I will present to my family, but at times, fail to prepare correctly. Due to me failing, I may choose a boring quick meal or result in a drive thru pick up. Definitely not what I intended. So, I called on the professional for a little help. Chef Ashley Shep is going to give us tips on how to prepare a stress free and enjoyable meal prep. Appropriate planning is necessary and Chef Ashley lets us know how to prepare.

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Chef Ashley is a wife, a teacher and a mom to a sweet 9 month old baby boy. With all of that on her plate, she definitely understands how planning and prepping are necessary. So, we shall let the expert speak.

Quick Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Meal Prep

By Chef Ashley Shep

Have you ever wanted to get into meal prep, but didn’t know where to start? Meal prepping can be a great way to save time and money while providing healthier alternatives for yourself and your family. These strategies are ones that I personally use to make meal prep more efficient and enjoyable. These quick and practical tips will help you get started on your meal prep journey.  If possible, meal prep with a friend or family member to decrease prep time and amp up the fun. 

• Do A Little Research. Make all your Pinterest dreams come true by categorizing recipes with common ingredients on the same board. Creating recipes that have the same starters such as meats or vegetables (ex. onions and bell peppers) will decrease your overall meal prep time. 

• Consider Your Lifestyle. Plan out meals according to what your week entails. Use this to determine where a slow cooker meal would be more convenient or when you know in advance that you will not feel like cooking. Busy Monday? Meal prep on Sunday. These are perfect opportunities to eat prepared meals. 

• Be Prepared. Grocery shop and gather storage containers at least one day before meal prepping. This helps to ensure that you have all of the necessary ingredients and enough energy to complete your meals. You can shop and meal prep in the same day, but BEWARE! You will definitely feel more tired afterwards and be less likely to meal prep again in the future. A little planning goes a long way. 

• Start Small. If meal prepping seems overwhelming, just take it one step at a time. As with exercising or any new habit, baby steps over time are what lead to lasting change. Pick one meal a week (such as a day or two of lunch) to prep and then gradually build up to multiple meals a week. Even packing your dinner leftovers for lunch the next day deserves a pat on the back. 

• Use What You Love. If you like chicken, start with that. Have a hankering for oregano? Go there. Instead of researching a ton of new recipes, focus on ones you already knows and love. Then, simply double the recipe and freeze some to reheat at a later date. Incorporating preexisting ingredients that you or your family are already familiar with and enjoy will encourage your motivation and desire to consume the meals you’ve prepared. Additionally, this will help you resist the temptation of going through a drive thru one more time. 

• Do Your Thing! Meal prep can be enjoyable! Don’t think of it as a chore, but as an opportunity to regain lost time to do the things you love. Once you get the hang of a routine and have a few recipes under your belt, you’ll feel like a pro! (Or at least a little more confident than before.) Remember that even preparing just one meal a week can save up to four hours a week between grocery shopping and cooking. Think about all the time saved in the long run that can be spent with your family or friends instead of in the kitchen.  

For more tips, strategies, & recipes, check out Chef Ashley Shep 

www.ChefAshleyShep.com and on 

on Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest. 

Chef Ashley will be featured on the blog every first Monday of the month. So be sure you have signed up for the email list so you don’t miss out on any of her great content.

Ashley also has a mom journal coming out very soon. Click here to find out more!! Click here to pre-order!

So there you have it. Tips that will make meal prepping a lot easier. Thanks Chef Ashley!! Be sure to use these tips to avoid procrastination and be able to quickly put appetizing meals on the table for your family. I know I will be using them!

Talk to you guys soon!!

 💕 Donna 💕