Prep Ingredients, Not Meals
Normally when people think of meal prep, they think of preparing 21 meals for a week and individually packaging them. What we do instead is prep ingredients that we can later turn into a meal. For example, I can easily cook chicken and season it with just salt. That one ingredient can turn it into a variety of meals: tacos one night, a salad for lunch, or served on a bun with barbecue sauce another night.
Include the Kids
As a parent, it sometimes feels like we have chores to do that interfere with quality family time. I prefer to include my kids with meal prep. It may take a little longer when you’re cooking with littles…but you get to spend quality time with them while teaching them a valuable life skill. It’s also worth noting that kids are more likely to actually eat the dish being served when they have a hand in preparing it.
Know Your Staples
Many folks struggle with feeling bored with food…variety is the spice of life, after all! What we don’t understand is that most people naturally gravitate towards the same 6 to 8 foods for a whopping 80% of their overall diet! Build your plate around these staple foods, and create variety by adding in new sides, spices or sauces. This makes your meal prep simple AND gives enough variety to keep the family from getting bored.
Article by Paul and Angie Lyngso
Photography by Kristen Hafner
Originally published in Dripping Springs City Lifestyle
