Preparing meals in advance is a great way to save time and money, while also allowing you to spend more quality time with your family. By planning your meals and prepping ingredients ahead of time, you’ll be able to quickly whip up healthy and delicious meals on busy weeknights, rather than resorting to takeout or fast food.
This can help you save money on eating out, while also allowing you to control the ingredients and nutritional value of your meals. Additionally, by spending less time cooking during the week, you’ll have more free time to spend with your family, whether that’s playing games, watching a movie, or simply enjoying each other’s company. Overall, meal prepping is a great way to simplify your routine, save time and money, and enjoy more quality time with your loved ones.
Our functional medicine Burbank experts at Functional Medicine Los Angeles provide some tips for how to prepare food in advance for busy weeknights:
- Plan your meals:
The first step in preparing food in advance for busy weeknights is to plan your meals. This means deciding on the recipes you want to make and creating a grocery list of the ingredients you’ll need. By having a plan in place as per functional medicine Studio City experts’ advice, you’ll be able to stay organized and make the most of your prep time.
- Choose recipes that can be prepped in advance:
When choosing recipes for busy weeknights, look for ones that can be partially or fully prepped ahead of time. For example, you could chop vegetables, marinate meat, or cook grains like rice or quinoa in advance. This will save you time when you’re ready to cook and make dinnertime less stressful. - Use your freezer:
Your freezer is a great resource when it comes to preparing food in advance. You can freeze a wide variety of foods, from soups and stews to casseroles and baked goods. By making big batches of freezer-friendly meals, you can easily defrost and reheat them on busy weeknights.
- Invest in good storage containers:
To store your prepped food, you’ll need good storage containers that are airtight and can be reheated in the microwave or oven. Glass containers with locking lids are a great option, as they’re durable, easy to clean, and safe for reheating. - Prep vegetables in advance:
Chopping vegetables can be time-consuming, so consider prepping them in advance. You can chop vegetables like onions, peppers, and carrots and store them in the refrigerator in airtight containers recommended by our functional medicine Toluca Lake professionals. This way, you can quickly add them to stir-fries, soups, and salads, and save time during the week.
- Make use of slow cookers and pressure cookers:
Slow cookers and pressure cookers are great tools for busy weeknights. With a slow cooker, you can prep your ingredients in the morning and let them cook all day, so you have a hot meal waiting for you when you get home. With a pressure cooker, you can cook meals quickly and easily, making it a great option for weeknight dinners.
- Cook grains in advance:
Cooking grains like rice, quinoa, and couscous can take up to 30 minutes, so consider cooking them in advance. You can store cooked grains in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. By having cooked grains on hand, you can easily add them to salads, stir-fries, and other dishes during the week.
- Use leftover ingredients:
If you have leftover ingredients from previous meals, consider using them in your prepped meals. For example, leftover cooked chicken can be added to a stir-fry or salad, and leftover cooked vegetables can be added to a soup or stew. By using up your leftovers, you’ll reduce waste and save money on groceries.
By following these tips provided by our functional medicine Los Angeles, you can prepare food in advance for busy weeknights and make dinnertime less stressful. With a little bit of planning and prep work, you can enjoy healthy, homemade meals without spending hours in the kitchen every night.