Over the past month, we’ve been brainstorming ways to breathe new life back into content. With the new year came new resolutions, goals, and moving forward. One of these was simply to meal prep food every weekend for the week ahead. Over the past two weeks, Sunday nights have been spent adulting, catching up on laundry and meal prepping for the week ahead.
I live in the tension of creating inspirational content and the practical. Here’s the honest truth. For the past two years, if it weren’t for the salad section at Trader Joe’s I might have starved. Outside of recipe testing and planning gatherings for the blog, I eat simple foods that are on the go. This column will serve as menus that are practical and highlight some of our favorite healthy recipes from other food bloggers as well.
Find the full plan after the jump!
Meal Prep: Vol 1
Soups
Winter Kale Soup
Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili by What’s Gaby Cookin
(We froze this one in individual servings to stretch the food.)
Salads
Modern Greek Mediterranean Salad
Cook ahead chicken for salads with lemon, olive oil, garlic (Cook extra for lentils and carrots). Sear in skillet. Meanwhile, rough chop, red pepper, cucumber, and place kalamata olives. Add chicken, kale and sundried tomatoes to containers. Before eating add dressing and goat cheese.
Pesto Caprese Quinoa Salad by What’s Gaby Cookin
Kale Tahini Caesar by Loveleaf Co
Entrees
Green Chicken Curry with Cauliflower Rice
We saved a bit of time and stretched a jarred sauce from Trader Joes with this one. Adding sweet potatoes, diced tomatoes, green beans, chicken, and red pepper, this dish is hearty and filling. Serve over fresh sauteed cauliflower rice.
Roasted Carrots and Lentils with Chicken
Sauces
Dairy Free Pesto by Loveleaf Co
Additional prep
Cook extra quinoa to add to salads and place everything in glass containers to go.
Total budget (for mostly organic ingredients): $62.97
Total meal prep time: 3 hours with cleanup
Looking for more Meal Prep Inspiration? Follow our board on Pinterest.
Do you do meal prep for the week ahead? Any favorite recipes you’d like to share?
We’d love to hear from you. Let us know in the comments below.