Healthy Dinner Meal Prep Ideas

The best way to keep meals fresh is to store them in airtight containers in the fridge. If you’re not going to eat food within a few days, freezing is best.

On average, cooked meals will last for 3 – 4 days in the fridge, although some will last longer and others not as long. If you prep ingredients but don’t cook them until you’re ready to eat, they may last longer.

Many foods freeze well and you can often freeze pre-made meals for longer storage. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw in the fridge before reheating.

The best meal prep containers are ones that are the right size and shape for what you are preparing. Glass containers are preferable to plastic, but as long as your containers have lids that close well and keep air out, you should be able to use any type of container you have.

Many foods will keep in the fridge for the week, but some foods may spoil quickly. For example, fish dishes are best eaten within a day or two of preparation. If you don’t want food to sit too long after being prepared, think about scheduling two days to meal prep throughout the week instead of one.

Some people like to have fully cooked meals ready to go, but that’s not the only option. It’s also convenient to prep ingredients but wait to do the cooking right before you’re ready to eat. This will still save you lots of time.

Individual meals are often best reheated in the microwave, but you may want to reheat prepped food in the oven or on the stove, depending on what you make. The latter options are usually preferable if you are reheating a family-size dish, such as a casserole.

Food that is marinated or has a sauce on it will typically stay juicier, as long as you don’t overcook it. To keep food moist, cover it with a damp paper towel before microwaving. Heat at short intervals and test for doneness so you don’t overcook it.

Many people meal prep lunch because they need to take meals on the go. Meal prepping for dinner also has benefits, saving you time and money and helping you eat healthier after a busy day. If you often don’t feel like cooking or order takeout too often, consider prepping some meals for dinner.

The beauty of meal prepping is that you’ll save time and money. You’ll also likely eat healthier because you’ll have healthy foods ready to eat when you’re hungry and won’t have to resort to fast food or less healthy choices just for convenience.

It’s best to start small if you’re new to meal prepping. Think about making just a couple of simple dinners at first or using similar ingredients for multiple meals. As you get more comfortable, you can meal prep more elaborate meals or prepare more meals in advance.

The simplest way to meal prep dinner is to cook up your favorite protein, such as chicken breasts. Then add your favorite cooked veggies and complex carbs. Adding a sauce on the side gives your meal flavor and you can change the taste for different meals with ease.

There are loads of healthy meal prep recipes, but some good ones to try include soups, stews and stir-fries. They’re easy to make in bulk, stay well in the fridge and can be filled with healthy ingredients.

There are plenty of recipes you can make to feed a family. Meal prep doesn’t mean you have to put a single portion in a container. You can prepare family-sized meals so the whole family can sit down to a pre-made meal in minutes.

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when meal prepping. Get in the habit of using different veggies and sides, even if you tend to eat the same kind of protein over and over. If you like ethnic meals, search for recipes that look like they would be easy to make in advance and portion out to add variety.

The amount of time you need to devote to meal prep depends on how much food you’re making and the extent to which you need to prep the ingredients. Some people find that meal prep is a great way to get the whole family involved in an activity that is fun and contributes to their health.