6 Meal Prep Tips For Staying Organized

Meal preparation is designed to save you time and money when it comes to being in the kitchen. You don’t want the task to be disorganized and overwhelming.

Staying organized is key if you want meal prep to really work for you.

Staying organized in every part of your life is a must in my book. So, it, of course, is part of my plan to share with you the best tips for meal prep that also keep you on task and organized.

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1. Invest in the right tools.

Make sure you have the right storage containers to store all of your prepped meals in before you begin. There’s nothing worse than running out of space for your recipes once you’ve made them!

Soups and stews can be placed in larger plastic containers, but you may want to get single-serve plastic plates with lids for meat and sides. I love this set of freezer storage containers because of the leakproof lids.

2. Keep track of your grocery lists, recipes, and receipts.

As you continue to make the same meals, again and again, you will learn what ingredients you need to have on hand. This will make the planning portion of your meal prep a breeze after a while.

Sort your shopping list by section in order to save time in the supermarket. The receipts are also helpful if you are prepping on a budget, so you can plan your trips based on the money you have allotted for food.

3. Create a meal prep calendar.

When you plan meals for several weeks in advance, you can easily forget what it is you are supposed to be serving. A calendar will give you a good idea of what you need to eat when. This is especially true if you will be using ingredients that are perishable.

Fill in a printable calendar and keep a dry erase calendar on hand to take the guesswork out of your meals each day.

4. Label all of the prepped food before you place it in the fridge or freezer.

It becomes more difficult to tell what you have as you make more food. Prevent the stress of trying to figure out what each container holds by using adding food labels during your meal prep.

It’s not a bad idea to add the date to the container as well, so you are eating your foods before they expire. These freezer labels are a favorite since they have spots for so much information.

5. Break down bulk items for easy storage and use.

If you meal prep for a month, it’s a good idea to purchase some items in bulk, such as rice, nuts, beans, meats, or cereal.

Use Ziploc bags to separate the servings during your prep. That way, you can grab a baggie from the pantry when you need a quick meal or snack.

6. Utilize your slow cooker when possible.

This will cut down on your meal prepping time and make delicious meals you can freeze until you are ready to eat them. A slow-cooker meal can last up to a week, depending on family size, making a monthly meal prep session go much faster.

Using these tips to stay organized during your meal prep will make life much easier for you. If you lead a busy life with children, a career, pets, family, and friends, you owe it to yourself to give meal prep a try.

You can choose to do it a week at a time, or go all out and prep a month in advance. Just have fun and make the most of your time so you aren’t always in the kitchen!