Healthy Meal Prep Recipes for Busy Weekends

Meal prepping has become increasingly popular in recent years. This is largely due to many people trying to take more control of their health, but there’s also a convenience factor to consider. There’s no denying that as a society, we’re busier than we’ve ever been before.

With many people working multiple jobs, raising their children, and trying to fulfill other obligations while trying to pursue a few hobbies, time is truly of the essence.

There are several meal prepping benefits, but none are more important than those that involve your health. Instead of scrambling at the last minute to put together a well-balanced, nutritious meal, meal prepping allows you to take a strategic approach to the food that you’re using to fuel your body.

Whether your dietary goals involve losing weight, building muscle, or lowering your blood pressure, being intentional with the ingredients you use is key, and meal prepping lends itself to that sort of decision-making.

Meal prepping saves time, as we’ve already discussed, but it can also help you save money. Instead of grabbing food at your local fast-food restaurant or ordering at your restaurant of choice, meal prepping allows you to skip dining out so you can enjoy a good, nutritious meal at home.

While there’s certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a nice meal out, the average American family spends more than $3,500 per year on dining out. In a time when more and more people are looking for ways to save money, meal prepping is a great place to start.

Are you not sure where to get started on your meal prep plan? Don’t sweat it! We’ve got you covered with some easy meal prep recipes that will get you off to a great start.

Breakfast Burritos

When looking for meal prep tips, it’s important to focus on finding things that you can make quickly that refrigerate well. Breakfast burritos are one of the best options, thanks in large part to how customizable they are.

One of the best ways to get the most out of your meal prepping is to get as much protein in as possible, especially for breakfast. This leaves you feeling full for longer, leaving you less tempted to snack between breakfast and lunch.

There is also research that shows that eating a nutritious breakfast improves brain function, meaning that you’ll be more productive when you’re at work or school.

Breakfast burritos are easy to make, and you can include anything that you’d like.

For a healthy version that’s packed with protein, consider using scrambled eggs, turkey sausage or turkey bacon, black beans, and some peppers. This also gives you a good dose of fiber to start the day which leads to improved gut health.

Once you’ve assembled your burritos, wrap them tightly in aluminum foil to help them keep their shape. Then, you can unwrap and reheat at your convenience. As long as you keep them cold, you can easily prep five breakfast burritos before the start of your work week.

Greek Salad With a Twist

Everyone knows that there are few healthier options when it comes to lunch and dinner than a salad. Unfortunately, salad often goes bad before you can eat it if you prepare a large portion. With this Greek salad recipe, you don’t have to worry about that at all.

Instead of putting your Greek salad in a plastic container or resealable bag, start layering it in a mason jar.

Begin with a layer of Greek dressing before adding layers of cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, olives, red onions, and chickpeas.

Sprinkle a layer of fetta cheese and romaine lettuce on top before putting the lid snugly in place. Gone are the days of trying to hurry and eat a huge salad before the lettuce wilts and the salad becomes too watery.

The best part is that you can make your salads as large or small as you’d like depending on what size jar you use.

One-Pan Chicken and Veggies

Roasting a large batch of chicken and vegetables is one of the most simplistic, hands-off ways to prepare multiple meals ahead of time.

Use your favorite herbs and spices to season your chicken before adding hearty vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts to the pan. Put your pan in the oven and roast it all together until the chicken is done and the vegetables are as tender as you like them.

As the ingredients cook together, the flavors will meld, even if they’re not in a pot together.

Once everything is thoroughly cooked, you can put the chicken and vegetables into containers for a quick lunch or dinner. This meal not only offers plenty of protein and fiber but is incredibly low in calories, making it a great option for meal preppers who want to lose some weight.

Quinoa Bowls

One of the most important meal prepping tips involves finding dishes that you can customize. This not only ensures that you’re getting balanced meals, but it also prevents you from getting burnt out by eating the same things over and over. This is why quinoa bowls are such a great option for meal preppers.

If you’re looking for a fiber-filled quinoa bowl, a veggie bowl is a great option. Begin with your layer of quinoa before adding a layer of roasted or fresh vegetables.

The options are truly limitless here, so be sure to mix and match while you find the option that works best for you. You can top it with any type of lean protein that you like before adding a tahini or lemon vinaigrette dressing as a topper. Store in a large container or multiple small containers and you’ll have several meals ready to go.

Snack Boxes for a Boost of Energy

Finally, you can build some snack boxes over the weekend that will give you a boost of energy without leaving you grabbing unhealthy options from a vending machine. Grab some containers, preferably some that have dividers built into them, and start adding some healthy snacks that provide fiber, healthy fats, protein, and more.

Add some boiled eggs, nuts, hummus, cheese cubes, fresh fruits and veggies, and any other healthy snack that you enjoy. Like some of the other meal prep recipes that we’ve discussed, the options are limitless.

Meal Prep Today for a Healthier Tomorrow

You probably don’t have time to cook three nutritious meals every day while trying to fulfill all of your other responsibilities.

With this in mind, these meal prep tips and recipes can help you make the most of the time you have on weekends. Don’t be afraid to experiment with some different recipes and ingredients as you find something that works for you.