If you’re looking to cook healthier but with your crazy busy hectic schedule, you just don’t seem to have the time? I totally understand! I’ve been there, we’ve all been there. Opening a box or can of something…or the easiest of them all…the drive thru window! Fear not fine folks, I just might have the answer to your cooking prayers.
The solution to your cooking woes could be as easy as buying and cooking in bulk. Otherwise know as Batch cooking or meal prepping.
While you do need to find some time during at least one day of the week, this helps you prepare meals for the rest of the week. Here are just a few ideas of ingredients to cook in bulk and save for meals throughout the week.
Chicken Breast
A family package of chicken breasts has got to be one of the best ingredients you can buy in bulk and cook to prepare for future meals.
In meal planning, chicken breast can be used for many different meals. You can make chicken sandwiches, soup or stew, chili, and salads. The chicken breast can be added to casseroles, enchiladas, casseroles, or saved as a main dish. It can even be used for snacks or a high-protein breakfast.
If you’re looking to save some money, I mean who isn’t right? I’d suggest you buy your chicken breast in bulk and cook it all in the same manner, such as baking all of the breasts, boiling them, or putting them all in your Instant pot or slow cooker.
$ Saving Tip
What I usually do with my chicken breasts is cut the filet off each one also removing then tendon. So in a Family 4 pack of chicken breasts, this usually leaves me with 4 nice chicken breasts (approx. 6oz) and enough chicken filets to create another meal like a stir fry or casserole.
Tomato Sauce
Unless you’ve got an issue with nightshades, one of my meal prep go-to’s has got to be a really great tomato sauce.
It’s just so versatile! The meals you can prepare by simply adding your tomato sauce to it will shock and amaze you…well maybe you’ll just be pleasantly surprised. The point I’m trying to make here is you can cook a wide variety of different pastas dishes, whether you’re using real pasta or spiralized veggies like sweet potatoes, zucchini or carrot, by just adding your tomato sauce.
Now I know it would be SO MUCH EASIER to throw a jar or two of any of the numerous jars of different brands of tomato sauce that line grocery isles into your cart on the next visit, however, if you read the labels, you just might find that your favorite jarred tomato sauce might not be as good for you as they may suggest. It usually has a lot of hidden sugars and other chemical preservatives that you just don’t need when you’re cooking fresh healthy meals.
While it’s super convenient to twist open a jar, I myself really like knowing what I put in my body!
If you’re a 9-5’er Monday to Friday like in my family, I usually make Sunday my meal prep day. So if I decide to make a batch of tomato sauce, it’s the 1st thing I begin prepping as it usually takes the longest. It usually cooks for about an hour and the cutting and chopping of vegetables usually takes some time as well. However, after it’s cooked and cooled I can either store it in either individual mason jars and use throughout the week or I freeze portions in my vacuum seal bags and add to my list of backup freezer meals.
My tomato sauce recipe is here if you’re looking for my go to, however, if you’re up for making your own…a few pretty basic ingredients needed include tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red wine, and seasonings of your choice.
Roasted Vegetables
For your vegetable side dishes, main dishes, and snacks, you might want to roast some vegetables in bulk.
While my “dream” or “eventual goal” will be to have a hydroponic grow system set up in my house, I try and purchase my vegetables at local farmer’s markets and locally owned and operated grocery stores as often as I can.
I know some people in my area subscribe to weekly vegetable box programs, also known as a “CSA” and love them. Not sure if they love the savings or the surprise of what’s in this week’s box. I myself think they’re a great concept as I love to support local and truth be told…I just really like knowing where my food comes from!
So back to the roasted vegetables…You could simply chop up all the veggies you want to use and add some olive oil and seasonings to them. Turn on your oven and roast them for several minutes. A few of the vegetables I use that are awesome for roasting include carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini.
With just these few ingredients, you can make a lot of different healthy meals throughout your week. As I mentioned above, Sunday is usually the day I buy my groceries and then spend a few hours, chopping, dicing, slicing, prepping and cooking for the week!
Learn How to Meal Plan & Prep Correctly
If you’re a busy parent or professional that’s been looking for an easier way to save money and time with Meal Planning & Prep but don’t really know where to start, then you should definitely check out my latest guide “The Busy Person’s Guide To Meal Planning“. In it I teach Stress Free Meal Plan & Prep Tips to make life in your kitchen a bit happier… all while saving you Money.