What is Meal Prep?
Meal prep, short for meal preparation, is the process of planning, preparing, and organising meals or ingredients ahead of time. It can take many forms depending on your personal schedule, dietary needs, and goals. Whether you're looking to save time, reduce stress, or make healthier choices, meal prep is a flexible strategy that can make a huge difference in your daily routine.
There are several types of meal prep, and how you choose to approach it depends on what works best for you and your family. Here’s a quick overview of the different types of meal prep:needs, and goals. Whether you're looking to save time, reduce stress, or make healthier choices, meal prep is a flexible strategy that can make a huge difference in your daily routine

Types of Meal Prep
Full Meal Prep
This involves cooking complete meals in advance and storing them in individual portions, ready to be eaten throughout the week. It’s great for anyone with a busy schedule who wants to avoid daily cooking. Just heat and eat!
Example: Making a week’s worth of lunches or dinners, like pasta, stir-fries, or casseroles.

Ingredient Prep
Instead of preparing entire meals, you prep key ingredients to make assembling meals quicker during the week. This could include chopping vegetables, cooking grains, or marinating proteins. It offers more flexibility since you can mix and match the prepped ingredients to create different meals each day. Example: Cooking quinoa, grilling chicken, and chopping veggies for easy salads, bowls, or wraps.

Batch Cooking
Batch cooking involves making large quantities of a particular recipe and storing it in the fridge or freezer to be eaten over time. This method is perfect for families or anyone who prefers to cook less often but still have homemade meals ready.
Example: Cooking a big pot of soup, curry, or stew and portioning it out for future meals

Ready-to-Cook Prep
For those who prefer fresh meals but want to reduce time spent in the kitchen, this method involves prepping ingredients and storing them uncooked. When it's time to eat, all you need to do is cook. This can be helpful for dishes that are better freshly cooked, like stir-fries or one-pan meals.
Example: Prepping all the ingredients for a stir-fry and storing them in containers, ready to toss in a pan when needed.

Snack Prep
Preparing snacks in advance ensures you always have healthy options on hand, making it easier to avoid reaching for less nutritious foods.
Example: Pre-cutting fruit, portioning out nuts, or making homemade energy bars or bites.

Why I Love Meal Prep as a Busy Mum
As a mum of two, I have found that meal prepping is an absolute game-changer for my busy lifestyle. Between balancing work, parenting, and everything else I juggle, meal prep saves me from the daily stress of deciding what to cook. It ensures that my family eats nutritious, home-cooked meals even on the most chaotic days.

For me, ingredient prep is the key. I love prepping vegetables, proteins, and grains at the start of the week. It gives me the freedom to mix and match ingredients, so I can decide what to make based on how I feel each day. Whether it's a quick salad, a stir-fry, or a simple wrap, having everything prepped makes meal times stress-free.