Hello all!
We are well into the hectic season of autumn, so I thought that today I would take some time to discuss one of my favorite ways to reduce food stress: meal prep. What is meal prep, you ask? Meal prep can be many things, but essentially the answer is in the name. Meal prep means preparing meals ahead for the week- or month if you are super ambitious! There are lots of ways to do this, but I recommend first making a list of meals for the week. This includes finding recipes for these meals if you don’t already have one you like. There are even lots of cute (free!) online templates like
that helps with organization. Once you’ve compiled your meals and recipes, take inventory of your fridge and pantry. What do you have? What do you need? This helps you make a grocery list and avoid the dreaded, ‘I could have sworn we had eggs at home’ moment that we’ve all had once or twice.
Once you’ve planned your meals and made your shopping list, the next step is to shop! Remember to check the circular for sales and download any digital coupons you might have. If you forget, Giant has an app you can use while you shop to help with last-minute budgeting!
After you get your groceries home, the fun begins! It’s best to choose a day when you have a few hours to dedicate to do meal prep. As a parent this may seem impossible- but kids are great helpers! Check out recipes for easy things kids can do to help such as stir a sauce or rinse veggies.
After prepping, let food cool and either portion into serving sizes or store in bulk. Freezing is a great way to keep dinners on hand for extra busy nights.
This past month, Giant introduced #savorysunday- our weekly meal prep guide to help busy families prep with ease! If you ‘like’ Savory magazine on Facebook or head to Giant’s website, you can see weekly plans based on a value pack of protein or veggies to help you save time and money when shopping. New weekly menus come out every Friday so you have the whole weekend to plan, shop, and prep!
Have fun prepping and until next time… eat well!
Emily
Emily Craft, RDN, CSP, LDN is an in-store nutritionist for Giant Food. Emily has her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Delaware and completed her Dietetic Internship through Sodexo in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Emily’s background is in pediatrics and weight management and she loves helping families come together to enjoy healthy, delicious meals. For more information, go to https://giantfood.com/live-well/health-and-wellness/nutritionists/.
