Inexpensive meal prep ideas?

NotJustADieter
NotJustADieter Posts: 229 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So I just took a new job- hooray! Better pay, better hours, and benefits! But this means I'll be spending a lot more time at work. I don't want to just eat cheap takeout, because it becomes not-so-cheap pretty quickly, but I'll probably be not-home for at least one big meal a day. So... any good meal prep ideas that won't break the bank? My only food restrictions are no rice or chopped nuts (can't digest them, intestinal issue) and I'd prefer higher protein.

Replies

  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    I suggest you prepare your favorite meals in advance and take them to the office.
    Maybe you can start with your dinner leftover from the night before ?
    I prepare 2 meals and snacks on Sunday afternoon. Each recipe has 6-8 portions, so I have enough for the entire week.
    Good luck in your healthy journey
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Can you eat other grains, like barley, farro, or quinoa (I know, it's not actually a grain)? On Sunday, I'll make 4 servings worth of one of those, plus bake off four chicken cutlets. Then in a big bowl, combine the grain, chopped up chicken, and whatever veggies I have available with a vinaigrette and stick it in the fridge. Then each morning I put some greens in the bottom of a travel container and pile one quarter of the grain salad on top. I usually do this twice a month. Sometimes I'll get chickpeas or kidney beans and use them and some hard-boiled eggs instead of the chicken.

    Other weeks I'll make green salads, I chop up all the different ingredients on Sunday and just keep refilling my travel container each morning. Or I'll make deli-meat sandwiches, though I try not to do that too often. I have had some PB&J weeks too :).

    I don't trust the microwaves available where I work (eww) so I bring stuff I can eat & enjoy cold, and once a week I buy lunch out. If you have the ability to reheat at work, you'll have a lot more options!
  • prettyleelee
    prettyleelee Posts: 236 Member
    I prepare a lot of chicken and salmon on Sundays with different seasonings and than I pair them with a frozen veggie. I love the steamfresh flavorfuls I get a whole bag of flavored broccoli for 150 calories and it keeps me quite full.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    I like to make big pots of soup, stew, chili, curries, burritos, stuffed peppers, etc and just freeze them in individual containers/portions. I can always pull something, plus we stretch meat/cut calories by having mostly vegetables in everything.
  • stmokomoko
    stmokomoko Posts: 98 Member
    budgetbytes.com - pick a bunch and dedicate the weekend to prep
    http://fitmencook.com/75-whole-foods-challenge-meal-plan/
  • kandell
    kandell Posts: 473 Member
    Buy frozen chicken breasts, you can get a lot for not a lot of money. Then just play around with how you prepare them :] you can do chicken salads, chicken with sauces, chicken and vegetables, etc. Leftovers are always a great go-to for lunches! Chicken soups are good, too. Oooh and you can do chicken casseroles as well. Cook one up for Sunday night dinner, then portion the leftovers and you could have a few days taken care of.

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