By With a new year often comes the opportunity to set forth some new year’s resolutions – and 2021 is no exception! This year, one of our goals was to start eating healthier meals each day. And we won’t lie, at first this intention reigned as one of our most daunting. But then, we stumbled upon the magical world of meal prep and that was when the game changed.
Believe it or not, sticking to a pre-planned menu has made meeting our health and wellness goals so much more simple than we ever realized they could be. Fueling our bodies with healthy and nutritious meals, all while saving time and effort during the week is a big yes from us.
If you want to start meal-prepping, but are feeling a little overwhelmed about where to begin, don’t sweat it! Start by stocking up on these essentials and you’ll be well on your way to meal-prepping like a pro.
1. Fit & Fresh Divided Glass Containers
If there’s one essential that you need to make meal prep a breeze, it’s definitely a reliable set of food storage containers. We love this pack of 3 from Fit & Fresh because each container is compartmentalized, which makes them perfect for portioning out complete meals for the week ahead. When you want to pair your pasta with the perfect pesto, or drizzle your salad with a delicious dressing, but don’t want them to mix until the moment is right – these containers are exactly what you need. The best part? They’re both microwave and dishwasher safe, so reheating and reusing them is as easy as can be.
2. Sweetzer & Orange Meal Planner Pad
Every good meal-prepper needs a clear plan of attack! And what better way to get it all sorted out than with this handy magnetic notepad from Sweetzer & Orange? Each one of the 52 pages includes a place to jot down the menu for the upcoming week and a perforated shopping list that can be torn off and taken on-the-go. Simply pop it on your fridge, grab your prettiest pen and plan away!
3. Zip Top Reusable Food Storage Bags
Oh hey there, pro-planner! It looks like you’re getting a hang of this whole meal prep thing. If you want to get one step ahead, try prepping and storing big batches of chopped fruits and veggies in storage bags for easy access later on. We’re opting for reusable versions, because who doesn’t love a product that’s friendly for both the environment and our bank accounts? These bags are also free of BPA, PVC, lead and latex – which is a major meal-prep win if we’ve ever seen one.
Using a digital food scale not only allows you to take the guesswork out of measuring your ingredients, but it’s also the key to making healthy, delicious dinners in perfect proportions. This one from RENPHO caught our eye because it works in conjunction with a mobile app that allows you to track and record food data, calculate calories and obtain a detailed nutritional analysis for anything you’re weighing. When it comes to meal-prep, this food scale takes a huge weight off our shoulders – pun intended!
5. Globalstore Measuring Cup Set
As far as we’re concerned, the perfect meal prep also requires the perfect set of gorgeous golden measuring cups and spoons. This 8 piece set from Globalstore is ideal because it includes both imperial and metric measurements, aka cups and milliliters. We also love the stainless steel finish because it not only gives these measuring cups a lustrous and luxurious finish, but it also ensures that even the most stubborn ingredients can be washed off easily. Easy clean up always equals easy meal prep.
Shh, don’t tell! In her book Meal Prep For Two, author Casey Seiden is sharing the secret to preparing delicious, nourishing dishes for two ahead of time. Whether you’re cooking with a significant other, roommate or family member, you’ll be able to follow along with her step-by-step instructions for prepping meals that are perfectly portioned for two people. Spending more time with our loved ones and less time wondering what to eat together? That’s a big win in our book – and for this book!
From slicing and dicing to mixing and pureeing, this is the jack-of-all-trades food processor that can do it all. The KitchenAid Food Chopper includes a 5-cup work bowl with a handle and a convenient spout for easy serving. It also features two speed settings, as well as pulse operation, meaning you can obtain either fine or coarse results depending on what your recipe calls for! Whether your recipe calls for a chunky salsa, a creamy hummus or a smooth pasta sauce, this product is your ideal sous chef.
Here’s to becoming the happiest and healthiest versions of ourselves we can be in 2021!
xo, The Pretty Little Hangers Team
Danielle
January 17, 2021The food processor looks great, I may have to invest!
Danielle xx
https://www.thereluctantblogger.co.uk/
Pretty Little Hangers
January 20, 2021We definitely recommend it! It makes meal prep so much easier than you could ever imagine.
xo