MAKING LIFE EASIER AND HEALTHIER WITH WEEKLY MEAL PREP
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- Опубліковано 29 тра 2024
- #mealprep #cookwithme
Meal prep is like having a food superhero in your corner. It saves time, money, and helps you make healthier choices. Instead of scrambling for last-minute options or succumbing to the convenience of fast food, you have nutritious meals ready to go. Plus, it's a great way to take control of your ingredients, portions, and overall diet. So, whether you're a busy bee or just want to eat more mindfully, meal prep is your culinary sidekick!
First, I'd suggest planning your meals for the week. Choose recipes that are not only delicious but also provide a good balance of nutrients. Once you have your plan, make a shopping list and hit the grocery store.
Next, set aside a specific time for prepping. Sundays are a popular choice, but any day that works for you is perfect. Chop veggies, marinate proteins, and cook grains in batches. Divide everything into portion-sized containers for easy grab-and-go access.
Variety is key, so try mixing up flavors and textures. Don't forget snacks! Prepping things like cut-up fruit, yogurt parfaits, or hummus with veggies can keep you from reaching for less healthy options.
Remember, it's all about finding a routine that works for you and makes your week a little less hectic!
- [ ] 4-6 40oz glass BPA free food containers with locks
- [ ] Food stainer
- [ ] Salad spinner
- [ ] Mandolin
- [ ] Good knife (nakano)
- [ ] Vinegar or baking soda (5-10 minutes to release dirt)
- [ ] Dressing containers
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Food processor - amzn.to/3HkC85u
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Single dish pyrex- amzn.to/3RQsRqw
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Meals you can eat right out of the refrigerator all week long:
Thai Pork Lettuce Wraps - laurennicholsen.com/blog/2022/...
Spring Rolls
Gyro Salad * red onion - laurennicholsen.com/blog/2022/...
BLT Salad (you could also make this into a wrap with sour cream and a green tortilla)
Southwest Salad * Bell pepper
Taco salad *red onion
Bean + Corn Salad with Jalapeño *cilantro red onion
Tofu broccoli and green onions
Soups
Lentils and salmon
My Healthy Refrigerator restock:
Eggs
Tofu (Organic GMO free)
Veggies
( Jalapeños, poblanos, carrots, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, herbs, asparagus, cauliflower, kale, greens)
Water
Fruit
( grapes, berries and bananas)
Lemons / limes
Chicken (whole chicken for bone broth) - use the remainder for salad
Ground pork, beef and impossible meat (alternative to meat products)
Wash all the produce
In vinegar and water, remove green stems and dry
Clean and remove skins of carrots
Broccoli - wash and cook for 60 seconds then let sit and put away, it will last longer and ready to eat
Hard boiled eggs - cook and de-shell
For freezer meals you can do several different things. Any casserole can be frozen. If that seems like too much you could make spaghetti sauce and freeze it. You can freeze soup. You can put your raw meat in a marinade and freeze that. As it thaws back out, it's ready to cook. You can also freeze cooked sausage, bacon and even pancakes. Just walk through the frozen meal aisle in the store and that can inspire you do make those with your own twist.
Hi Lauren, not to worry about broccoli, it's full of goodness, antioxidants, including vitamins, several minerals including potassium and iron. Antioxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress and reduces inflammation. The only way broccoli is not healthy is if it is overcooked. I was in school food service and nutrition for 30 years. We did multiple studies on all foods to be sure what we were serving our students..So keep eating broccoli..🙂🥦🥕🥬🥒🌽🥝🥑🍅🍎🍇ok I'm done.😁 Stay healthy..
Thank you! I was going to go on and say this!
Love, love, love broccoli… raw😂
So good to hear. I love broccoli.
You talk way too fast. Can you slow it done.
It would be nice to listen and understand what your saying.
@@jnerlee962 you can slow the speed down in your UA-cam settings.
Hi Lauren Im from Sweden and i’ve adopted your refridgerator boxes. Im leaving 06:20 in the morning and arrive home at 17:00 And the question every day is whats for dinner Now we prep our refridgerator sundays and fill our monday to sunday boxes then. I save time every day And it is and looks so organised Every friend comment on that😂. So thankyou so Much for making my life easier 🙏❤️
I love those boxes!! They make meal time so much easier! Thanks for being here!!
I know you are working and taking care of your kids, I just miss your decorating videos and house updates. 💜
I love broccoli
When my children were little I worked full time I did freeze a few meals each week so I could be with them
I did a few pasta dishes , a pot pie, I also did a lot of prep work when they went to bed, I enjoyed it
I love everything you made
I am older now and I still meal prep I work part time ,
Have a great evening
I hope your 2024 bring you more happiness and peace
Hard to loose your mother
She is with you
I believe it, hugs my dear
Hi Lauren, love your cooking and organization! It is just my husband and I, so I usually don't freeze meals, unless I make a big pot of sauce or soup and then freeze the extra! I like to do all the possible prepping/chopping of veggies in the morning, so that when I go to cook later in the day, all my ingredients are out and ready to go. By the way, broccoli is full of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber, so it is good for you!! 💗
I love prepping my veggies too.. I look forward to summer gardening and prepping when things slow down!
Love these recipes!❤
I personally love time in the kitchen. I meal prep breakfast and snacks for my week to cut back on choices and have simply grab and go. I also do freezer meals but I usually stick to main dishes and then will make a side and it allows the pressure to be off when I’m not feeling up to cook an entire meal. Also I love to freezer meal prep marinated meat which allows for a lot of flavor but I’m still cooking dinner day of. Freezer meals just like meal prep can look different for everyone and every family.
Broccoli and other cruciferous veg are still very good for us. They can cause your body to not absorb iodine as well, but that would be at the time you’re eating them. I wouldn’t worry at all about them being an antinutrient. There is more good to them than not. You can get your intake of iodine any other time from your foods throughout the day 😊❤
Your organizational videos are your true strength and so helpful. The information has so much potential for application, many thanks for sharing your exceptional organizational skills. The effort and energy that you expend are truly mind boggling.
Regarding your cleaning…I can’t tell you so many times I sit and watch you clean, while nothing gets done in my own kitchen! Thank you for just showing the dishes only. It did allow me to go in and get my own done!
Glad it was helpful! I appreciate the feedback! I have filmed a lot of videos for Jan with sponsorships but will be pulled back on partnerships and focusing on consistent informational or motivational videos.
I don’t like to cook but watching you cook is crazy relaxing to me!😊
I love what you said about cooking while kids doing homework being relaxing/therapeutic. I work FT also and really miss being home and able to have meals prepared before my family is home.
Great content. I love broccoli also and eat it several times a week. And, will continue to. 😀
Lauren- will you do a video on your garden and how you plan it out? I would love to start a small salad garden
Good to see a video! Ive missed watching notifications 😊
I have not done freezer meals. What I have done and absolutely love is dicing or slicing onions, bell peppers, carrots, celery, and portioning them off and freezing them. If I am going to be cooking them and not eating them fresh, it makes meal prep quicker after work.
I do alot of freezer meals in the winter months only because I have really odd hours at my job.Always get great ideas from you.Thank you
That's great! Thank you for joining me today!
I have a dry erase board on my fridge that I use To write down our dinners for the week. On Sundays, I look Through my work schedule and/ or any evening things we have going on that week. My work schedule changes a bit so, the nights that I work later, I try to make a crockpot meal or, pre assembled a dish. Ex: enchiladas or lasagna that just needs to go in the oven before I get home from work. As far as lunch, I am only one that makes their own lunch. The rest get school lunch or get fast food. So, I tend To make salads, pasta or dips and veggies to eat it with ahead of time.
Love your meal planning and recipes! ❤
Thanks so much 😊
We do freezer meals for lunch prep. We smoke meats or make meatballs and then bake or sauté veggies and portion everything out and put them in ziplocs. That way if you don’t end up using all the meals they are still good for the following week vs being in the fridge and throwing them away.
Hey to the chickens, missed seeing them. Also, shout out to Farrucheo!
This video was great Lauren!! So fun to see some diff ways to utilize food but make it more appealing in the recipes and ways you did! Thanks for sharing- would definitely love to see more of what you create!! Love it thank you!❤
I love the Le Creuset mixing jug! 🤩 always feel super motivated after watching your videos thank you 😊
I'm so glad! thank you for being here!
Superbe organisation et super video 🤩😘
Hi,
If I may make a suggestion. While watching your video I noticed the amount of water used... I too wash my produce in water & vinegar but to save on water & vinegar I fill my clean sink with water & add my different produce together usless small items then I'd do a 2nd turn. But soak them then scrub them all at once the dry & put away. Saves time
🌞 Props for broccoli 🥦
Thank you Lauren for all the great recipes. Happy Sunday from Maine.
You motivate me !!!! I eat more nutritional meals by watching you. I need to make my lunches ahead of time to insure I am eating better. It’s essential. Thank you for all you do!
Last year I was literally fasting and eating healthy dinners but I would grab processed junk for lunch. It takes a little more time to prep ahead but it has been worth it! I got it don't this morning and it was quick.
Healthy and tasty menu.🧡💛💚🥦🥬🍋🍲🍲🍋🍋🥦🥬💛💚
Acre homestead on UA-cam does a lot of freezer meals. It's just nice to have a few on hand in case something comes up and you're unable to make dinner or maybe you're just tired or didn't get time to run to the store
Lauren, I love watching all your videos, and seeing all your critters. Thanks for sharing❤
Great video! Healthy meal prep is so satisfying! You’ve inspired me to make a bean salad this week ❤️
Yay! What kind are you going to try?
@@LaurenNicholsen I love kidney beans, so kidney beans, chopped cucumber and herbs type of salad. I like to pull homemade dressing recipes from my medical medium books for these healthy salads too
Freezer meals are convenient meals to me. When I'm not feeling good or super busy that day. Meal prep is something I always say I'm gonna do but I dont work and my son is 16 almost 17 so I'm not always pressed for time. Like you I enjoy cooking. I would meal prep for a family of 6 for sure. Everything looks good.
Always feel so relax and motivatd in the same time when I watch Your videos. Love You ❤
Thank you so much!
Hi Lauren! Love the meal prepping & seeing the chickens
We used to make meals ahead when my husband and I worked the same shift. I usually did it on sunday morning. I like to cook earlier in the day as opposed to later! mostly because I want the kitchen cleaned up and everything put away! And I like to clean as I cook. anyway! enjoyed the vid! I can"t wait to see what you have planned! thanks for sharing! xoxo
Hi from Barbados Lauren, Love Love Love your food boxes😊
Loved this so much!!!!
My word for the year is Systems! So when you said systems it hit spot on 😊
Hi Lauren. I really enjoyed this meal prep. I will definitely use some of your ideas. I am not sure if you do this, but I always put the roots of the green onions in water, make sure they are standing upright and, in a few days, you have more green onions. I get about two new crops before I discard them. I just put them on the windowsill in my kitchen and they grow so fast.
Great idea!! I have never done that but I will try!
Hi Lauren I just love this video great meal prep question what kind of knife are you using for your meal prep I need one
You are one smart lady, to have prepped all that food and an other things like being,wife, mother and all the rest in between. Thumbs up to you.. I loved cooking when my kids were little, but now we have an empty nest, so I don’t have to cook much now. I do love watching you, your meals come out looking so delicious. Do you like Okr! I don’t see you cooking it. I love it fried or cooked in veggies"
My kitty Violet says Hi to kitty Ferruccio!😻😻
I do chili, chicken fettuccini alfredo, meatloaf, enchiladas, any kind of soup, spagetti, lasagna, etc just about anything!!
My kitchen is a war-zone of misplaced mugs and overflowing drawers. I need your organizational magic! Could you do a video showing where you store all the essentials: pots, pans, Tupperware, spices, the whole shebang? I'm drowning in dish-ware and desperate for efficiency!
Bonus points if you tackle appliance placement too! My air fryer and bread maker are like countertop refugees, and I could really use some storage inspiration.
A fellow kitchen-chaos-combatant
I love watching you cook! Everything about it….your recipes, the cookware you use and your knife skills ☺️
Thank you!! I love cooking so much!
@@LaurenNicholsenit shows, it is a part of you ❤
I love our instant pot … throw everything in and let it cook while at work. ❤❤❤
Lots of great lookin' dishes !!
Great content!!
I prep dinner and lunch on Sundays for the week. I do 2 types of protein and either Jasmine/ yellow rice or Mac and cheese ( from scratch). The only thing I make daily are the vegetables.
My lunch prep for the week can be tuna salad , grilled chicken with sweet potatoes, hard boiled eggs with sausage or taco bowls with a variety of toppings.
Lauren super samé dobroty toje ůžasné přeji krásny zbytek dne❤❤❤
Love the organization. Right now, life does not allow me the time on Sunday to prep like this, but I'd very much like to! I work in healthcare, but as a licensed optician/GM, my work week generally always includes Saturdays. My son is currently living in southern Ohio, about an hour away, and is able to come home on Sundays for several hours. I'm his transportation, hence the reason why I don't have time to food prep. Nevertheless, it won't always be this way, so eventually, I can start this process for our household. Love the kitties, I have a black cat as well, his name is Jack, and he's definitely my cat! We also have 2 other cats and 2 dogs that keep us on our toes!
Thank you for these recipes and tips !☺️
I’m loving the veggie motivation for the new year! 🥦🥒🥬🥕
Thank you Lauren for a great video I have tried your recipes yummy for sure your such a great mom ❤love u I admire all you do “ your Wonder Woman “ in my opinion
you always make everything look so easy.we are a 3 person family.and my daughter helps to but we are a small family.so we don't have to much to prep but that a good idea I just love your videos
Thank you so much for watching!
Blanca!!!😂😂😂😂 No more !! 🤣
Hi there I love your channel I would love to meal prep and freezer meal prep for the same reason to spend more time with my Lil ones I have four so I’d love to enjoy them while they are lil however they don’t love or like vegetables and at times I have a very hard time with cooking but if you were to film that part I would definitely follow..
Thank you for the motivation :)
Love the feel good music 🎶
For freezer meals it’s usually shepherds pie, enchiladas, or a baked pasta. We make taco meat to freeze, umm tons of marinaded chicken to pull out that’s super helpful for not just suppers but lunches for salads or put it with couscous and carrots
I recommend watching The Wads on UA-cam. Kim is f’n awesome. She cooks everyday and look through her videos for her marinade recipes and everything else. She’s entertaining.
@kelly - I laughed to myself when you said shepherds pie - seems like a lot of people don’t even know what that is anymore - lol - and it’s so good - I freeze a lot of things, too - I just started experimenting with freezing a long time ago & was pleasantly surprised how good most things were - I used to use a Food Saver but unless I want to freeze it for quite a while, I don’t think it’s really necessary - ☺️
Awesome prep, looks delicious and healthy!
Lauren you are amazing! God Bless!
Yum, everything looks so delicious! Great job Lauren!
what a fun video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I love to cook for my family too. I meal prep for nights that I work late which might be one or two nights a week. My husband doesnt love to cook haha
Bendiciones
HAPPY Sunday Lauren, family, and fur babies. Thanks for that information, I did not know that either. Way to prep; it is now 11 degrees in The Burgh! STTB
Hello, Happy New Year,if u want to grow more spring onions take the ends n put them in water or in the soil. They all ready hav roots on the ends. Lov ur channel. Looking forward to seeing the new bthrm. I reuse my plastic containers they r great for soup broth. It's just the 2 of us. My kids r grownn hav families of there own. I domeal prep n freezer meal. My bf works nite work so it's easier for me to just pop it in the oven. Happy cooking.💘
Loved this video! I'm inspired to get back to meal prepping
What wonderful inspiration. I hope to try some of these recipes ❤
Yummy choices, love these videos......your so organized! xo
Enjoyed this video on meal preparation.
Great video! They get better and better. I love the way you cook for your family using the best, freshest ingredients and a very varied menu each week. Thanks for sharing your talents with us! ....Toni Floyd
Brava Lauren😋
Your food looks so delicious. Thanks for continuing to share and inspire
I meal prep too. Awesome video 💙💙💙💙💙💙
New subscriber here... love the style you use to prep and that all your meals look flavorful and healthy. Since I'm looking for more healthy lower carb options this was really great.
I use to have chickens and absolutely loved them. They are so fun & they gave us the best eggs😊 . Super sweet to see yours. Mine were all named too 😂
Love watching your meal prepping videos!
Glad you like them! This is my second week of meal prepping and it has really been great addition to my routines!
Hi Lauren
It's so amazing to watch you prep and cook and decorate. You are so full of energy it makes me tired just watching you do so much. 😅I love your chickens and pets. Until your next video take care and God bless.🙏🏻❤
Hi lauren, you did a Awesome job! of prepping all that Healthy foods❤❤❤❤❤
Now that was a video I enjoyed watching...educational...thanks....❤
Hi Lauren, you've inspired me to start cooking healthy. I love meal prepping. Your momma must have been with you in the kitchen. I saw a beautiful orb pass by you. I'm not sure if you believe in that.😊
Thank you Lauren. You're amazing! Everything looks delicious. Have a beautiful day ♡
Thank you! You too!
I love those baskets you are washing the veggies in. Where do you get them?
euros are the monetary unit of many countries of the EU
While I have no children at home, hubby teachers and needs two lunches and dinners each week. I try to prepare meat or some other protein which can be used in two different dishes. For example, we had roasted chicken for dinner Saturday night and tomorrow I am using the leftover chicken to make your chicken and dumpling soup. It is about Zero in Indianapolis, IN and soup sounded really good. If there is leftover soup, I can freeze one or two portions and that can be a meal for hubby. Of course, there are nights when we have a very simple meal of salmon, veggies and salad, etc. or even a Western omlet. Our schedules are complex because he is out one or two nights a week as am I. Therefore, how much cooking varies from week to week. While I enjoy cooking if my schedule is super busy, I love to meal plan as I find that really reduces my stress level as I know I have what I need to cook each night. Friday night I don't cook. We either go out or bring something home.
Very good ❤
Love this channel :) healthy homemaking 🥰
Thank you!
Hi beautiful thank you for sharing ❤
Yes I try not to lean on broccoli so much and incorporate more spinach!
Everything looked so yummy...tfs
Thanks so much!!
I often double or triple the recipes so one freshly made and one for the freezer for the following week/month
Great idea!
Hi Lauren! Love this relaxing vlog. What procedure do you use for your boiled eggs? I keep messing up my fresh brown eggs when I try to hard boil them! 😊
I love meal prep but it does take dedication. I can’t get my mom on the same avenue about storing veggies like you do.
The chickens!!!😍😍😍😍
Thank you, for another great video.
🥰👍🙏❤️🕊️✨🌟💫⭐️👏✝️
Hello. Do you have a link or the name of the containers with buffalo check and wood lids? I am only a family of one, but will defo try the chicken gyros and some other preps!
These recipes look delicious! I'm absolutely going to have to try those Thai lettuce wraps. 😍
As for anti-nutrients, there's a really great article you can google from the NIH (National Health Institute) called "Is There Such a Thing as Anti-Nutrients?" that examines the science behind some common claims and whether or not there's evidence of actual risk.
The TLDR on broccoli is that Brassica vegetables contain various levels of goitrogen which under really specific circumstances (non-diverse diet that's extremely high in cruciferous veggies AND very low iodine) can possibly impact thyroid health, but 1) broccoli contains minimal amounts of goitrogen, and 2) if it's still a concern, all you'd have to do to counter the effect is season with a little iodized salt (which is, uh, not generally in short supply in Western diets, ha ha), and then you can enjoy all the many other nutritional benefits of broccoli without a problem!
That's pretty much what I read but honestly I wouldn't stop eating them. I love veggies and broccoli happens to be one of the veggies the whole family will eat. I just thought it was an interesting thing to read! Thank you for sharing this with viewers!
@cristinbiggs - thanks for that clarification - I need to eat more veggies in general & broccoli is my favorite - seems like every time I learn something new, it seems like there’s going to be nothing left to eat ! Greetings from (cold right now but still) sunny Central Florida 😎
❤❤❤❤
I make batches of pasta sauce and freeze. Will sometimes make meatballs and have it in the sauce ready to pull out but we're irish and my husband is more a meat, spuds and veg man so pretty much everything is made daily, so not much to freeze. He wouldnt eat lasagne, casseroles or anything like that.
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