What I Prep Every Sunday To Make My Life Easier
Sunday is my ideal day of the week to prep. However, I don’t love how overwhelming it can feel. So, instead of prepping every single meal for the week ahead, I prioritize prepping ingredients and items that will save me time, lessen my efforts in the kitchen and minimize clean up throughout the week.
For me, as a busy mom, I begin by setting a time for myself. Time management is key especially when you have kids at home. I love to work in a 45-60 minute window or two 30 minute windows. It requires effort and commitment but I’m always glad I did it come Monday morning.
Here’s what I prep almost every Sunday.
Two easy breakfasts
I often feel rushed in the morning so having breakfast ready to go is key for me. I especially like to have something grab and go (items that require little effort to put together in the morning)
Usually, I’ll make a batch of overnight oats and chia pudding. Those are often my go-to’s. Plus, it’s customizable and easy to make them kid friendly!
Some of my favorite combinations:
Berry + vanilla
Apple cinnamon
Peanut butter + banana
Chocolate chia
Strawberry + coconut
I don’t necessarily make enough for every day of the week. Just having a few ready to go makes mornings feel much easier.
A simple snack
I always try to have at least one homemade or prepped snack ready to go.
This might be energy bites, muffins, cut fruit, or something as simple as veggies and hummus.
By having simple items prepped in the fridge or freezer I find that I spend less time standing at the pantry wondering what I should eat. Plus, having filling and protein Ruch snacks ready to go prevents me from grabbing something like chips from the pantry that ends up leaving me hungrier than I began.
Wash and prep produce
This is probably the most boring thing I prep but it’s one of the most helpful.
I’ll wash berries, grapes, apples, cucumbers, peppers, or whatever we have that week. I’ll also chop a few vegetables if I know I’ll be using them for lunches or dinners.
It takes a few extra minutes on Sunday to wash, dry and chop, but it makes eating more produce throughout the week so much easier. Think about opening up to a fridge full of ready to go produce. It makes eating healthier much more attainable. Plus, you’re more likely to grab an apple that’s pre-washed rather than one that still have the sticker on it!
Two or three salad jars
I’ve been loving salad jars because they make such an easy lunch.
I’ll usually prep two or three at a time and change them up slightly depending on what I have in the fridge.
My basic formula is:
Dressing, beans, grain, vegetables, cheese or other protein and greens.
Some weeks I’ll use chickpeas, quinoa, cucumber, tomato and feta. Other weeks it might be black beans, corn, avocado, peppers and rice.
Salad jars are a minimal clean up meal and are easy!
One dinner “shortcut”
I don’t meal prep every dinner on Sunday. I do enjoy cooking as it’s a time I connect with my kids. Plus, there is something enjoyable about making dinner from scratch (your gut loves it too!).
Instead, I’ll choose one thing that will make a busy weeknight easier. This could simply be a batch of quinoa, steamed or roasted vegetables or rice. Just a simple short cut to save a little time.
Decide on our dinners
This is probably the part that makes the biggest difference. I always plan dinners for the week especially Monday-Thursday. This eliminates decision fatigue and guesswork during the week.
My simple Sunday prep
What my Sunday prep typically looks like:
20 minutes to prep breakfasts and a snack
15 minutes to wash/chop produce
10 minutes to prep lunches like salad jars
10 minutes to prep one dinner shortcut (putting rice or quinoa in either the pressure cooker or stove top takes little work)
10-15 minutes to look at the calendar and choose dinners
That’s it.
Even just planning ahead has been so helpful as a mom who is trying to feel her best in the hardest season of life.