I love the idea of meal prep. But, let’s be real – I am probably never going to spend an entire Sunday preparing perfectly portioned meals for the week.
What I can do is spend a few minutes washing produce, cooking a few ingredients, and getting a head start on the week ahead. That’s where a simple meal prep plan comes in.
That’s why I created this free meal prep planner printable. It’s a simple place to keep track of the tasks that will make your week run more smoothly.
Download the meal prep planner →
Why Use a Meal Prep Planner?
Meal prep doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the kitchen. Sometimes it looks like:
- Washing fruit and vegetables
- Chopping vegetables for the week
- Cooking rice
- Thawing meat
- Mixing marinades
- Hard boiling eggs
- Portioning snacks
Small tasks done ahead of time can make mornings and dinner time so much smoother.
How I Use This Planner
After I finish my meal plan for the week, I look at each meal and ask myself: “What can I do ahead of time?”
These can be tasks like:
- Chopping onions for tacos
- Cooking chicken for salads
- Prepping vegetables for a stir fry
I write these down on my meal prep planner so I don’t have to remember them later. The goal isn’t perfection – its making my life a little easier during the week.
This planner works best after you’ve completed your meal plan. Once you know what is on the menu, you can quickly identify which ingredients or tasks can be prepared ahead of time.
More Meal Planning Printables
Visit the meal planning printable page for the complete meal planning binder and other meal planning printables!
Looking for Real-Life Meal Inspiration?
Need ideas for what to put on your meal plan?
Check out my What I Cooked This Week series where I share the meals we actually ate, what’s working, and the recipes we keep coming back to.
