Meal prep hacks: Seven tips that will save you time and money

Meal prepping at the weekend is a great way to plan for the days ahead.

Not only can bulk cooking help to save you money, it also helps slimmers to stay on track with their diets.

If you’re worried that preparing food in advance is too much hard work, we’re here to help.

There are plenty of ways to make the process a lot easier, as revealed below.

Top seven meal prep hacks

1. Look for bargains

The best way to save money on food is to buy reduced items.

Look for yellow sticker sales to bag the cheapest ingredients.

These products tend to go out of date quickly, which is why they’re great options for meal preppers.

Simply chop them up – or cook them into a meal – before popping into a container and freezing.

2. Chop in advance

Cooking takes half the time if you have all your ingredients ready to go.

Instead of chopping up your veggies every day, do it in bulk.

You can then freeze them or leave them in the fridge for next time you’re cooking.

3. Make the most of leftovers

Minimising food waste will help you save money – and it’s good for the environment too.

Re-purposing your ingredients will require some creativity, but you may be surprised by how delicious they taste.

Bubble and squeak or omelettes are a great way to use up any of the items you have lying around at home.

4. Try sheet pan meals

Want to save time while meal prepping?

Minimise on washing up by cooking everything on the same tray.

There are plenty of yummy recipes out there for inspiration, from sweet potato hash to mediterranean veg and chicken.

5. Slow cook it

If you’re looking for a tasty meal with minimum effort, make the slow cooker your best friend.

Simply pop in your ingredients and leave to stew away throughout the day or overnight.

This will allow you to carry out any other tasks you need to do without slaving away over the stove.

6. Don’t forget snacks

Many bulk cookers fail to take snacks into account.

This can lead to them deviating from their plans and grazing on unhealthy options during the day.

Always keep some nuts, seeds and fruit in your cupboards at home.

You can carry these around with you in a sandwich bag or a miniature Tupperware to help ward off cravings.

7. Keep it varied

If you’re eating the same food every day, it’s inevitable that you’ll get bored.

Pimping your meals with different sauces, condiments and sides is a simple way to avoid monotony.

For example, you can serve grilled chicken in a wrap or alongside tasty grains or salads.

And to twist this meal prep staple even further, try adding a spicy, barbecue or zingy sauce as a marinade or dip.