How to Prepare A Week of Meals in One Day

Today's working families often find time a rare commodity. Between work, chores and extra-curricular activities, finding time to prepare a sit-down meal every night can be more than difficult. You can rise to the challenge, however, by preparing meals for a whole work week in one single day. Read on to learn how.

Things You'll Need

• Meal plans for a work week
• Necessary meal ingredients
• Freezer and frig storage containers
• Approximately 6 to 8 hours

Instructions

Plan, Prep and Store with the 2 and 4 Method

1. 

   By planning, preparing and storing your meals for a whole work week you've taken the stress out of the age old "what's for dinner?" dilemma. Begin by making out your meal plans for five full dinners using the 2 and 4 Method. Start by choosing the two meats and four vegetables you will primarily work with for the week's meals. Of course, you will need to have additions for your meal plans on hand, such as fruits, pastas, rolls and taco shells.

2. 

   A whole chicken and 3 lbs. of ground sirloin covers a full 5 nights of dinners. For example, a whole chicken can be used for roast chicken one night and the remaining chicken can be shredded for chicken tacos later in the week. The ground sirloin can be used for a meat loaf, then brown the remainder for sloppy joes another night and pizza topping to round it off. These are only suggestions; once you begin to plan around the 2 and 4 method (2 meats, 4 vegetables), you will realize there are a lot of choices.

3. 

   Your 4 vegetables can be chosen strictly as side dishes or as a mix of side dishes and main course ingredients. For example, if one of your vegetables is green bell peppers they can be used for stir fry, shish kabobs and chopped to include in a meatloaf or chili. Choose white potatoes for quickly baking in a microwave or for soups and stews. Sweet peas can be used as a side dish and in a cold pasta salad. Think about how to use each vegetable you select at least twice.

4. 

   Lastly, if your meals usually include desserts, make choices that are easily prepared and stored in advance. The more you work with 1-day meal preparation, the more creative you will become. A day devoted to feeding your family for a week is a day well spent, saving you time, money and stress.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you have everything you need before you begin cooking.

• Every meal does not have to include dessert; fruit is a wonderful, more healthy substitute.

• Cut even more time by using enviromentally-friendly disposable plates.

• Learn to love your crock pot and leftovers! Together they can help you bring great meals to the table with little fuss.

Resources

• Free and Easy Frugal Recipes
• Meals Matter - Healthy Eating and Meal Planning
• Aldi Meal Planner and Shopping List
• Meals.com - 15,000 Recipes
• Meal Plans and Grocery Shopping Lists