Sticking to your health goals is easy when you have free time to put towards them. But when your days are filled to the brim and you’re running around all day, that’s when your decisions make or break your progress. Planning ahead by meal prepping can make things easier.
When you come home after a long day of work, not planning ahead can cause you to turn to picking up fast food on the way home. Or maybe you open the cupboard the second you walk in the kitchen and eat half a box of Cheez Its in lieu of a healthy dinner. Here are four healthy meal prep dinner ideas that you can make ahead of time, such as on a Sunday night, so they’re ready when you need them throughout the week.
1. Baked Lime Chicken Bowls
Find the recipe here. This recipe is simple, quick, and requires only about 20 minutes. With cooked quinoa, baked lime chicken and a green vegetable of choice, this is a healthy and filling meal that will last in the fridge all week.
Tip: If you’re really going for convenience, pre-cooked quinoa costs a little extra but saves significant time.
2. DIY Starbucks Protein Bistro Box
This recipe is so simple it requires no cooking, just assembly. Throw your favorite snack-style foods into a food storage container and it’s ready for you when you walk in the door. Pick healthy crackers, turkey lunch meat, apple slices, almonds and a hard boiled egg. This is extremely customizable, you’re sure to find a combo you love.
3. Make-Ahead Breakfast Bowls
If you’re a fan of breakfast for dinner, try out these meal prep breakfast bowls to quickly heat up in the microwave for dinner throughout the week. 30 minutes or less on Sunday will make it that much easier for you when you’re hungry, busy and need a healthy dinner. Dice and bake potatoes, scramble some eggs, and add cheese, green onions, avocado for some healthy fat, or your toppings of choice.
4. Pork Carnitas Bowls
Be kind to your wallet by making your own meal prep Chipotle bowls. Serve taco-seasoned pork over brown rice and add black beans, corn, cheese, and whatever else goes into your favorite burrito bowl. This is another easy option to pack into Tupperware and grab out of the fridge as soon as you need it.
Tip: You can freeze these to preserve them longer if you want to make a bunch of meals at a time.
With these meal prep dinner ideas, there’s no excuse to not eat healthy. Putting in work at the beginning of the week means it’s easier for you to reach your goals throughout the week when things get busy and you’re at risk of falling behind. Here’s to a healthier you!
