I don’t know about you, but I need to get better at meal prep. Between the busy work week and a pretty involved schedule on the weekends, sometimes it’s just really hard to prep for what’s next. In my head, Sunday should be for rest and relaxation, not a ton of cooking for later.
That, my dear readers, is the beauty of planned leftovers. Make some extra servings of a meal and pack it for later! It’s an easy, minimal prep way to make sure I have meals in the future.
1. Mango Chia Pudding from Living Fresh Daily
A big go-to in our home has been smoothies in the morning. Especially while I was on the Elimination Diet, smoothies were a solid way of making sure I got the nutrition I needed. The problem came with the monotony. After a few months, smoothies got boring and we got burnt out.
The relief from that monotony came with chia pudding. It’s so easy, nutritious, and totally tasty. Plus, the base is pretty plain so blending with different flavors is really simple. I love this mango variation from Living Fresh Daily. We always have frozen mango pieces in the freezer, and leaving the pudding to set overnight allows it to thaw for the finished dish!
The best part: one recipe makes four servings! I prep it Monday night and have breakfast for the rest of the week.
2. Curried Chickpea Bowls with Garlicky Spinach from Eating Bird Food
This was another find while I was on the Elimination Diet. The garlic and lemon work really well with the spinach. Add in the sweetness and heat of the curry, and this dish is magic!
I definitely recommend tasting as you go because the heat level was a little less than what I look for when it comes to curry. I add in cayenne and red pepper flakes. The quality of this dish improves immensely with the quality of your curry. If you’re in Columbus, I recommend North Market Spices Ltd’s Jamaican Curry for extra spice.
Depending on portion size, this yields three to four servings. I can typically get four servings of chickpeas, but only three of the spinach. That means, at the very least, I have one more serving to have for lunch later.
3. Salmon in Roasted Pepper Sauce from Cooktoria
Cheesy, creamy, and incredibly easy! Mixed with spinach and roasted red peppers, this makes for an insanely delicious protein boost. It’s all done in about twenty minutes too.
The beauty of most fish dishes is that it calls for four servings when we only need two. That means we each get another lunch out of it! Little-to-no prep (unless you roast your own red pepper like we did) and two leftover fillets!? I am obsessed.
4. Honey Sesame Shrimp and Brussel Sprouts Stir Fry from Gimme Some Oven
I just made this recipe last week, and I absolutely love it! This required a little preparation because the shrimp needs to marinate. But, holy cow, it was worth it! Ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce all come together to make a refreshing, tasty dish. I added in some sriracha for an extra kick.
In its entirety, the recipe makes about four servings. The beauty here is that my boyfriend doesn’t like shrimp, so I get them all to myself!
I think the most important part about meal planning and preparation is dealing with the pressure to “do it right”. What I’ve been learning about adult life is that there isn’t just one way to do things. Yes, planned leftovers probably won’t work for a family of four. This is a system that works well for me and my household. I’m hoping that this helps you figure out what might work for you!
Was this helpful? Do you have suggestions for recipes to try? Let me know! I always love hearing from you. Until next week, happy eating!