Meal Prep for Beginners: Save Time and Money Every Week
Meal prepping saves the average family $200/month and 5 hours/week. Here is how to start.
M
Written by Maria Santos
Professional Chef · 14 years experience
Need help with this? Chat with a professional chef.
Get personalized advice for your specific situation — just $3.
In this article
1. Why Meal Prep Works2. Step 1: Plan Your Meals3. Step 2: Batch Cooking4. Step 3: StorageWhy Meal Prep Works
The average American spends $3,500/year on restaurants and takeout. Meal prepping cuts that by 60–80% while improving nutrition. Time investment: 2–3 hours on Sunday saves 5+ hours during the week.
Step 1: Plan Your Meals
Start with 3—4 recipes. Choose recipes that share ingredients. Write a shopping list organized by store section.
Step 2: Batch Cooking
Cook everything in parallel. Rice on the stove, vegetables and protein in the oven. Let everything cool before portioning into glass containers.
Step 3: Storage
Most meal-prepped food lasts 4–5 days refrigerated, 2–3 months frozen. Label containers with the date.
Pro Tips
✓Start with just lunches before tackling every meal
✓Invest in good glass containers
✓Theme your days: Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday
✓Prep breakfast too: overnight oats freeze beautifully
Still stuck? Chat with Maria now.
Get personalized cooking help help for your specific situation — just $3.
Chat with Maria Santos — $3 →More Cooking Help Articles
Related Articles
Related Cooking Help Questions
No matter what I do, my rice comes out mushy and sticky. I have tried different amounts of water but...
Answered by Maria Santos, Professional Chef · 93 found helpful
I can never get a good sear on my steak at home. It always turns out gray and steamed instead of bro...
Answered by Maria Santos, Professional Chef · 107 found helpful