Straightforward & Wholesome School Meal Prep Concepts (Free 4-Week Plan!)

Inside: Get school meal prep concepts that make it simpler for busy college students to remain nicely nourished. Features a free 4-week meals prep plan with directions and grocery lists.

There may be extra to school meal prep than stockpiling rows of ramen.

Hey, no disrespect–it’s the last word 25-cent meal! However college students can not stay on ramen alone. And the extra well-nourished they’re, the higher they’ll navigate this busy time of life.

Plus, meal prepping is an A+ life ability.

So I designed a four-week school meal prep plan that’s inexpensive and simple. It makes days’ price of scrumptious, wholesome staples for meals and snacks.

For those who’re a mum or dad, this easy plan will help you arm your school child with concepts. For those who’re a pupil discovering it exhausting to know what to purchase or the best way to flip it into meals, you’re additionally in the fitting place. 

The perks of this wholesome meal prep plan

• It saves a bunch of cash in comparison with meals supply and consuming out
• It consists of straightforward recipes which can be easy to arrange, plus some vegetarian choices
• It makes it simpler to eat wholesome meals and snacks

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: For 10 straightforward meals that may be made in a dorm room, take a look at my put up Wholesome Dorm Meals Concepts.

Find out how to observe this school meal prep plan

• Learn by way of every week’s lineup and overview the recipes. If there’s something you don’t like, swap in one thing else and modify the procuring listing. A number of the weeks use related elements, so tweak the procuring lists as wanted. (This plan clearly doesn’t cowl all meals for your complete week, so spherical out the lists with different meals, too.)
• Get your groceries and collect containers.
• Put aside time for prep. For many college students, the simplest time to do meals prep is Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Every week’s prep plan ought to take about 2 hours.
• Assessment the directions for storing every little thing, being attentive to how lengthy meals final.

Kitchen gear wanted

• Baking sheet
• Muffin tin
• Skillet
• Blender
• Sq. baking dish
• Medium saucepan with lid
• Mixing bowls and spoons
• Reducing board
• Sharp knife
• Spatula
• Stovetop
• Oven
• Microwave
• Griddle (non-obligatory)
• On the spot Pot (non-obligatory)

Primary pantry staples wanted

• Oil: Reminiscent of olive or canola
• Cooking spray
• Salt/pepper

Week 1 Sport Plan

1. Prep Scrambled Egg Muffins and put in oven.
2. Whereas they bake:
   • Get 2 cups brown rice or white rice moving into a saucepan or within the On the spot Pot (listed below are On the spot Pot directions).
   • Prep and cook dinner a batch of Crispy Tofu on the range (OR use store-bought rotisserie rooster).
   • When muffins are executed, improve oven temperature to 400 levels F. Lower 2-3 cups of veggies of your alternative into uniform-ish-size items, toss in 1-2 tablespoons oil, and unfold on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 20-25 minutes or till browned and tender.
   • Shake up a batch of Peanut Sauce in a glass mason jar.
3. Combine and roll Protein Balls.

Week 1 Storing & Reheating Directions

• Cool Scrambled Egg Muffins on a wire cooling rack after which retailer in an hermetic container for 3-4 days, reheating within the microwave till scorching and steaming earlier than serving.
• Portion rice bowl elements into hermetic containers OR portion rice, veggies, and tofu or rooster into ready-to-grab particular person meals in containers equivalent to these glass meal prep containers. Pack Peanut Sauce individually in a leak-proof container. When able to eat, reheat containers in microwave and prime with sauce. Sauce could be thinned with a drizzle of water earlier than serving. Eat rice bowls inside 3-5 days.
• Retailer Protein Balls in an hermetic container within the fridge and eat inside one week.

Week 1 Grocery Record

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Eggs
• Milk
• Sausage (common or vegetarian)
• Inexperienced onions (non-obligatory)
• Rice (brown or white) OR 2 packages of cauliflower rice
• Further-firm tofu (OR a store-bought rotisserie rooster)
• Olive oil
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Cornstarch
• Veggies of alternative (broccoli, bell peppers, carrots)
• Peanut butter
• Maple syrup
• Garlic
• Oats
• Honey
• Dry milk powder
• Mini chocolate chips

Week 2 Plan

1. Mix Protein Pancake batter and let it relaxation whereas skillet or griddle is heating up.
2. Prep Protein Pancakes and put aside to chill.
3. Prep 3-5 Jarred Salads:
   • Cook dinner 1 pound rooster on range (I like this methodology) or in On the spot Pot (right here’s the best way to make shredded rooster within the On the spot Pot) OR cook dinner 3-5 veggie burgers OR drain and rinse chickpeas.
   • Wash and prep 2-3 cups recent veggies to incorporate in jarred salads, equivalent to chopped or shredded carrots, chopped celery or cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and so forth.
   • Collect 1-2 cups different salad elements, equivalent to nuts or seeds, dried or chopped fruits, and a smooth flavorful cheese like crumbled cheddar, feta, or goat cheese.
   • Wash and dry 3-5 cups salad greens (or use pre-rinsed greens).
   • Assemble jarred salads, placing the heaviest elements on the underside, ending with the greens on prime, after which screw on the lids tightly for storage.
4. Bake a batch of Nut-Free Oat Bars.

Week 2 Storing & Reheating Directions

• Retailer leftover Protein Pancakes in an hermetic container and hold refrigerated. Reheat in a microwave, toaster oven, or skillet on the range. They can be eaten chilly. Leftover pancakes are finest if eaten inside one week.
• Package deal jarred salads in massive mason jars with tight lids, placing heaviest elements on backside and ending with greens on the prime. Preserve salads refrigerated. When able to eat, dump contents into a big bowl or on a plate. Preserve salad dressing separate and add simply earlier than serving.
• Lower Nut-Free Oat Bars into squares and place in an hermetic container. You’ll be able to hold them on the counter for 1-3 days, however as a result of they’re so moist, switch them to the fridge after that.

Week 2 Grocery Record

• Eggs
• Oats
• ​Cottage cheese
• Maple syrup
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon
• 1 pound recent rooster OR 1 bundle veggie burgers OR 1 can chickpeas
• Rooster broth (if prepping rooster in On the spot Pot)
• ​Salad greens
• Veggies and/or fruits of alternative for salads
• Nuts and smooth cheese of alternative for salads
• Salad dressing
• Flour (white complete wheat and/or all-purpose)
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon
• Applesauce
• Honey
• Vanilla
• Chocolate chips
• Parchment paper

Week 3 Plan

1. Combine up Oatmeal Cup batter and bake in a muffin tin.
2. Cook dinner meat/mushroom combination in Beef Burritos recipe OR drain and rinse a can of black beans.
3. Assemble burritos and bundle in a zip-top bag (Vegetarian directions: Warmth drained, rinsed black beans in a skillet on the range, smashing with a fork. Stir in taco seasoning. Spoon onto the middle of 4 warmed tortillas and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Fold within the sides and roll.)
4. Wash and lower 3-4 cups uncooked veggies (or nonetheless many you’d like for the week).

Week 3 Storing & Reheating Directions

• Preserve the Oatmeal Cups in an hermetic container or zip-top bag. You’ll be able to hold them on the counter for 1-2 days, then switch to the fridge and eat inside one week. They’re very moist and can spoil if left at room temperature for greater than a pair days.
• Place rolled burritos on a baking sheet to chill (when you’ve got room in your freezer, set the tray inside for about 10 minutes). Place burritos in a gallon-size zip-top bag (plastic or reusable) and refrigerate as much as 3-5 days, The Beef Burrito recipe makes 8 burritos, so put extras within the freezer and eat inside three months.
• Retailer lower veggies in hermetic containers and eat inside 5-7 days for very best quality.

Week 3 Grocery Record

• Eggs
• Oats
• ​Milk
• Bananas
• Maple syrup
• Oats
• Peanut butter
• Baking powder
• Vanilla
• Cinnamon
• Tortillas (burrito-sized)
• 1 pound lean floor beef (or turkey) OR 1 can black beans
• White mushrooms
• Enchilada sauce
• Refried beans
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Spices: paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder OR taco seasoning combine in a packet
• Favourite fillings/toppings for burritos (equivalent to bitter cream, salsa, or guacamole)
• Recent veggies of alternative for bonus uncooked veggies
• Favourite dip for recent veggies (equivalent to ranch, hummus, and so forth)

Week 4 Plan

1. Assemble 3-5 Smoothie Packets.
2. Assemble 3-5 Protein Bins:
3. Wash 3-5 massive potatoes (white or candy), poke them throughout with a fork, rub frivolously with oil and sprinkle with salt, then bake them in a 400 diploma F oven for 50-60 minutes. OR poke them throughout with a fork and microwave them for about 8 minutes or till tender when pierced with a knife.

Week 3 Storing & Reheating Directions

• For Smoothie Packs, use both plastic or reusable baggage equivalent to Stasher Baggage. For finest outcomes, use inside a couple of weeks.
• Package deal Protein Bins in hermetic containers equivalent to EasyLunchboxes Snack Bins and use inside 7 days.
• Cool potatoes and retailer in an hermetic container, utilizing inside 4 days. To reheat baked potatoes, lower in half and frivolously smash flesh with a fork, then microwave till scorching and steaming. Apply favourite toppings like black beans, shredded cheese, salsa, cooked greens, bacon bits, and so forth.

Week 4 Grocery Record

• Bananas
• Milk of alternative (dairy or non-dairy)
• Strawberries (recent or frozen)
• Floor flaxseed (non-obligatory)
• Recent child spinach
• Protein powder (non-obligatory–can add to smoothies for additional protein)
• Eggs
• Protein-rich meals for Protein Bins equivalent to frozen edamame, roasted chickpeas, nuts, cheese cubes, and deli meat
• Crackers and fruit for Protein Bins
• Potatoes (white or candy)
• Toppings of alternative for potatoes (equivalent to bitter cream, frozen broccoli or spinach, shredded cheese, black beans, bacon bits, and so forth)