I’m not sure exactly when I started meal prepping regularly (i.e. every weekend) but I think it was about 2 years ago now, maybe longer. I never imagined I’d be one of those “boring” women who enjoys cooking & shares recipes regularly, but here we are. Ha! Actually, it’s important to me to note that what I’ve discovered is something that perhaps should have been obvious- just because you love cooking doesn’t mean you have to turn into your stereotypical grandmother. You can still enjoy all of your previous, more “exotic” interests- in my case rock/metal. Which I frequently listen to while cooking!

Anyway, today I thought I’d share a few tips for those who are just getting started with meal prepping- or maybe just contemplating it. Even if you don’t concentrate all (or most) of your cooking to the weekends like I do, these are still useful tips for making cooking easier in the modern age. We have so much technology these days- we may as well use it to our advantage. You’ll see what I mean below.

1. Save a list of recipes you like to your phone. Copy & paste the website links to a note on your phone & add notes of any edits you make when using them. This way you have a convenient way to access your recipes any time you need them. You can even bring up the list while grocery shopping if you forget what ingredients you need or just need inspiration for what to cook that week. Might not be as sentimental as an old school cookbook but it definitely gets the job done. And if you’re really adventurous you could print out the recipes & make your own physical cookbook. I just haven’t gotten that crafty yet. Ha!

2. To piggyback on the above, take screenshots of recipes you find on Facebook or other social media. Save them to a folder entitled Recipes on your phone so you can conveniently access them any time. As noted above, you can easily reference them while shopping if you need inspiration or a reminder of what ingredients to buy. You can even take pictures of recipes you find in magazines or cookbooks & save those to the same folder. I do this every time I visit my grandmother & find recipes in her Taste of Home & other such cooking magazines.

3. Keep a running grocery list on your phone using the notes function. This way as you find recipes you want to try, you can add the ingredients you need to the list. Then when it’s time to go grocery shopping, your list is already prepared. I started this during the pandemic in 2020 because I got tired of losing my handwritten grocery lists & then forgetting items (whether they were for cooking or other household items). Gamechanger, I swear.

4. As you start gathering recipes & finding out which ones you use the most, try to stock your pantry with as many of the basic ingredients they require so that you always have them on hand. With inflation what it is these days, I realize this may not work for everyone, but if you can afford it, I highly recommend doing this. Items I’d recommend always having in stock include salsa, canned beans of various types, canned corn, canned tomatoes, oats, bread crumbs, pasta sauce, grated Parmesan, noodles, lemon & lime juice, olive oil, & quinoa or rice. I usually try to keep some type of fish (swai &/or flounder) & chicken thighs in stock in the freezer too. But again, if your budget is tight, I realize this may not be practical. I highly recommend the no salt added canned veggies, by the way. They taste just as good, are healthier, & usually cost the same or only marginally more (especially at WalMart).

5. Invest in a good spice rack. I’m not talking about the rack itself, although that’s certainly worth having, I’m talking about the spices themselves. I’d recommend everyone keep the following basic spices on hand: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, cumin, & yellow curry powder. Then, if you can afford it & have one available to you, check out a local spice shop to try different blends that will make your cooking way more exciting. We are big fans of Savory Spice Shop (https://www.savoryspiceshop.com/pages/locations/raleigh-55889?sscid=61k7_maovv&source=shareasale). That place has revolutionized my cooking, no joke! My favorites from there include Peruvian Chile Lime, Bohemian Forest European Seasoning, Black Hills BBQ, mild yellow curry powder, Black River Creole, & Ras el Hanout, among many others. The best part is you can order online so even if you don’t have one close to you, you can still partake in the goodness. Remember, if sealed properly, spices last a LONG time. Plus, the more cooking you do at home, the less you’ll eat out which also saves money. So while there may be a bit of an upfront cost, in the end investing in a variety of spices/seasonings will save you money.

I hope that was helpful. What tips would you add to those just getting started (or thinking about getting started) with meal prepping?